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Poets&Quants For Undergrads – 2026 Best & Brightest Business Major: Sofia Iguaran, Hult International Business School

Poets&Quants For Undergrads – 2026 Best & Brightest Business Major: Sofia Iguaran, Hult International Business School

“Leadership with intention, execution with excellence, and service with heart.”

Fun fact about yourself: I eat ice cream every single week and try a new ice-cream shop everywhere I travel… I plan to open my ice cream brand one day.

Hometown: Santa Marta, Colombia

High School: Santa Marta Bilingual School

Major: Business Analytics and Finance

Minor: N.A

Favorite Business Course: Financial Reporting

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work & Leadership

Hult Undergraduate Investment Club Vice President | Cambridge, MA
February 2023 – Present

  • Led the university’s annual stock portfolio competition, integrating investment strategy with expert-led seminars.
  • Secured partnerships with Harvard and MIT, expanding networking and educational opportunities.
  • Organized speaker series and events aligned with members’ interests, increasing engagement and visibility.

Hult Student Association (HSA) President | Cambridge, MA
May 2024 – May 2025

  • Collaborated with senior university leadership to launch three new majors, addressing student demand.
  • Played a key role in restructuring academic pathways to offer more customized learning options.
  • Led initiatives and events to enhance student experience and campus engagement.

Hult Hispanic Association Treasurer | Cambridge, MA
October 2023 – May 2024

  • Helped build an 80-member organization supporting Hispanic students.
  • Managed budgets and financial planning to ensure efficient resource allocation.

VCPE Conference (Harvard University) Volunteer | Cambridge, MA

February 2023 – February 2026

  • Supported conference logistics and execution, contributing to strong attendee retention for three consecutive years
  • Assisted with ticket sales for ~25 students, supporting conference growth.

Hult Student Association General Assembly Member | Cambridge, MA

February 2023 – May 2024

  • Represented student voices through feedback collection and advocacy.
  • Supported initiatives to improve academic quality and student life.
  • Organized and coordinated large-scale ensuring strong promotion, smooth execution, and meaningful engagement across the student community.

HULT Scholars Program Personal Development Co-Chair | Cambridge, MA

August 2022 – August 2023

  • Supported fundraising initiatives that successfully raised $5,000 in donations
  • Designed and executed events focused on students’ personal and professional growth.

Awards & Honors

  • Academic Excellence Scholarship
    Awarded for outstanding academic performance.
  • 7× Dean’s List Student
    Recognized for consistent academic excellence across multiple semesters.
  • HULT Scholar Grant
    Merit-based scholarship awarded to students who exemplify academic excellence and Hult’s core values.
  • Outstanding Undergraduate Leader Award | Hult Student Association (2024–2025)
    Recognized for exceptional leadership, advocacy, and contributions to the Hult community as HSA President.
  • Emerging Leader Award (2023–2024)
    Awarded for demonstrating strong leadership potential, initiative, and positive impact on campus.
  • Best Resident Assistant of the Year (2023–2024)
    Recognized for outstanding commitment to student well-being, community building, and leadership as a Resident Assistant.

Where have you interned during your college career?

J.P. Morgan Private Banking Summer Analyst | Miami, FL

June 2025 – August 2025

  • Supported 10+ wealth strategies across Latin America.
  • Evaluated 15+ financial products to enhance portfolio diversification.
  • Prepared materials for 8+ client meetings and leveraged Bloomberg for market analysis.

Timbuktu Capital Management | Boston, MA (Remote)

May 2024 – August 2024

  • Conducted market research identifying 10+ emerging trends.
  • Supported client calls and portfolio discussions.
  • Contributed to website updates driving 5% increase in client engagement.

DAABON | Santa Marta, Colombia

May 2023 – August 2023

  • Evaluated IRR on projects contributing to 16% profitability.
  • Analyzed a syndicated loan termination with C-suite executives, shortening timelines by 3 months.
  • Enhanced financial models using data-driven tools.

Where will you be working after graduation? JPMorgan Chase, Global Private Bank Analyst | Miami, FL

Who is your favorite business professor? Professor Anusha Vissapragada is my favorite business professor because she consistently challenges students to reach their full potential while fostering an engaging, supportive classroom environment. She connects deeply with her students and encourages us to push beyond the bare minimum, setting high expectations while genuinely believing in our ability to meet them.

What truly sets Professor Anusha apart is her unwavering support for her students. She is always willing to help, offer guidance, and make time for those seeking advice, academically and personally. Her mentorship creates a sense of trust and confidence that empowers students to take intellectual risks and grow.

In addition, her real-world experience as a founder and former corporate professional brings business concepts to life. She integrates practical insights and personal lessons into her teaching, emphasizing resilience, accountability, and becoming better human beings, not just better professionals. Her combination of rigor, care, and real-world perspective has had a lasting impact on my academic and personal development.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I gained from studying business is that success is not driven by technical skills alone. Early on, I viewed business education as mastering formulas, models, and frameworks to perform well on exams. Over time, I realized that, while technical knowledge is essential, business is fundamentally about people. Communicating ideas clearly, listening to different perspectives, collaborating effectively, and building trust with teammates and clients are just as important as analytical ability. Business school taught me that the strongest outcomes happen when technical skills are paired with strong interpersonal and communication skills.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Start gaining experience early and do not wait for the “perfect” opportunity. Whether it’s getting involved in your community, joining student organizations, or taking on leadership roles, real learning begins when you step outside the classroom. As well, bear in mind that networking is one of the most powerful tools in business; try to build genuine relationships, stay curious, and follow up. Just as importantly, be kind and respectful to everyone you meet. You never know which conversation will open a door or turn into a long-term professional relationship.

Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? If I could do one thing differently, I would have taken advantage of the opportunity to rotate to another global campus, particularly Dubai. Experiencing business education in a different cultural and economic environment would have pushed me further outside my comfort zone and strengthened my global perspective. I am deeply interested in learning how business is conducted across regions, how different cultures approach leadership and decision-making, and how global markets operate. This being so, that this experience would have expanded not only my global perspective, but also my personal growth.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? As a Business Analytics major, I can confidently say that AI was highly integrated into our curriculum through hands-on, practical application. When I first began the major, I was intimidated by coding due to my lack of technical background. However, my professor emphasized that success in analytics is less about knowing everything and more about using the right tools wisely.

We were encouraged to use AI as a learning tool rather than a shortcut. It helped me code more efficiently, troubleshoot faster, and focus on understanding the logic of models rather than getting stuck on technical details. Beyond coding, I also used AI to streamline research and structure presentations, reinforcing the idea that AI does not replace critical thinking when it is used wisely but it enhances it when used responsibly. Beyond coding, I used AI to streamline research and organize presentations, reinforcing my belief that when used thoughtfully, AI does not replace critical thinking, I think that it actually strengthens and enhances it.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? The personal achievement I am most proud of is receiving the Hult Scholar Grant. Studying in the United States had always been a dream of mine, yet the financial reality of pursuing a degree and living in a city like Boston made that dream feel uncertain at times. From an early age, I pushed myself to stay accountable, strive for academic excellence, and pursue opportunities that reflected both hard work and purpose. Being recognized as valedictorian in high school reinforced that commitment, and earning this scholarship allowed me to continue that trajectory at the university level.

More than a recognition of academic performance, the Hult Scholar Grant represents my dedication to making a meaningful impact within every community I am a part. Throughout my time at Hult, I have worked to amplify student voices, advocate for meaningful change, and contribute to initiatives that improved the student experience.

Receiving this scholarship was deeply rewarding not only because it acknowledged my academic efforts, but because it signaled that my community saw value in the work I was doing on behalf of others. It remains a powerful reminder that true achievement lies not only in personal success, but in creating opportunities and positive change for those around you.

Which classmate do you most admire? If I had to choose one classmate I admire most, it would be Juan Camilo Velasco without hesitation. Throughout our time at Hult, we have shared many experiences and accomplishments, working closely together across multiple extracurricular initiatives. Having seen his leadership firsthand, I can confidently say that he is not only an exceptionally driven and capable individual, but also someone deeply committed to giving back to his community.

What I admire most about Juan Camilo is his consistency, he approaches every responsibility with purpose, discipline, and a genuine desire to create impact beyond himself. He leads with integrity and works hard toward his goals. I have no doubt that he will continue to push himself to turn his ambitions into reality.

Who would you most want to thank for your success?

If I had to choose one person to thank for my success, it would be God. I truly believe he has guided my path by placing the right people in my life and opening the right doors at the right moments. During times when challenges felt overwhelming, I know that he helped me realize that even the most difficult moments carry purpose, and that his plans are often clearer in hindsight.

He has also blessed me, with extraordinary people who have been constant sources of strength and support, especially my father and my grandmother. They have stood by me since day one, offering unconditional encouragement, guidance, and motivation. Their presence has grounded me and reminded me why perseverance and gratitude matter.

Throughout my university journey, I was also fortunate to meet individuals who felt like angels along the way, including Juan, whose consistent support made a meaningful difference during my time at Hult.

Looking back, I feel deeply grateful for the opportunities, people, and lessons that have shaped my journey. I consider myself truly blessed, and I carry that gratitude with me as I continue to grow personally and professionally.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

  1. To become a globally recognized leader
  2. To create a globally recognized ice cream brand

What made Sofia such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?  

“When Sofia asked me if I would be her nominator, I responded with five exclamation points — and I mean that literally: “!!!!!”. That reaction is a testament. I have taught over 300 undergraduate students in my teaching career, and Sofia is one of the rare students whose thoughtfulness, humility, and sincerity will genuinely stay with me.

I’ve known Sofia for the past two years, and she has been consistently outstanding from day one. She is not just in school for the “A” grade but is deeply intentional about learning – no surface-level work, no cutting corners, and no assignment was treated as something to “finish.” In her deliverables, the quality of her thinking, the assumptions and logic question, and pushes to understand the material at a level that goes beyond what is required.

In a classroom, Sofia is the student who elevates everyone around her. The questions she asks move the discussion forward. In her teams, she brings clarity to complex topics. A skill to note is she contributes without overshadowing. And she has a rare ability to combine analytical rigor with business judgment. Sofia is the student I could trust with the hardest question in the room — and I knew she would handle it with both intelligence and humility.

She is a natural leader, nudging and pushing her teammates to do their best, but she does it with respect and calm confidence. She sets a high bar, and somehow makes others want to rise to meet it — a skill that is rare and extremely valuable. Just as importantly, she is the kind of teammate others trust.

What I admire most about Sofia is that she pairs high standards with genuine humility. She is grateful, grounded, and always willing to help others. She leads through effort, clarity, and the way she treats people.

Sofia is an invaluable addition to the Hult Class of 2026. She is the kind of student who leaves a lasting impression on a professor — not only because she is excellent, but because she is excellent in a way that is deeply human.”

Anusha Vissapragada
Academic Director, Computer Science for Business

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