Learning to Lead at Home

PROVO, Utah – Sep 05, 2022 – When he thinks about his future goals, Wilson Moreno hopes to become a leader who makes an impact—in his family, his community, and his local congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thankfully, Moreno’s time spent in the Cardon International Sponsorship (CIS) program, run by the Whitmore Global Business Center (GBC) at the BYU Marriott School of Business, prepared him for these leadership roles.

Moreno, a native of Lima, Peru, didn’t originally plan to attend BYU. He graduated in 2013 with an undergraduate degree in economics from Universidad Nacional de Trujillo in Trujillo, Peru. After graduation, he worked with OSIPTEL, the Peruvian equivalent of the US Federal Communications Commission, for a few years before deciding to return to college and earn an MBA.  

“A mentor of mine received his MBA through the CIS program at BYU Marriott, and he spoke highly of the programs,” says Moreno. “I wanted to do something different in my career, so I decided to apply.” He received his acceptance to BYU Marriott and the CIS program in 2018 and moved to Provo with his wife, Laura.

One of the highlights of Moreno’s time in the MBA program was an internship he completed in Mexico with Uber. “I always wanted to work in another Spanish-speaking country, so I appreciated that opportunity,” he shares. “I had a memorable experience working in strategy and planning for Uber Eats, where I analyzed the cost structure of the P&L for Mexico and shared recommendations about how Uber could better understand its financial metrics at the subnational level.”

This internship was not the only experience from the MBA program that gave Moreno valuable tools for his future; he also gained many insights in his CIS classes. He especially enjoyed MBA 693R: Leadership and the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Becoming a Disciple-Leader, taught by Kim B. Clark, the NAC Professor of Business. “Professor Clark taught us how leadership principles apply to living a life like Jesus Christ,” says Moreno. “One of those important principles was that, as leaders, we should focus on serving the people around us.”

After graduating from the MBA program in 2020, Moreno worked for Capital One in the Washington, DC, area. He was a business manager over the company’s credit card partnerships, and his day-to-day responsibilities included analytics and working with external partners to move the credit card programs forward. After 18 months with the company, Moreno moved back to Peru with his wife and their young son, Benjamin, to fulfill his CIS commitment.

Since returning to his home country in 2021, Moreno strives to apply the leadership principles he learned in the CIS program to his own life. “In Peru, I do my best to serve my community, including as president of the BYU Management Society for the Lima Peru Chapter,” he says. “I love staying involved with the chapter. The other leaders and I make an effort to promote and strengthen the relationship between BYU and people in Peru. We want more people from our country to attend BYU, pursue their education, and advance their careers.”

Encouraging others to come to BYU is easy for Moreno, who witnessed firsthand how the BYU Marriott MBA program helped his career. “What I learned and experienced in the MBA program truly impacted my career and every aspect of my life,” he says. “Studying in the United States was never part of my life plan. If not for the CIS program offered by the GBC, I don’t think I would have pursued an education in the US, so I’m grateful for that chance.”

Moreno now works for Mibanco, a microfinance loan company, as an internal consulting lead. Looking forward to the future, Moreno hopes to continue working in microfinance, which he says creates real impact in the lives of families in his community. “One day, I hope to start my own company, where I can connect people with the means necessary to start their own businesses or enhance their lives,” he shares.

“Microfinance loans have the potential to change lives and uplift communities,” he continues. “Some loans are less than $100, but that amount of money is life changing.” Many people start their own businesses with these loans, which jumpstarts their careers and helps make things like sending their children to college more affordable, Moreno explains. Having experienced firsthand the rewards of higher education, Moreno loves being a part of that process. “I hope to make an impact by helping others build the lives they want,” he says.