Claudia Oyola

As a senior executive with more than 15 years of international and local consulting, industry and entrepreneurship experience, Claudia Oyola (MBA ’07) has successfully performed and implemented strategic projects in the United States, the European Union and Peru. She specializes in organizational design, strategic planning and operational improvements. Oyola works as general manager of Andean Reach and director of a management consulting practice at the Instituto Peruano de Administración de Empresas (IPAE), also known as the Peruvian Institute for Business Administration. She is also the founder and CEO of Andean Reach, which exports premium baby clothing. Oyola lives in Peru.  

How did Darden help you prepare for your current position?

Darden helped me to acquire a breath of knowledge and experiences that enabled me to change my career path. Prior to earning my MBA degree, I had a mid-level position in the insurance sector. After Darden, I grew into a senior management consulting role for the financial, manufacturing, and oil and gas sectors. Darden's curriculum and case method gave me the abilities to focus on the big picture, improve my teamwork skills and develop the necessary endurance to become a senior executive. 

What is a typical day like for you at work?

At IPAE, a typical day is divided among client meetings and presentations and team meetings. Additionally, I review presentations and create tools to analyze problems, exposing myself to a continuous learning of different industries. At Andean Reach, a typical day consists of negotiating price and conditions with clients, and coordinating with collaborators and suppliers to make sure the strategy is in practice. 

What kind of impact would you like to make?

As a consultant, I want to provide senior executives with a strategic view that can help them make the necessary transformations to improve their organizations. I want to help them grow and become companies that can compete and reach a leadership position in their targeted markets. As the CEO of my company, I want to position Andean Reach in the premium infant clothing market for its high quality and its state-of-the-art business practices. In this way, I will be able to show the best of the Peruvian products.  

Why did you choose Darden?

I chose Darden for its rigorous academic environment, the case method, the strength in general management, and the collaborative culture within and outside the institution. Darden exceeded my expectations. I not only advanced quickly in my career path, I also improved as an individual, which changed my perspective on life.