Following what some would consider the “right path,” Mexico City-native Sofia Escamilla attended a good college and worked in consulting before “the twist,” as she likes to call it, occurred. “I was already working as a business analyst at A.T. Kearney [when] I realized that even though I enjoyed the problem-solving skills that consulting was teaching me, my passion was really in the beauty and fashion industries,” she says. “I couldn’t picture myself as a designer or in any other creative role, and that’s when it hit me: I could continue focusing on business, but I would now work exclusively in the beauty and fashion industries.” After receiving her MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Escamilla joined the corporate strategy team of the Estée Lauder Companies as a manager.
Dream job My job is a very important part of my life and, as such, I absolutely need to work on something that I feel a strong connection to and that resonates with my own interests. After joining the Estée Lauder Companies, I realized that those late nights are surprisingly easier to bear when I am working on something I absolutely love, like the beauty industry! I also need to feel challenged and be able to constantly learn new things. Finally, I need to work with a group of people that I admire, both on a professional and on a personal level.Industry Pulse
Industry Pulse
Over the past few years, the luxury industry has experienced a tremendous growth in Latin America. The time is now, and I want to be at the forefront of the growth in the region. In the future, I can see myself as regional director for one of Estée Lauder’s brands in Latin America. I want to be responsible for designing and executing strategies to bring the best of the luxury industry into the region.
Education
Master of Business Administration
Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, 2011
Exchange Student for the Luxury Brand Management Program
ESSEC Business School, France, January-March 2011
Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Engineering
ITESM, Mexico City, 2005
Work experience
September 2011–Present: Manager,
Corporate Strategy
Estée Lauder Companies, NYC
Summer 2010: MBA Marketing Intern
Estée Lauder Mexico City
2005-2009: Business Analyst /
Senior Business Analyst
A.T. Kearney Mexico City
Define success
For me, success is finding the right balance in life. Having a challenging and inspiring job is half of the equation. The other half is about being able to spend time with the people I love and doing the things that make me happy.
I’m very lucky to say that, right now, I consider myself pretty successful, and I hope it stays that way.
