The Power of the Network: An Example of Using Your Network to Start a Business
In short
This conversation with Omar Bey shows a common high-potential path: a technical foundation (industrial engineering at ITBA), broad commercial experience across industries, and a deliberate pivot into finance through a master's at UCEMA—while keeping the MBA as a future accelerator. Omar explains why he delayed business school (timing and economic volatility), how he built a durable network, and how he's now using that network to explore entrepreneurship (crypto exchange, fintech/digital bank, or a hedge fund). For applicants, the takeaway is clear: don't let uncertainty stall you—set milestones, build proof points, and turn "MBA later" into an executable plan.
Who Omar Is (And Why This Story Is Useful)
In this discussion, we talk with Omar Bey, a business professional completing his master's in finance at UCEMA in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and dreaming of pursuing an MBA later in his career. After getting a degree in industrial engineering from ITBA, located in Buenos Aires, Omar has spent his professional life working a number of different jobs across various industries: sales, engineering, operations, and business development.
He sat for the GMAT in 2015, but decided to stay home and get a master's degree. Now, Omar is utilizing his network and reimagining his future as an entrepreneur.
Testing Reality: What Happened And What It Means Now
Omar took the GMAT earlier in his career and describes what many candidates learn the hard way: the test punishes vague preparation. If testing becomes part of your plan again, confirm which exams your target programs accept (for example, GMAT Focus Edition may be one accepted option depending on the school) and set a timeline that doesn't stall the rest of your application work.
This is an honest and useful admissions insight: if your targets are highly competitive, you need to plan for stronger academic signaling and overall narrative coherence—not just "trying again."
The strategic move is to treat testing as one workstream while you build the higher-leverage elements: goals clarity, fit validation, leadership proof points, and strong recommendations.
Why He Didn't Apply Earlier (And How He Frames It)
Omar explains that his plans changed and that Argentina's volatility shaped timing. The key for applicants is not the reason itself—it's whether you can frame the decision as rational, grounded, and forward-looking.
Done well, "I didn't go then" becomes a strength: evidence of judgment under constraints and a clearer "why now" later.
Network As An Operating System (Not A Buzzword)
Omar is explicit that his career has been built through relationships and responsiveness—knowing who to call, and maintaining trust over time. This matters for MBA admissions because networking isn't just recruiting; it's how you validate your goals story and build a defendable school list.
Why A Master's In Finance Now (And An MBA Later)
Omar describes the master's as a skills deepening move (finance and wealth management) and the MBA as a future network and platform move. This is a strong pattern when you can show progression: specialized skill-building now, broader platform later when the constraint becomes scale and access.
This is a clean distinction for applicants: a specialized master's can deepen capability; an MBA can expand platform and optionality—if you use it intentionally.
If you're building a business, the question becomes: what leverage do you need next—capital access, senior talent, distribution, or credibility in a new market?
The Venture Direction: Crypto, Fintech, Or A Hedge Fund
Omar and friends are exploring three possible directions: a cryptocurrency exchange (as a broker/middleman), a digital bank/fintech focused on democratizing access to the financial world, or a hedge fund. The consistent theme is market gaps and execution in Latin America, especially Argentina.
For admissions, the advice is simple: if you talk about fast-moving sectors, you need to sound grounded. Show what you've done, what you've learned, and what constraints you understand—not only what you hope to build.
How His Engineering Background Shows Up In His Work
Omar describes automotive-adjacent work across major employers and roles, including Mercedes, Volkswagen, Iveco, and a startup funded by Mercado Libre, plus current work with a retail company that sells Michelin. This becomes a strong MBA story when framed as transferable leadership: stakeholder influence, operating constraints, and commercial outcomes.
School List: Spain, London, And US Finance Pathways
Omar mentions being "a big fan of Spain" with IE and IESE as favorites, plus London, and US programs like Chicago, Columbia, and Rochester as he looks toward deeper finance pathways. This is the right instinct: shortlist by pathways and geography, then validate via alumni conversations in the exact roles you want.
How Do I Explain Why I Delayed My MBA Plans?
Do I Need To Retake The GMAT Focus Edition If I Took The GMAT Years Ago?
MBA Or Executive MBA For Entrepreneurs: How Do I Decide?
How Do I Choose Between Europe And The US For A Finance-Focused MBA?
How Do I Protect My Admissions Timeline While Building A Business Or Doing A Master's?
Turn "MBA Later" Into A Plan With Real Milestones
We'll clarify your goals, pressure-test school fit, and build an admissions strategy that protects your timeline—so uncertainty doesn't become drift.
