About Karla

I’m a seasoned career coach with 10 years of experience helping candidates break into top MBA, MPP, and master’s programs across the U.S. and Europe. I’ve supported applicants from all backgrounds—traditional and nontraditional—in landing spots at schools like Stanford GSB, HBS, LBS, and INSEAD, often with significant scholarship support. My coaching draws on formal admissions committee experience at Harvard Kennedy School, where I also collaborated with top M7 business schools to exchange best practices and deepen my understanding of how elite programs evaluate applicants. Clients I’ve worked with have gone on to secure roles in investment banking, consulting, and social impact—at firms like Morgan Stanley, McKinsey, and leading global NGOs. I’m known for clear, honest advice, fast turnarounds, and a strategy-first approach that delivers real results. Outside of coaching, I’ve spent the past decade at the intersection of finance and public policy—first advising on high-profile tech transactions in J.P. Morgan’s investment banking division, and now leading impact investment strategy at Candide, where I focus on deploying capital across asset classes to build a more equitable economy. I’ve also advised philanthropic initiatives at organizations such as the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative and LinkedIn’s Global Impact team. I hold an MBA/MPP from Chicago Booth and Harvard Kennedy School, respectively, and continue to stay close to the work by serving on investment committees and mentoring through programs such as Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO). My work has been recognized by organizations such as: Leland (Top Coach - 2023 & 2024), Negocios Now (40 Under 40), ALPFA (Most Powerful Latinas Rising Star), and Toigo Foundation (Top 35 Rising Leaders).