成人头条 MBA Blog
Q and A: Marina Monsisvais Shares EMBA Program Experience, Lessons from Running a Business During the Pandemic
For Marina Monsisvais, the key to growth is curiosity.
Monsisvais is the owner of Barracuda Public Relations, a boutique public relations agency amplifying all things El Paso. From humble beginnings around her kitchen table, Monsisvais has grown Barracuda PR into a well-known and respected firm in the Paso del Norte region and beyond
In 2018, Monsisvais took her biggest step in her professional growth and enrolled in 成人头条’s Executive MBA Program, where she would spend the next 18 months sharpening her business skills with a diverse cohort of business leaders from across the region.
Despite the pandemic, Monsisvais and her cohort successfully completed the program in Fall 2020. Below, Monsisvais reflects on her time in the EMBA program, the importance of networking, and shares lessons she’s learned juggling her business operations and completing the EMBA during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The EMBA requires a commitment of time and resources. Why did you decide to enroll in the EMBA?
I decided to enroll in the EMBA program because it was important for me to push myself to use my brain differently. I wanted a new challenge that was outside of my daily routine, one which would help me sharpen my leadership and business skills. The best part of being enrolled in this program while running my business was that I was able to implement the lessons I learned in real time.
How has the EMBA program helped you become a stronger leader?
I refer to being enrolled in the EMBA program – whilst running a business – to living inside a pressure cooker. That's what it felt like, and once I made it through, it made me feel like anything is possible and it reminded me that I am capable of accomplishing my goals.
Those are philosophies that I share with my team. I provide them with a safe space in which to push themselves out of their comfort zones and grow. It brings me so much joy to see them accomplish their personal and professional goals – one of our team members is in his twenties and purchased his first home during this pandemic – and I'm just beaming for him!
You know what's strange about this whole post-EMBA situation? I kinda miss the pressure cooker and my classmates/friends, which makes me wonder...is it time to consider a Ph.D.?
I wanted a new challenge that was outside of my daily routine, one which would help me sharpen my leadership and business
Did you experience any unanticipated benefits from your time in the EMBA program ?
When I first started the program, 成人头条 MBA Program Director, Rolando Nuñez said, "This will help expand your capacity." And you know what? He was right. I feel like I have so much time on my hands and I'm using that time to build upon my business while creating new business and creative endeavors.
All the time I spent "project managing" myself and my friends through classes during the program has really helped me in the real world. It's amazing what we're capable of accomplishing with just a little bit of planning and prioritizing. This experience definitely helped me to work smarter.
Networking is a critical component of the EMBA program. Can you share how you have used your EMBA network to grow or strengthen your business?
I made several lifelong friendships in the EMBA program. Just recently we added my former classmate, Nancy Trevizo, to our Barracuda Public Relations team. She is now our Chief Financial Officer, and I couldn't be more pleased about having such a qualified and hard-working person on our team. I don't know that I would have ever had the pleasure of meeting Nancy had it not been for our EMBA program.
Can you discuss some lessons you’ve learned about business operations during a pandemic?
I'm so tired of hearing the word "pivot." And yet, my business was able to transfer to a remote work setup fairly seamlessly. Instead of having one weekly huddle like we did when we were in the office, we now huddle each morning. This keeps us in touch with each other and continues to build on the strength of our team.
We were also fortunate enough to be able to use our skills and talents toward helping our community through this pandemic. Barracuda Public Relations worked with the Better Business Bureau to create ‘Buy El Paso’ and ‘El Paso Business Strong,’ two programs that have helped local businesses navigate and survive this pandemic.
We also worked with the Paso del Norte Health Foundation on their ‘Reduce the Risk’ initiative, which focuses on vaccine education and uptake, continued health and safety messaging, and sharing resources related to rental and utility assistance and other services available to alleviate financial hardships brought on by the pandemic.