# Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA | Isabella Pena Lazaro

![Isabella Pena Lazaro](/sites/default/files/styles/866w/public/2026-10/isabella-pena-lazaro_1.png.webp?h=3ec75680&itok=6MKH7m_D)

Student Voices

##  Isabella Pena Lazaro, MBA 2027

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##  Isabella Pena Lazaro, Andre Koo Tech MBA 2027

**Hometown**
Barranquilla, Colombia

**Undergraduate**
University of South Florida, Industrial Engineering

**Previous Industry**
Technology Delivery Lead at Bank of America

**Student Clubs**
VP of Focused Stern Women in Business
VP of Tech MBA, Stern Women in Business
Member, Stern Technology Association, Latin American Business Association, and competitive Tennis Team

##  One sentence quote about your experience at NYU Stern so far:

What I love most about Stern’s Tech MBA is how close I feel to the future of technology. There’s something really special about learning from people who are shaping the industry and being surrounded by classmates who share that same passion for innovation.

##  Why did you decide to pursue the focused one-year MBA program?

After working in tech for several years, I knew I wanted to take the next step in my career and move from delivering technology solutions to shaping them as a Product Manager. Stern’s one-year Tech MBA felt like the perfect fit because it allowed me to build the needed business and product skills I needed while staying in an industry I’m passionate about, without putting my career on hold for two years.

##  How would you describe the culture and community within your class?

We’re a really close-knit class! We’ve gotten to know each other so well, both inside and outside the classroom. We’ve traveled together, shared many experiences, and learned just as much from each other as we have from our professors.

##  What has been your favorite class at Stern? Why?

Definitely Leadership Fellows! It’s such a unique, hands-on experience that really pushes you outside your comfort zone. Getting to practice conflict resolution and navigate difficult conversations with professional actors has been a game changer for me as someone that has always been an individual contributor. I genuinely don’t think there’s another class like it!

##  What has been a highlight of your Stern experience?

One of the highlights of my Stern experience has been getting back into competitive tennis through the NYU Tennis Club! I've loved playing in tournaments, training at the US Open grounds, and making friends from different programs and schools. We recently played in a Columbia invitational tournament, and it was an absolute blast!

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