Ligia Fonseca ’26S (MBA) named an MBA to Watch

The MBA graduate reflects on collaborative leadership, analytical thinking, and preparing for a career in marketing

A graduate in University of Rochester Simon Business School’s MBA Class of 2026, Ligia Fonseca ’26S (MBA) was recently named one of Poets&Quants’ MBAs to Watch: Class of 2026, which recognizes 117 promising MBA graduates from leading business schools around the world.

In her profile, Fonseca reflects on the experiences that shaped her time at Simon, including serving as president of the Simon Life Sciences Club, vice president of marketing and communications for the Simon Consulting Club, and a Benet Career Peer. She also discusses her summer internship with CVS Health, where she will return after graduation as a marketing manager.

Fonseca shares how Simon’s analytical approach and collaborative community helped her build on her engineering background while developing as a leader and marketer. She points to opportunities inside and outside the classroom, including bringing several student organizations together for an alumni panel and networking event focused on careers in healthcare.

She also reflects on how Simon’s integration of AI helped her think more broadly about its role in business strategy:

“The key insight for me was that the real value of AI comes from combining strong data, human judgment, and clear business objectives.”

Read Fonseca’s full Poets&Quants MBA to Watch profile to learn more about her Simon experience, leadership, career journey, and plans to build a career in marketing and healthcare.