So when Maldonado and Martínez Abrego began exploring MBA programs, Babson felt both familiar and full of possibility. The couple—who grew up in Monterrey but met years later in Dallas—saw the MBA as an adventure they could share. Martínez Abrego was drawn to Babson’s collaborative culture and focus on leadership and entrepreneurship.
Maldonado, meanwhile, uncovered another connection: Her father had been classmates with Ab Igram MBA’96, now executive director of the Tariq Farid Franchise Institute. The two even sat in the same course taught by now-Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD. As Maldonado explored launching a venture of her own, that connection opened doors, making the institute an extension of both her interests and her network.
Soon, they found themselves immersed in the Babson experience together. Their conversations rarely end when class does. On the drive home, discussions about strategy, leadership, or a professor’s case study continue naturally. The experience has deepened not only their professional skills but also their understanding of each other and their marriage.
Beyond the classroom, Babson’s connections have already helped shape their path. Through Igram, Maldonado gained access to a network that led to her current role with a private equity group. Martínez Abrego, as president of the Babson Graduate Consulting Club, expanded his own network across the community.
The couple eventually will return to Dallas after they walk across the stage at Commencement. More than 20 family members will be there to cheer the family’s newest Babson graduates, including Maldonado’s father, Jose. Every time a family member graduates, he makes a beeline for Kerry Murphy Healey Park to find their engraved brick.
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