Germán Manrique, who has a unique and blended background as an architect and business partner, believes that his Illinois MBA experience helped him become a well-rounded business professional. Germán, a 2000 Illinois MBA graduate, is a partner at UrbanWorks, LTD, an architecture firm in Chicago. Germán’s ten years of experience in both the architecture and business administration fields have afforded him responsibilities in both the project management and design development of various projects including Roosevelt Square Mixed Income Housing Development, several Chicago Public School remodeling projects, and the O’Hare Terminal 6 World Gateway (T6) project.

While a student at the Illinois MBA, Germán was the Vice President of the Latin American Business Society (LABS) and continues to be involved in the Chicago chapter, of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) as the chapter president. Germán’s involvement in NSHMBA allows him to make a difference in the Hispanic community. Germán recently participated in the Chicago Chapter’s Summer Enrichment Program for high school students by attending field trips and being a panelist during professional career day.

Germán’s advice to MBA students is to “get involved” in organizations, because the lessons learned from building relationships and learning from others are as valuable as the lessons learned in the classroom, and the relationships formed have the potential of becoming lifelong connections. Germán believes that those experiences are what kept him going and provided focus for his long-term goals.