Ana Aguilar, ’16

Executive MBA students at Drexel’s LeBow College of Business gain far more than their degree.

“I would not be where I am today without Drexel.”

Today, Ana Aguilar, EMBA ‘16, is a CFO at Menarini Silicon Biosystems in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. She’s a leader, solving industry problems and has built a successful career on assessing and streamlining financial processes. For Aguilar, it’s all about people, systems and processes. It’s not just about the bottom line; it’s about leaving places better than how she found them and positively impacting the companies she works for, the systems they have in place and the teams she leads.

As a lifelong learner, with a thirst to gain new skills, knowledge and grow professionally and personally, she was drawn to Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business Executive MBA program. What stood out to her was the value Drexel placed on experiential learning.

“It was transformational — I continuously apply what I learned in class to my career.” Through LeBow’s EMBA training, classes and executive coaching, Aguilar learned the power of a network and how to be a true leader.

Aguilar grew up in Mexico. Her mother a teacher; her father an engineer, and neither of those professions spoke to her, but numbers always did. She pursued accounting, earned her CPA and a finance specialty, but still strived for more.

She began her career in the auto division at Siemens in Mexico during a time of rapid growth for the company. Aguilar was the driving force behind launching new technology and creating efficient processes in accounts payable and accounts receivable. Three years later, Siemens offered her an opportunity in the industry sector in the U.S. A new mom at the time, she embraced the move and the chance to really make a difference within the company. This allowed her to work in almost every area of accounting and finance at the headquarter and business-unit level — from accounting, consolidation and financial audits to costing, finance and controlling. During this time, she also became Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified.

Aguilar proved to be a difference maker, always solving problems and bridging the gaps between finance and operations. She later moved to the Siemen’s healthcare sector to get a full cross-industry experience. Aguilar conducted operational audits and full-business reviews across multiple international locations of the sector. She led a team of 11 financial and business analysts while acquiring new skills in coding, data analytics and developing finance applications to streamline financial transactional processes.

While in the healthcare sector, Siemens sold the division to Cerner. Undaunted by the task, she oversaw the financial and systems integration of the $1 billion division through the acquisition with no disruptions in business. At this point in her career, Aguilar strategically lined up her personal and professional development so that she could take the next step in being able to lead and build her own team. Ready for more, she set out to become a CFO.

Aguilar decided to pursue that goal by enrolling in Drexel LeBow’s Executive MBA program. A goal that came to fruition shortly after completing the program. Aguilar exemplifies a Drexel EMBA student. She’s driven and determined to use her advanced knowledge to lead her company today and into the future. In addition to impacting the industry, Aguilar aims to inspire young women across the globe, including her own daughters. Showing all through her story, there are no shortcuts, but with hard work and dedication, nothing is impossible.

Despite graduating from Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business with an Executive MBA in 2016, she remains a long life learner, connected to the close-knit EMBA community of alumni, students and faculty, using to her advantage the variety of networking and continuing education programs offered.

“I have built relationships that will last forever,” said Aguilar.