Q&A: Bruno Kubata (MBA’23) on Creating a Space for Mentorship and Open Dialogue at Georgetown McDonough

During the month of February, Georgetown McDonough joins the nation in commemorating Black History Month. To celebrate, we are spotlighting several of our exceptional Black students in the McDonough community who are creating impact and exemplifying the Georgetown spirit through their academics, careers, and personal lives. 

As co-president of the Black MBA Association (BMBAA) at Georgetown McDonough, Horitsu (Bruno) Kubata (MBA’23) aims to create a close knit community of Black students and allies at Georgetown by facilitating difficult conversations, offering professional and social events, and creating new development opportunities through mentorship. 

Kubata shared how his MBA classes and professors have influenced his leadership skills and encouraged him to build new pathways, resources, and opportunities for Black students at Georgetown.

How has your involvement with the BMBAA shaped your overall experience at McDonough? 

The involvement has helped me work on my leadership skills and work with multiple stakeholders to contribute to the community I really care about. It has been a really good opportunity to truly put myself out there and try new experiences. It has been fun!

What are you hoping to accomplish in your new role as co-president?

I hope to help nurture a close-knit and supportive environment for the existing community of Black students and allies through social, educational, and celebratory events and help create a safe space and a platform for Black students and others to have difficult conversations.

What kinds of programming and support do you aim to offer students through the BMBAA? 

One of the events we are planning this year is a mentorship program for incoming members. We aim to:

1) provide emotional support to help first-year MBA students successfully transition and settle into the program; 

2) leverage industry-focused mentorship opportunities to help first-years successfully navigate through the recruitment process; and 

3) enhance communications and interactions among the active members and alumni to utilize our connections and establish stronger relationships between the BMBAA and the broader alumni network. 

Are there any professors or mentors in the McDonough community who have made an impact on your experience at Georgetown? 

First, I had Leading Teams for Performance and Impact with Professor Ella Washington, one of my favorite professors so far in the program. Her candid discussion regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion topics helped me understand that the McDonough community can have open dialogues about these challenging topics, which was very encouraging. 

Secondly, Professor George Comer has been a tremendous resource helping me master finance outside the classroom. Professor Comer graciously takes time out of his busy schedule to conduct review sessions and provide help. 

Personally, Michael Dunn and Marthaline Cooper from the second-year MBA class helped me tremendously throughout the recruitment process. Since Mike and Marthaline are the only other consultant members of the organization, they provided technical and emotional support to recruit for consulting successfully. 

What is one of the most important lessons you have learned while at Georgetown? 

One of the most important lessons I have learned so far is that it is okay to ask for help and struggle through a process with people you can count on. There is no shame in struggling or making mistakes.