In business, the path to a career after graduate school is not always straightforward. At the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School, students are not navigating that transition alone.
The Joseph and Carmen Unanue Graduate Career Advancement Center has quickly become a driving force behind the school’s national recruitment reputation, helping graduate business students connect with employers, grow professionally, and launch careers with confidence.
The Carmen and Joe Unanue Family Foundation, led by Miami Herbert alumnus Andy Unanue, established the Unanue Graduate Career Advancement Center in 2021, honoring his late parents’ legacy of supporting education and opportunity. Since then, the center has worked to enhance career development, employer engagement, and national recruiting opportunities for graduate business students.
For second-year M.B.A. student Joaquín Lara Azócar, that support made the difference. Originally from Chile, he came to Miami Herbert after working in Virginia, Kentucky, and Wisconsin—seeking a pivot from the manufacturing industry into a more analytical field. He said the center provided him with the clarity and momentum he needed to move forward.
“The staff really get to know you. They know my story,” Lara said. “Unanue is not just about finding a job; it’s about building a career that fits who you are.”
Jamie Belinne, associate dean for career and industry engagement, works to expand the center’s programming and deepen employer partnerships. She said the team works hands-on with every student, actively seeking career opportunities.
“We really get to know each of our students well,” she said. “When there is an opening in a company, they will consider our students first because they’re already aware of the quality that we have.”
That tailored support is paying off. Miami Herbert was ranked No. 1 for M.B.A. placement by the Financial Times in its most recent rankings, and the school achieved 100 percent M.B.A. internship placement in 2025, setting a new record.
Those metrics reflect a deep alignment with employer needs. As the job market rapidly evolves—especially with advancements in artificial intelligence—Belinne said the expectation for business students is clear: “If you don’t have the ability to analyze and interpret data, it will be difficult to make it in the new economy.”
Because many of Miami Herbert’s graduate programs are STEM-certified and technically rigorous, students are entering the workforce with the tools demanded by today’s industries. The Unanue family’s investment has also expanded access to high-value experiential opportunities such as national recruiting events and hands-on industry immersions.
This year alone, the center took 25 M.B.A. students to Houston for a competitive recruiting conference, leading to final-round interviews with Fortune 500 firms such as Delta Airlines and Ford Motor Company. It also led a career trek to New York, visiting Goldman Sachs, Estée Lauder, and other global companies and connected students with 50 alumni for tailored networking. Additionally, the center hosted “Finance Day,” providing students with small-group meetings with actively hiring finance employers.
“We work very closely with major employers in South Florida, such as the cruise lines and financial services, and also with New York firms, particularly in finance,” Belinne said. Relationships with alumni at those companies, she noted, are key to helping students break into competitive roles quickly.
Lara experienced the power of that network firsthand. Through coaching and employer exposure, he charted a new path toward a consulting career in Miami’s growing economy. “The staff at Unanue have been a constant presence throughout my journey at the U,” he said.
Today, Lara serves as president of the Graduate Business Student Association, helping connect peers with career resources and engagement opportunities. He attributes his leadership growth to hard work and the environment that donor support helped build.
The center’s mission reflects the values behind the Unanue Family Foundation’s gift—providing talented individuals with the confidence and capability to seize opportunities that transform their lives and families. The Unanue Graduate Career Advancement Center is still growing, and donor investment remains essential to sustaining its momentum.
“The process of getting a job with a graduate business degree is much more labor-intensive than it used to be,” Belinne said. “The more we’re able to provide personalized and customized services to our students, the more successful they’ll be and the greater the value of the degree program is.”
