05/10/2026
In honor of , we’re spotlighting Lauren Gonzalez (WG’26), a mom to three young boys and a soon-to-be graduate of our MBA Program for Executives.
A Project Manager at Shell, Lauren started the program with a 3- and 1-year-old, knowing she and her husband hoped to grow their family. “I never saw school and family as taking turns,” she says.
Her first experience with Wharton set the tone. Knowing that she would need to pump breastmilk at orientation while her baby was home in Texas, she notified the administration in advance.
“When I arrived, there was a mini fridge in my room and a map of lactation rooms on campus,” she says. “That level of thoughtfulness made everything feel more manageable from day one.”
When she welcomed her youngest child during her second year in the program, it brought her closer to her classmates – especially the other women in her cohort who also had babies during the program.
“We supported each other,” she says. “My classmates would ask for updates and were genuinely excited for us.”
Thanks to a supportive partner, encouraging classmates, and strong sense of organization, Lauren was able to balance her career, education, and family life. Throughout the program, she was able to participate in immersive experiences like Global Business Week, Global Modular Courses, and Block Weeks while building deep relationships across WEMBA cohorts and classes.
“As a parent, you’re already managing a thousand moving parts,” she says. “Wharton builds on that strength. It’s one more thing to plan for — but parenthood doesn’t hold you back here; it prepares you. And if it’s something you truly want, you’ll find a way to make it happen.”
