Juan Benitez
Finance major; San Cristobal, Dominican Republic
"The school’s history and prestige were the main reasons I chose Kelley at IUPUI,” Benitez says. “Its great location downtown gives students the opportunity to apply for internships and gain experience."
After studying computer science in the Dominican Republic, Juan Benitez was ready to expand his business knowledge in hopes of one day starting his own company. Arriving in the U.S. three years ago, Benitez attended business school in Orlando for a short time before transferring to Kelley Indianapolis.
“The school’s history and prestige were the main reasons I chose Kelley at IUPUI,” Benitez says. “Its great location downtown gives students the opportunity to apply for internships and gain experience.”
In addition to taking finance and international business courses, Benitez has put his computer science experience to work launching a dictionary-based Web site targeted to the Hispanic population. The enthusiasm of Kelley’s faculty, he says, gave him the motivation he needed to start the project.
“I can tell the professors really enjoy what they are doing, and they transmit that energy to the students,” Benitez explains. “They use their knowledge, skills and imagination to give students a real taste of what we’ll be doing in the business world.”
While at Kelley, Benitez has worked on several group projects with fellow students. One such project involved analyzing accounting issues faced by a local Indianapolis company.
“The group activities are great tools to make us think,” says Benitez. “Through these projects, we gain real experience and insight we can use throughout our careers.”
After graduation, Benitez hopes to stay in the U.S. – either in Indianapolis or perhaps New York City.
“I might like to try and work in the stock market,” he says. “But, eventually I’d like to have my own business and work for myself.”
