There’s a moment in every MBA program’s journey that signals a leap forward. For Texas McCombs, that moment is now.
With a $20 million gift from Mindy Hildebrand, BBA ’86, the school is launching new scholarship and leadership initiatives, rebranding its full-time MBA, and doubling down on the kind of individualized development today’s applicants crave. It’s a turning point — one that reflects both momentum and vision.
In this episode, Rodrigo Malta, Assistant Dean of MBA Marketing, Recruiting, and Admissions at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business, shares how the Hildebrand gift is reshaping what McCombs can offer students. From full-ride scholarships to unprecedented access to industry leaders (including Formula 1 insiders), this is a school redefining ROI in real time, while still keeping community at the heart of it all.
A Game-Changing Gift: The Hildebrand MBA at Texas McCombs
UT McCombs is entering a new era, and Rodrigo Malta made it clear that the $20 million Hildebrand Gift is just the beginning.
The donation has already launched two major initiatives: the Hildebrand Scholars Program, offering full-ride scholarships to a small, high-potential group of MBA students, and the Hildebrand Leadership Fellows Program, which is open to all students and expands McCombs’ leadership development offerings with innovative micro-credentialing and cross-program networking.
“The Hildebrand Gift is really a manifestation of the strong momentum of the school in our MBA program.”
Scholars selected for the program receive far more than just funding. They work one-on-one with the head of McCombs Plus to create individualized leadership development plans, gain unlimited access to a network of executive coaches, enjoy priority registration for co-curricular programs, and receive exclusive invitations to high-level events like those hosted by the Dean’s Advisory Council.
“We’re looking for this really tight-knit group of scholars that will be supported through our individualized leadership development program.”
The name of the MBA is changing, too. McCombs will now offer the Hildebrand MBA at Texas McCombs, a shift that Rodrigo sees as a signal of the school’s continued rise in visibility and innovation.
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“I also like to talk about return on life”
Rodrigo doesn’t dismiss the traditional notion of ROI. He acknowledges that an MBA is a significant financial decision. But he encourages applicants to zoom out.
“A lot of people want to talk about return on investment. And that’s fair, but I also like to talk about return on life. Who are the people you’re going to surround yourself with? Who are you going to learn from and grow with?”
For Rodrigo, choosing the right MBA is about more than numbers. It’s about joining a community that will shape the next chapter of your life.
Access to Austin Means Access to the World
The Texas MBA program’s location isn’t just a nice perk. It’s a strategic advantage. Rodrigo highlighted how the University of Texas at Austin’s central positioning gives students front-row access to the city’s vibrant innovation scene and global events.
That proximity isn’t theoretical. Rodrigo described how student groups engage directly with global events like South by Southwest and the annual Formula 1 race:
“Our marketing fellows program, for example, do a session during F1 weekend. Our students got access to the drivers and a lot of different folks in Formula One.”
The connection goes even deeper.
“There was a really big sports weekend here in Austin where the F1 race coincided with a really big American football game. The business school decided to host its Business of Sports Summit. There were folks who were principles for some of the racing car teams, individuals from ESPN, sports figures that all kind of converged right at our doorstep.”
It’s that living, breathing relationship between city and school that makes the McCombs experience unlike any other.
“Those kinds of opportunities are really, really happening because of that relationship between the city and the university.”
The Interview Process at McCombs Is Optional—But Not an Afterthought
At McCombs, the interview process is intentionally designed to be inclusive. Every applicant is allowed to complete all application components, including the interview. Rodrigo Malta explained that McCombs doesn’t pre-select who gets to interview—they leave that choice up to you.
“We do not do any triage… everybody can complete all of the application components.”
While optional, over 80% of applicants choose to complete the interview, and Rodrigo recommends doing the same. Why? Because it gives you a final chance to shape the narrative.
Even better, applicants can choose their interviewer from a list of current students and see details about their backgrounds in advance, so you’re more likely to have a conversation that feels personal and relevant.
Rodrigo’s biggest tip? Use the time strategically. Prepare thoughtful, tailored questions. Show your research. “It doesn’t take a ton of extra work. But it makes a huge impression.”
Cutting-Edge Learning Meets Real-World Impact
At Texas McCombs, preparing students for the future isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a layered strategy that starts with serious academic firepower.
Rodrigo Malta emphasized that McCombs isn’t just passing along ideas from elsewhere; it’s generating them. As a public research university, UT is deeply invested in creating knowledge at the frontier of AI, clean energy, and tech. And McCombs students get direct access to that edge.
“Our students are going to see in the classroom cutting-edge research come to life with real-life applicability.”
Whether it’s clean energy, AI, or emerging tech, McCombs is making sure students don’t just learn the future, they live it.
The Golden Buzzer Moment: Show the Love
When Rodrigo Malta reads an MBA application, he’s looking for more than qualifications. He’s looking for love, specifically, love for Texas McCombs.
He shared that what truly stands out are applicants who go beyond the basics and demonstrate deep, authentic engagement with the school. That doesn’t mean listing off rankings or generic praise. It means putting in the work to understand the culture and showing how you’ll contribute.
“You show love through research, through asking the right questions, being prepared and courteous in every interaction.”
For Rodrigo, that level of care signals something bigger: fit, commitment, and respect. It’s a moment he calls “level three” — when an applicant clearly understands what McCombs is about and what they can bring to the table.
That’s when the buzzer gets hit.
“That’s kind of the moment where we hit the buzzer, the chairs turn, and we say, this person is on my team.”
At McCombs, strong stats and shiny credentials aren’t enough. If you want your application to stand out, show the love, and back it up with action.
This Is Not Just Another MBA Application. It’s a High-Stakes Investment in Your Future
The Hildebrand MBA at Texas McCombs isn’t playing small. With full scholarships, one-on-one executive coaching, and access to global arenas like F1 and South by Southwest, it’s a launchpad for leaders who think big and act bigger.
But to unlock that opportunity, your application needs to do more than check boxes. It needs to tell a clear, compelling story, one that proves you’re ready to lead at the intersection of innovation, business, and impact.
At Ellin Lolis Consulting, we don’t just polish your essays. We build MBA applications that demand attention. We’ve helped high-impact applicants around the world tell bold, authentic stories that align with McCombs’ values: innovation, leadership, and momentum. And we know exactly what it takes to stand out in an application pool that’s only getting stronger.
Our 98.9% success rate isn’t a fluke. It’s a product of sharp strategy, storytelling that converts, and deep experience with programs on the rise, including Texas McCombs.
If you’re ready to take a Texas-sized bet on your future and build an MBA application that turns potential into power, click here to apply to work with us. We’ll help you go from applicant to future Longhorn, no guesswork required.
