Meet Daniel Reyes Elizondo
With his MBA complete, Daniel Reyes Elizondo has set his sights on expanding access to opportunities for individuals and families across Latin America.
How did you become interested in social entrepreneurship?
After getting my bachelor’s degree in economics at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), I spent three years at a firm called New Ventures, which invests in social entrepreneurs across Latin America. During that time, I worked with many people who were unbelievably passionate about solving problems in the region, such as a founder in Argentina who was providing access to credit for domestic workers and a company in Guatemala that was trying to expand access to electricity in rural mountain communities.
Through this work, I saw firsthand how nonprofits often are limited by scalability. At some point, you simply cannot get enough donations and philanthropic help to grow the organization further. But if someone is willing to pay for your solution to a problem — whether it’s the person in need or someone else who can benefit — you can scale the venture and reach so many more people. That experience was eye-opening for me.
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA at Stanford?
I thought an MBA was the best way to acquire business and leadership skills that would be useful as a social entrepreneur. I also wanted to meet people who are like-minded and passionate about solving complex issues. I knew that Stanford’s Graduate School of Business has had a strong impact in Latin America and that many of its graduates go on to work in nonprofits and government, so it seemed to be a good fit with my goals.
What experiences before Stanford influenced your educational path?
Across Latin America, there is extreme income inequality and lack of access to opportunities. Growing up in Mexico, I realized at a young age how much your start in life determines what you end up being able to do. I was 16 when I volunteered to help build houses in a community outside of Mexico City. Just 30 minutes from where I lived, the people I met shared so many core values with me, and yet they lived in such different circumstances, often without a floor or a ceiling to provide shelter. I remember feeling angry about that inequality. And I wanted to do something about it, so I decided to study economics to build better outcomes for people in my region.
How did you first learn about Knight-Hennessy Scholars?
I’m the second Mexican to have received this scholarship. The first Knight-Hennessy scholar from Mexico, Alain Pineda, is a friend from my undergraduate program. He was pursuing a PhD in economics at Stanford and joined the first cohort of scholars in 2018. He posted about Knight-Hennessy, and I was amazed and stayed in touch with him. When I got into Stanford and decided to apply to Knight-Hennessy Scholars, he was so supportive.
How would you describe your time at Stanford?
In the beginning, I remember thinking I should feel exhausted by all I was doing, but I was incredibly energized. I wasn’t sleeping a lot and I had so much work to do. But every conversation left me feeling more motivated.
Even once I settled in, there was never really a standard day. The only constant was that every day presented an opportunity to learn something amazing, both from experts I had admired from a distance and from fellow scholars who came from such different backgrounds.
What did you enjoy in your free time?
Stanford is such a beautiful place — whether it’s Denning House, The Oval, or the GSB library. I enjoyed exploring the campus, finding places to read, and catching up with friends. Sometimes we played board games, and I also took up new hobbies, like biking and learning how to DJ.
How did being a Knight-Hennessy scholar shape your experience at Stanford?
When I went to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars retreats at Asilomar and Sierra Camp, they were transformative for me. I liked how the scholars themselves chose the topics for our conference. I also went on a Travel Study trip to South Africa with a group of scholars and Professor Jim Campbell. It was a life-changing experience. I read all the books he recommended before the trip, just for the pleasure of learning.
Looking back on my two years, I’d say that I learned that no dream is too big to work toward and being part of a diverse community expands your view of what’s needed and what’s possible. It’s amazing to think that the scholars I’ve met are people who will be changing the world and we’re all part of each other’s journeys. I’ve made lifelong friends through the program and, thanks to the funding, I can explore just about any path with my degree, since I don’t have to work my way out of debt first. That’s huge.
What are your goals in the longer term?
I want to go back to Latin America and start a company that helps to generate better opportunities across the region. I’m not sure if the focus will be on finance, education, or health, but the goal is to help people improve well-being for themselves and their families.
As a next step, I’m joining a New York-based startup called Headway, which is focused on expanding access to mental health care. Long term, my heart will always be in Mexico. I’m excited to do something impactful that can improve people’s lives throughout Latin America.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars?
First, I’d say use the application process as an opportunity for growth. Connect with the people you love and do some introspection as you craft your essays. Second, if you’re someone who looks at the scholar profiles online and doubts your own qualifications, try to reframe the application as a positive. Think how exciting it would be to join this group, so the process becomes a motivator. Finally, don’t sacrifice your academic program application for the sake of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars application. You need to get into your Stanford degree program in order to receive a Knight-Hennessy scholarship. In my experience, if you approach the application with these points in mind, it becomes a genuine and enjoyable process.