Denise Graciela Cosentino
The Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University
Age: 50
“I work tenaciously to make a positive impact on the lives of others.”
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Family Members: My husband, parents, and brother are my greatest supporters and have been a constant source of encouragement throughout my personal and professional journey.
Fun fact about yourself: I am passionate about cooking and serving my community. For 17 years, I volunteered in special events catering at my local church, serving as Chairperson for 13 of those years. What started as a love of cooking became an opportunity to help raise funds for Martha’s Kitchen, St. Vincent De Paul, holiday food baskets, and programs that provided food and job training to individuals in need.
Undergraduate School and Degree: I have a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Santa Clara University.
Where are you currently working? I am the founder and owner of Cosentino Coaching & Consulting LLC.
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: I am an active member of several professional organizations focused on leadership, coaching, and engineering, including the Center for Executive Coaching (CEC), Robbins-Madanes Training (RMT), the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), where I participate in meetings, volunteer, and mentor fellow professionals.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I had the immense privilege of being surrounded by brilliant minds with beautiful and loving hearts, and of witnessing how they shape the world through their deep empathy, high ethical standards, and commitment to action. For this reason, I am especially honored to have been selected class valedictorian. More than a recognition of academic achievement, the distinction reflects the respect and trust of a cohort whose leadership and character I deeply admire.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of becoming an entrepreneur and building my own table. It required tremendous faith, courage, tenacity, and resilience to step out on my own and trust that I could provide greater value and make a broader impact for the communities I serve. This experience has challenged me to grow as a leader and has enabled me to align my work with my purpose and passion.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? It is difficult to identify a single favorite professor, because I had the privilege of learning from exceptional faculty at Santa Clara University. Each played a significant role in my Executive MBA journey and brought a unique perspective that challenged me to think differently and grow as a leader. Their commitment to academic excellence, thoughtful mentorship, and investment in student success made my experience both transformative and memorable. Among those who had the greatest impact on me were Dr. Tammy Madsen, whose vast expertise in corporate strategy resonated deeply with my career trajectory and passion; Dr. Jo-Ellen Pozner, who recruited me into the EMBA program, supported my growth throughout the journey, expanded my understanding of inclusive leadership, and introduced me to sophisticated negotiation frameworks; Dr. Naren Agrawal, who introduced me to the dynamic and complex world of operations and supply chain management; Dr. Kumar Sarangee, who re-ignited my passion for product development; and Dr. Dierdre Frontczak who reinforced the critical role of ethics in business; and Dr. Barry Posner, whose teachings transformed how I coach and develop leaders.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? As a former Bronco, I can personally attest to Santa Clara University’s high-standards, principled leadership, and quality of care for its students. I also strongly align with Santa Clara University’s vision to “educate leaders of competence, conscience and compassion and cultivate knowledge and faith to build a more humane, just, and sustainable world.” This vision is especially relevant in this era of rapid transformation and disruption.
W hat is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work?The biggest lesson I gained during my Executive MBA is that it’s never too late to grow as a leader and make a difference in your life and the lives of others. I apply this lesson in my work through my belief that personal transformation is essential to creating meaningful change in organizations and communities. By investing in my own growth and supporting the growth of those I serve, I help individuals, teams and organizations reach their potential and make a meaningful impact on society.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? I was able to juggle work, family, and education through the tremendous support of my family, friends, cohort, professors, and faculty. Each of these incredible people gave generously of their time, expertise, love, and support.
To maximize my productivity, I habit-stacked learning with daily activities. I purchased Audible versions of course materials when available and listened while exercising, driving, and completing household tasks. By connecting a portable speaker and HDMI cable to electronic displays in my office, home gym, living room, and kitchen, I transformed idle time into learning opportunities. These strategies helped me stay engaged with the coursework while maintaining my professional and personal responsibilities.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? An Executive MBA is more than an academic credential. It’s an opportunity to hone your leadership skills, refine your voice, and expand your impact. It challenges you to grow personally and professionally as you learn alongside seasoned professionals and accomplished leaders who are actively shaping their communities. If you’re considering an EMBA, my advice is to pursue it wholeheartedly. You won’t regret the investment in your personal growth.
What was your biggest regret in business school? I don’t have any regrets from business school. I was intentional about taking advantage of the opportunities afforded to me, learning from exceptional professors, and building relationships with an incredible cohort. The experience enriched me both personally and professionally, and I am grateful for the lifelong friendships and connections that emerged from it.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Santa Clara University integrated AI into several courses, including Information Systems and Business Analytics. Through hands-on learning, I gained a deeper understanding of how to use AI and machine learning to analyze large volumes of data, uncover meaningful relationships through pattern recognition and correlation analysis, and generate actionable insights that inform decision-making. The experience reinforced the importance of leveraging AI responsibly to enhance business outcomes and drive innovation.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? The executive MBA offered an immersive, in-person learning experience with a cohort of accomplished professionals. It provided the opportunity to leverage my professional experience to solve real-world business challenges while learning from the diverse perspectives, expertise, and experience of my classmates, professors, and speakers.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? I financed my EMBA through years of intentional saving and financial planning. Careful planning and disciplined saving over time made the investment possible.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My ultimate long-term professional goal is to grow my company and develop leaders committed to ensuring that talent is not wasted, but realized. I am passionate about coaching leaders, teams, and individuals to create environments in which people can contribute, thrive, and do meaningful work that serves society. Through my work, I aim to cultivate talent, develop leaders, and empower people to do their best work while creating positive change in their organizations and communities. I believe sustainable success is achieved when performance, strategy, and well-being are intentionally aligned, and sustainable performance emerges when leaders balance high standards with humanity, purpose, and meaningful impact.
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