Teaching Notes: Lost in transition: Freddy Rubio’s early-career decisions

“Where do I go from here?” wondered Freddy Rubio, a late-20s professional who had spent the past five years working at a marketing and events company. Although he had enjoyed the experience, he felt stuck and, following a recent breakup, emotionally exhausted. He needed to make bold decisions, but the job market seemed less predictable. Rubio faced a crossroads: invest heavily in an master of business administration (MBA) abroad, pursue a pending selection process for a corporate role in a health-care company or keep his current job.

The MBA, set to begin in three months, required a substantial loan and...