The case method is wrapped in mystery for many MBA candidates. It is this magical craft that trains students to become CEOs. In reality, it is the execution, as much as the methodology, that creates the alchemy.
On the surface, the case method involves dissecting business ‘stories,’ judging the strategies and fateful decisions that led to riches or ruin. In reality, it is a way of thinking that is reinforced with each reading and discussion. Think of the case classroom as high stakes armchair quarterbacking. Instead of venting, students are role-playing, wresting with the same contradictory data, ambiguous trends, agonizing tradeoffs, and risky alternatives as their c-suite protagonists. Here, diversity is paramount, as students with differing cultural and professional backgrounds often swing discussions in fresh and unexpected directions. In the process, case professors adopt a new role, going from a ‘sage on the stage’ to a guide who channels the passions and expertise of students – and a devil’s advocate who isn’t afraid to ask the uncomfortable questions.
IESE MBAs ANALYZE THREE CASES A DAY
“The approach is more centered on understanding how to first analyze a problem and second go to the different criteria used to solve the problem,” explains Julia Prats, the MBA Dean at IESE Business School in a 2018 interview with Poets&Quants. “You go through the scenarios and look at the alternatives before finally making a decision. After that, you reflect on the effects of these decisions on the people involved.”
Few MBA programs have embraced the case method like IESE Business School. By graduation, IESE students can expect to read over 600 case studies. This teaching method stems from the school’s heritage, when Harvard Business School partnered with the school to train faculty on the art of successfully implementing the secrets case method. Fast forward 50 years and Harvard Business School and IESE are neck-and-neck in teaching quality at the top of the latest Economist student survey (4.71 vs. 4.66 respectively on a 5.0 scale). Not surprisingly, both programs focus on general management, with the case method designed to simulate exactly what students will face once they graduate.
IESE Case Classroom
“We believe it trains people to do what general managers do all day long in that part of the job,” adds Prats. “It puts you in a real situation and asks you to play the role of the protagonist. I think it is very effective because, at the end, it is like you were in a small trial and you can learn how to act and react. It’s not just a story. It’s not something where you can play around and just give opinions. It is a very different thing that requires you to be well-prepared. It is something where people change their mindsets.”
SCHOOL KNOWN FOR ACADEMIC RIGOR AND PERSONAL ATTENTION
Indeed, the case method is one of IESE’s trademark experiences – one that drew Ali Alamein, an Australian asset planner, to Barcelona to join the Class of 2020. “I am a practical person and I believe I will learn best in a case-driven program where I can break down complex problems, prioritize what is important, and find the optimal solution,” he says. “I think it will be particularly interesting to see the diversity of opinions and learn from my classmates in the process.”
IESE is sometimes called the “Iberian Ivy,” a nod no doubt to its Catalonian setting and Harvard roots. Nestled in the hills of the University of Navarra and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, IESE is a bit of an educational throwback. Renowned for its academic rigor, the school boasts a jaw-dropping 4:1 student-to-faculty ratio – with 100% of MBA professors holding a Ph.D. The program also prides itself on its international flavor, which extends to a faculty hailing from 30 different nationalities. In addition, IESE is a far-flung enterprise, with locations in six locations outside Barcelona: Madrid, New York City, Sāo Paulo, Shanghai, Nairobi, and München (Germany) – a must for a school again ranked as the very best executive education program in the world.
Still, it is IESE’s teaching excellence that separates it from most business school. This stems from its apprenticeship culture, where senior faculty members lavish feedback and personal attention on their junior peers. This coaching culture doesn’t stop in the faculty offices, however. It is applied equally to IESE MBAs, with faculty devoting time and genuine interest in their students, creating a trickle-down camaraderie and compassion among classmates.
FROM IRAQI REFUGEE TO IESE MBA CANDIDATE
“These are very critical years for students,” Prats notes. They are changing careers, going from one country to the next, so there are many things going on. Having someone who is not just a pure teacher, but a mentor to help with their own careers and to understand themselves is very important. Our faculty does that. That’s why there is a sentiment here among the students that there is ‘Someone who cares about me.’”
That’s important in a truly international program like IESE, where 81% of the Class of 2020 comes from outside Spain. Overall, 55 nations are represented in the incoming class, with a third of the students being women. It also ranks among IESE’s most formidible classes ever, boasting a 686 average GMAT – up 16 points over the previous intake.
A class is far more than its numbers. That’s particularly true for 2020, whose members include a senior drug safety officer at Pfizer, a Brexit project manager from AIG, and the head of marketing and communications at Bitly. However, their stories are far more interesting than their titles. Take Ali Alamein, whose family left Iraq to escape Saddam Hussein’s brutal regime. Now a father, Alamein looks back and realizes that he must step forward and pay forward his good fortune – and he plans to do it through his MBA.
Entrance to IESE
“Australia gave us a second chance at life and we have all done our best not to waste this opportunity,” he writes. “Well, now I realize that I can start giving back, not just as a role-model, but as someone who dedicates their career to improving the world. The sacrifices my family and I made can’t compare with the sacrifices the Iraqi people have made to destroy evil, like ISIS. For years, Saddam murdered and terrorized many intellectuals and people with a vision for the nation, leaving a leadership vacuum in Iraq. I believe an MBA at IESE will help me become one of the leaders Iraq needs to re-build.”
FROM WANDERING THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK TO PRAYING WITH THE DALAI LAMA
Then there is Eta Yu. After graduation, she plans to launch an enterprise in China that fosters cultural connection through tourism. In college, her first venture was helping people with leprosy find work. To do this, she relied on Canton mythology – and making handicrafts that represented its rich culture.
“In three months, we visited everywhere in the fabric market, trying to find the right materials and an experienced Canton embroidery master,” she explains. “We contacted numerous NGOs seeking help in exporting those handicrafts. This project helped solve the patients’ financial problems. This experience made me realize the beauty of business and the possible positive impact that business can bring to people.”
Like that story? Well, Yu has plenty more. “Having visited over 50 countries, I’ve accumulated a lifetime of experiences,” she says. “I drove across the Australian outback, dived in the Similan islands, and prayed in Dharamshala with the Dalai Lama. Not every experience was joyous. In Beirut as bombs went off, I was stunned by how normal the locals reacted. In Gansu, I saw real water scarcity meeting people who trekked many miles just to shower. In Kolkata volunteering at a charity, I felt helpless to assuage their pain of the dying, only able to offer words as they passed from this world. All experiences changed the way I see the world, made me understand, respect and appreciate diverse cultures.”
“THE HUMAN LABRADOR” BRINGS JOY TO BARCELONA
Yu isn’t alone in visiting over 50 countries. That honor also belongs to Tetsuya Hasuoka, a self-described “passionate samurai” who was previously a CFO of Japan’s fifth largest general trading company that houses over 39,000 employees. His claim to fame? He was born on the same month, day, and year as his wife! In Australia, Ali Alamein was a chess champion – a skill he learned from a man in Indonesia even though they couldn’t speak each other’s language. Leila Areff, a banking executive from South Africa, can recite the lyrics – and break out the dance moves – from every 1980s pop song. How did Karina Kleissl get the nickname, “The human Labrador?” “I always get very excited with the smallest and most simple things,” gushes the Brazil native.
These students also carry a distinct – and consistent – description of their classmates. Kleissl has been struck by the “family feel,” a cohort where the “general mentality is that we are all in this together and we want every one of us to succeed.” Indeed, this ‘Us vs. Them’ Outlook has been replaced by a surprising receptiveness…even candor at times, says Tetsuya Hasuoka.
IESE
“The classmates I met have a bigger picture,” he observes. “They are very open-minded, willing to learn from different countries and cultures, as well as wanting to tell the worldwide classmates what they had experienced, sometimes failed, in their professional life.”
PUTTING YOURSELF IN THE SHOES…OF 40 DIFFERNT CULTURES
“Open-mindedness” is just one of the terms that Gintare Petrauskaite uses to describe her classmates. The others? “Humility, fun, professionalism, excellence, [and] diversity.” Among the Class of 2020, “diversity” is a word that repeatedly pops up in a word cloud. It is a homage to what motivated many students – past and present – to come to IESE in the first place: Learning how to navigate an increasingly globalized world.
“Being a business school in Spain, IESE’s internationality and amplitude of diverse perspectives is underestimated,” writes Adelina Gerteis, a P&Q MBA To Watch from IESE’s Class of 2018. “I was personally surprised by how far many of my classmates traveled to be part of IESE. My core team of nine people, for example, came from Malaysia, Philippines, Brazil, Peru, Romania, Germany, Spain and Australia. Just imagine our discussions and intercultural experiences. I really learned to think outside the box and put myself in at least 40 culturally different shoes.”
Academically, the Class of 2020 features a broad range of undergraduate majors, including Business (42%), Engineering (33%), Humanities (15%), and Sciences (10%). It is an equally diverse mix in terms of career choices, with 61% of the class working outside the financial services (20%), consulting (13%), and public service (6%) sectors. That said, the IESE vision of diversity goes beyond careers, cultural backgrounds, and long-term goals. It also encompasses what Julian Becker calls “diversity of thought.”
View of Barcelona from IESE campus.
IESE MAKES MAJOR JUMP IN THE RANKINGS
“While many MBA programs gather students that are diverse in terms of origin, IESE manages to get a unique variety of different perspective on a table,” writes this giraffe-loving management consultant. “During several events, this diversity of thought has already made myself self-reflect and change.”
This fall, the big news at IESE involved the annual Economist ranking. Buoyed by high marks in faculty quality, school culture, and alumni diversity, the school surged from 17th to 6th in the world, topping mainstays like INSEAD, London Business School, MIT Sloan, and Columbia Business School.
That’s not the only big news on campus, says Pascal Michels, Head of IESE MBA Admissions. In a statement to P&Q, he touts several major developments over the first past year. The first, he notes, is the school’s €10 million investment in construction on campus, with new and revamped facilities supplying additional co-working spaces and classrooms, along with a new student lounge, to provide what he calls a more “holistic learning experience.”
AN INCREASE IN FIRMS RECRUITING IESE MBAs
The MBA Career Services has also been re-structured. Now the Career Development Center (CDC), the new structure is divided into three units to increase opportunities and better support students, alumni, and employers: Career Management and Counseling, Employer Engagement and Advising, and Events and Operations. In addition, the MBA Admissions team has added some new faces, with Michels pointing out that the 20-person team includes 14 different nationalities.
Pascal Michels
“Unlike other schools,” he notes, “the person that MBA candidates will meet in their application process have all graduated from IESE as well. This allows potential incoming students to speak with expert advisers, who know first-hand how IESE’s MBA can be beneficial to each candidate’s personal and professional goals.”
Michels is also upbeat about career opportunities for the Class of 2020, pointing to higher influx of employers at IESE’s MBA career forums and fairs – and a wider mix of firms and industries. “The finance industry continues to change,” he points out. “As the big names in finance continue to recruit our graduates heavily, FinTech companies such as N26, Revolut, and many more have started to invest in IESE talent both for internships and full-time career opportunities. In response to the increase, we have expanded the occasions where companies can meet with our top talent. IESE’s Career Forum has expanded its sectors through our Start Up Career Forum on our main campus and through IESE’s industry conferences in Energy, Impact Investing, Search Funds and Real Estate. Along with these added recruitment opportunities, IESE’s Women in Business Conference, with its exceptional roster of speakers, also provides exceptional recruitment opportunities for IESE MBAs. IESE’s Career Fairs are not just limited to our Barcelona campus but also take place in Asia and Latin America.”
AN IESE MBA DEGREE TAKES A LOT OF HARD WORK
Aside from potent cases and diverse populations, IESE’s location is another advantage that draws students worldwide. Michels calls Barcelona one of the world’s most beautiful cities, one that – in his words – “evokes images of sunny beaches, modernist architecture and Mediterranean cuisine. Indeed, endless fideua lunches, leisurely strolls through picturesque neighborhoods, and weekends at the beach are part of the local way of life.”
Beyond the romance, there’s a catch. IESE graduates and students alike joke that ‘You may have the best view of Barcelona from the hilltop, but you probably won’t have time to enjoy it!’ Make no mistake: IESE is not an MBA Lite experience packed with bar crawls, exotic trips, weekly confessionals, and Fridays off. In this program, the workload is heavy – think 15 cases a week. And that’s on top of team projects, club work, and networking. That’s something Michels wants candidates to know up front.
“The academic rigor and challenging workload of our MBA program at times gets overlooked as it clashes with the image of Barcelona,” he admits. “IESE’s aim is to transform the lives of our MBA students, and our philosophy is that this will happen through a mix of diversity in the classroom, academic excellence, and ultimately a lot of hard work. Each day our students discuss three case studies in their team-meetings and then in the classroom. In the afternoon, they go on to prepare the three cases for the next day. This happens every day for the entire first year.”
WORKLOAD BECOMES MANAGEABLE EVENTUALLY
That’s not to say the workload amounts to two years of living like a hermit, bereft of a social life and spending late nights brushing up on Apple and Lincoln Electric. Instead, the academic heft taught graduates like Ahmed Bakr to become sharper and faster, focusing on key elements and cutting wasted motion to make the reading and analysis manageable.
“Having 80% of your classes taught using the case method means that if you are to get the most out of your time in class, you must prepare the cases,” writes the 2018 P&Q Best & Brightest MBA and IESE grad. “While time-consuming at the beginning, after the first term, you become really good at identifying the information that matters the most when analyzing a case. Cases that would have usually taken me hours to read and analyze, now take less than an hour to go through; leaving plenty of time to enjoy the extracurricular and social parts of the MBA experience.”
IESE students on an overseas trip.
Such demands also force MBAs to ruthlessly prioritize what’s truly important – an invaluable skill that often separates successful business leaders from peers who end up as case study cautionary tales. “I decided to design my MBA life based on my three goals: networking, learning, and soft skills,” writes Jieqiong Xu, another P&Q Best & Brightest from IESE’s 2018 Class. “This is how I learned prioritization and giving things up. This is how, paradoxically, I elevated my MBA life to the maximum.”
TWO YEAR FORMAT GETS HIGH MARKS
In short, IESE subscribes to this approach for a simple reason: It gets results. “Among the many reasons to attend a top rated MBA program, academic quality often gets overlooked or treated like a commodity,” Michel adds. “It is useful to be reminded every now and then that academic excellence is not a given. IESE as an institution takes the quality of teaching extremely seriously and invests a lot in training professors in how to conduct a case discussion. We believe that the hard work we ask from our students is ultimately where a lot of the transformative value of the program lies.”
The Class of 2020 will be given plenty of time to make this transformation. Unlike many European full-time MBA programs, IESE is a two-year affair, with students able to choose between a 15 or 19 month experience. In the process, students can take the time to explore their passions, take on uncomfortable roles, and truly get to know their classmates…and future network – one that expands to 12,000 MBAs and 45,000 business graduates around the world.
“I appreciated the fact that the course duration is longer than most European b-schools,” says Leila Areff. “I’ve heard a lot of MBA graduates say that their programme was like a whirlwind, I am looking forward to having ample time to cover all the course material and do a summer internship.”
NEW VENTURE HUB IN THE WORKS
Or start up a company for that matter. That’s what Julian Becker plans to do as part of IESE’s Summer Entrepreneurship Challenge, a three month program where select students can launch their own venture. “I will have the chance to work on a social business idea and already learn how to start a company from setting up its legal structure to designing its products,” he explains. “In the “safe environment” of the MBA, this program is a unique opportunity to fail and try again.”
According to Eddy Zakes, IESE’s Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, students are expressing increasing interest in the startup space. In fact, 7% of the Class of 2017 worked in businesses they launched after graduation. In response, the school has expanded its tech transfer offering, created a new venture capital fellowship program and enhanced its Summer Entrepreneurship experience. Even more, IESE will be opening a new Venture Hub in the near future according to Zakes.
“It will feature a multi-purpose co-working space for student startups that can also be used for hosting workshops, events, meetups, and special courses; a creative zone for casual meetings and a change of work environment; multiple meeting rooms with technology packages for convenient video conferencing and team sessions; and it will also centralize and improve access to the offices of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center including FINAVES (IESE’s venture capital fund) and the IESE Business Angel Network (which earlier this year announced its 200th startup investment)…While every startup will succeed based on the skill and commitment of its founder and the merits of the project itself, the Venture Hub is meant to serve those working on a specific project with the support, mentorship, community, and encouragement to pursue their entrepreneurial ambition.”
LETTING FATE PLAY ITS HAND
IESE in Barcelona
It’d be hard to argue with the results. Since its founding, FINAVES has spawned 40 running businesses that employ over 2,500 people. By the same token, the Business Angels, a 150 member investor network that offers coaching and networking opportunities to IESE students, has financed over 140 businesses to the tune of €10 million. Overall, according to Crunchbase data, IESE startups have generated roughly $919 million in funding. Still, Zakes believes an entrepreneurial mindset, as much as a functioning business, is the biggest benefit of IESE’s entrepreneurship program.
“Just as we believe that you are not born a leader, but all can learn to lead, we also believe that you are not born an entrepreneur, but can learn to think and act entrepreneurially,” he asserts. “In fact, we believe that this entrepreneurial mindset is a critical success factor for every business leader, whether he or she is working in a three-person startup or a gigantic multi-national corporation.”
What’s next for the Class of 2020? Gintare Petrauskaite came to IESE to pursue a consulting career, but admits this role “couldn’t be further from who I am right now.” Her new plan is to pursue entrepreneurship…for now. “One thing I am sure of, it is ok to be ‘wrong’ as change is the only constant in life.”
Torsten Alexander, who studied classics at Oxford, is more focused on the quality of the work and the people who surround him. “I hope to be leading a team of intellectually engaged problem-solvers in an industry that I feel truly passionate about,” he says. “Beyond that, as long as my job has a reasonable degree of autonomy, complexity, and a positive correlation between effort and reward, I’ll be happy!”
Like Petrauskaite, Laura Napoli isn’t quite sure what she wants to do either. For her, that’s really the fun part of the whole IESE experience. “I couldn’t have guessed five years ago that I’d be in Barcelona getting ready to attend IESE in the fall, and I couldn’t be happier about where I am right now. I think it’s okay to leave a little room in our plans for fate to play its hand!”
What led these professionals to enter business schools? Which programs did they also consider? What strategies did they use to choose their MBA program? What was the major event that defined them? Find the answers to these questions and many more in the in-depth profiles of these incoming MBA candidates.
| Student | Hometown | Alma Mater | Previous Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ali Alamein | Karbala, Iraq | University of Melbourne | WaterNSW |
| Torsten Alexander | London, UK | Oxford University | AIG |
| Leila Areff | Johannesburg, South Africa | University of Johannesburg | Rand Merchant Bank |
| Julian Becker | Koblenz, Germany | Otto Beisheim School of Management | Oliver Wyman |
| Anna Del Llano | Barcelona, Spain | University of Barcelona | Pfizer |
| Deema Habboub | Tampa Bay, Florida | University of Florida | Harklinikken |
| Tetsuya Hasuoka | Tokyo, Japan | Keio University | Marubeni Corporation |
| Laura Napoli | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Georgetown University | Bitly |
| Karina Kleissl | Sāo Paulo, Brazil | Maastricht University | BTG Pactual |
| Gintare Petrauskaite | Kaunas, Lithuania | Copenhagen Business School | Intrum Group |
| Dat Quoc Pham | Hanoi, Vietnam | Foreign Trade University (Hanoi) | HATCH! Ventures |
| Henrique Ramin | São Paulo, Brazil | Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo | Ethiopia Investment Limited |
| Eta Yu | Jiangsu, China | Sun yat-sen University | Jia Home |
Ali Alamein
IESE Business School
“A refugee aiming to use his second chance at life to make a difference.”
Hometown: Shepparton, Australia – originally from Karbala, Iraq
Fun Fact About Yourself: When I was 15 migrating to Australia, my family and I stayed in Indonesia for about three months. In this time, I made friends with an Indonesian man who taught me how to play chess even though we didn’t speak each other’s language. In the couple of years that followed and after arriving in Australia, I went on to win a number of titles at school, club and state levels.
Undergraduate School and Major:
Bachelors of Engineering (Civil) and Science (Operations Research) at the University of Melbourne
Post-graduate Certificate in Business at Monash University
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: WaterNSW, Asset Planner
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I have been fortunate to have had a well-rounded career in engineering and project management practicing in all areas of engineering projects including asset management and planning, design engineering, project management, and construction and commissioning. This has allowed me to work on many large water infrastructure projects both for large engineering consultancies and government statutory corporations.
I am proud of the fact that I have also been fortunate to live within some of the impacted communities and see the impact of my work first-hand – building communities and contributing to the sustainable future of water, agriculture and the environment.
This well-rounded career, along with my obsession for optimization, has put me in many positions where I have been able to suggest and implement both project and organizational changes that have resulted in many improvements and efficiencies at an organizational level.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? I attended the IESE Assessment Day in Singapore, where I met some of my future classmates. This ultimately played a big role in my decision to choose IESE. Spending a day with the other candidates was very exciting. Amongst other things, what stood out was the diversity not only in terms of where people came from but also their career profile, age and gender. Everyone was very smart, friendly, open, genuine, and keen to be there and contribute. Also, another thing that has since impressed me is the willingness for everyone to help and share. For example, two of the students that I have never even met volunteered to travel to the other side of Barcelona to inspect a flat for me while I am still in Australia.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? There’s a long list! My future classmates, the fact that IESE is amongst the top MBA schools in the world, its location, the focus on general management, and in particular the case study methodology.
For me, IESE and Harvard particularly stood out for that very reason. Just to know that, by the end of the first week, I would probably have to go through over ten case studies, it is very exciting. I am a practical person and I believe I will learn best in a case driven program where I can break down complex problems, prioritize what is important, and find the optimal solution. I think it will be particularly interesting to see the diversity of opinions and learn from my classmates in the process.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? As a Barcelona FC fan, it is hard to ignore the fact that our campus will be a short stroll from the Camp Nou. I am looking forward to attending games and be part of the experience.
Some of the alumni also mentioned one of their projects involved working with Barcelona FC and that prospect is very exciting.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I have always been interested in going back to university and furthering my business knowledge. I considered two main factors in deciding if this is the right time.
Firstly, in terms of my personal life, we had our first son last year and it made us evaluate what is currently important to us. Certainly doing an MBA in Barcelona and also being only a couple of hours away from Paris and Milan (especially for my wife), was on top of the priority list now before having any more kids.
On a professional level, I believe I have obtained the technical knowledge and can only go so far in the interim in achieving my long term goals in engineering. An MBA will allow me to develop my management skills and business acumen, along with helping me to build on my strengths and potential to achieve these goals.
I also believe it is the right time for me to expand my network, giving me greater access to some of the greatest minds and many future CEO’s. This will provide me with new information, perspectives and innovative ideas, and give me a greater appreciation of what people are doing globally.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Purely from a monetary perspective, it is a decision that is hard to justify, especially in the short term and given my specific circumstances. However, this is the biggest investment I have ever made and the decision hasn’t come lightly.
What I believe will make this investment worth it is the whole Barcelona experience, the network and relationships, the confidence, the intellectual rigor, the business acumen, and the world of opportunities that an MBA at IESE will bring with it to help me optimize my skills and ultimately make a meaningful difference and impact.
The question is whether there is a cheaper way of achieving all these benefits and for me I don’t believe there is.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley and London Business School.
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I shortlisted using some specific Go/No Go criteria then used other factors in developing a multi-criteria analysis to evaluate fit. These include:
- School reputation/ranking and quality/style/focus of teaching
- Location
- Length of course
- School culture – collaboration and industry experience
- Diversity (nationalities, gender, age and career profiles)
- Experience/advice from friends
- Target school for top companies i.e. MBB’s
- Career services, job placement/internship opportunity
- Corporate social responsibility
- Availability of financial aid and scholarships
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I have had a number of defining moments including the biggest one, which is my family’s migration to Australia as refugees fleeing risk of persecution from Saddam’s regime in Iraq in 2002. Australia gave us a second chance at life and we have all done our best not to waste this opportunity.
More recently though, earlier in 2017, I became a father and it has been life-changing. Most of all in my outlook – I am now so devoted to someone else’s well-being; it has made me realize that while my journey has been a struggle, it has mostly been about me: proving as a refugee I can be someone. Well, now I realize that I can start giving back, not just as a role-model, but as someone who dedicates their career to improving the world. The sacrifices my family and I made can’t compare with the sacrifices the Iraqi people have made to destroy evil, like ISIS. For years, Saddam murdered and terrorized many intellectuals and people with a vision for the nation, leaving a leadership vacuum in Iraq. I believe an MBA at IESE will help me become one of the leaders Iraq needs to re-build.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I am certainly keeping an open mind, but I do believe management consulting would be the best next step. While an MBA will help me carve out the first few steps to the rest of my future and achieving my long term goals, I believe pursuing a career in management consulting will better position me to further develop and practice the business knowledge and strategic thinking I will gain at IESE at an accelerated rate.
I love problem solving and I believe management consulting at an MBB is the best place to be exposed to a variety of business problem solving. The variety of business challenges that will come with management consulting will expose me to many industries and functions. This will open new doors and provide me with world class network of colleagues and clients.
Where do you see yourself in five years? I would like to use the MBA and work as a management consultant as a platform to obtain a management role in a global assets and infrastructure firm. However, it is hard to say what the future brings especially given I am about to embark on a journey that is likely to lead to a substantial transformation and expose me to a world of opportunities. I may even end up pursuing my other dream of becoming a CEO of a not-for-profit organization dedicated either to refugee’s affair or providing clean water and sanitation to third world countries.
Torsten Alexander
IESE Business School
“Relentless optimist with strong self-discipline and innate concern for others.”
Hometown: London, United Kingdom
Fun Fact About Yourself: I am an identical twin (younger by 13 minutes!)
Undergraduate School and Major: Oxford University – Classics
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: AIG – Manager, Brexit Project
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Shortly after moving from London to Madrid, I played a significant role in developing and launching AIG Spain’s 3-year strategic plan. As a large company with such a long history, AIG was a particularly difficult place to get people to change the traditional, accepted ways of working. By focusing on a small office of 150 employees, we made a genuine and positive impact on the way people approached their work, starting by instilling a sense of pride in the brand. Defining and promoting AIG Spain’s long-term vision was a special highlight for me during the project as you could really feel the impression it made on people across the branch.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Openness, without doubt. Every classmate I have met so far has had a real sense of empathy and enthusiasm to get to know other people that I have rarely seen in so many people. Given my experience during the selection process, it doesn’t surprise me that this quality has shone through in every classmate I’ve met so far – IESE puts an unusually large emphasis on people’s characteristics and ability to build relationships very quickly.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The key factor that led me to choose IESE was the way the faculty treated me throughout the application process. Unlike other business schools I applied to, with IESE I felt like every interaction I had was with a person who genuinely cared about what was best for me, rather than an institution solely looking out for its own interests. The size of the class and the emphasis on personal characteristics at IESE made it stand out as one that really values people above all else. And that to me is something quite rare, but very important, in such a well-established institution.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I have always been a big football fan – both as a player and as a supporter, so I am most looking forward to joining the IESE Football Club. What excites me most is the opportunity to play in a team that will likely be made up of many different nationalities. Let’s see how the various styles of play complement each other!
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? During my career so far, my role has usually been a mix of ‘internal consulting’ and medium-term projects, but what has motivated and interested me the most are the strategy-related parts. After speaking to friends and family and doing some basic research, I realized that strategy consulting would be an ideal sector for me to pursue. Given that I am still relatively early in my career with no definite career path mapped out, and that most top strategy consulting firms require an MBA for associate level roles, now is the perfect time for me to take some time away from work to pursue an MBA.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Every person I have met who has completed an MBA at a top business school has impressed me with their level of motivation and drive to succeed. Additionally, I have never met someone with an MBA who said they regretted it. I didn’t need to calculate any hypothetical ‘return on investment’ to see if an MBA was worth it. Just speaking to former MBAs was enough to convince me that it would absolutely be worth the investment.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia.
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I knew I wanted to be at a business school that attracts highly motivated and competitive people, as that would help drive me to perform better. I also want to work internationally upon graduating, so choosing a school with a strong international mix was important in my decision process. But really the best way to determine my fit at various schools was by talking to as many people as possible from different schools and gauging their values and characteristics to see if they were broadly in line with my own.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I would struggle to pinpoint a single moment that defines who I am. However, growing up as an identical twin is probably the factor that has most shaped my character. Being an identical twin has its pros and cons. On the one hand, I feel blessed to have shared my childhood with someone so similar to me in so many ways. On the other, I’ve had to work hard to express myself as an individual, rather than one of ‘the Alexander twins.’ But the effort has driven me to make uniquely-defining life and career decisions. Additionally, being a twin meant that I grew up collaborating and competing equally. That competitiveness has driven me to achieve my best in whatever I do, whether it was scoring goals on the football field or striving to outscore my classmates in math quizzes. But being a twin has also ingrained in me practically from the moment I was born that people are more effective in teams than as individuals.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to join a strategy consulting firm, either in London or in Madrid, with a view to learning about as many new industries as possible.
Where do you see yourself in five years? I hope to be leading a team of intellectually engaged problem-solvers in an industry that I feel truly passionate about. Beyond that, as long as my job has a reasonable degree of autonomy, complexity, and a positive correlation between effort and reward, I’ll be happy!
Leila Areff
IESE Business School
Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
Fun Fact About Yourself: I know the lyrics and dance moves to every 80’s pop song.
Undergraduate School and Major: University of Johannesburg BCom Accounting Honours
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Rand Merchant Bank, Deal Transactor Principal Investments, Investment Banking Division
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: The biggest accomplishment in my career so far has been being part of the team that won the prestigious Financial Mail Analyst of the Year Award for equity research in our sector.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Being based in Johannesburg, South Africa, I have yet to meet any of my future classmates. But if the Whatsapp group interaction is anything to go by everyone seems extremely helpful and supportive of each other. Some people also have a great sense of humor and well-developed GIF skills. I also like the fact that the student body is so international and diverse.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I appreciated the fact that the course duration is longer than most European B-Schools. I’ve heard a lot of MBA graduates say that their programme was like a whirlwind, I am looking forward to having ample time to cover all the course material and do a summer internship.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’ve been wanting to join a Salsa club for years now, but my work schedule has not allowed it. It would be great to finally find out whether time or lack of rhythm is the true constraining factor. I would also like to join the responsible Business Club.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? At this point in my career, I feel more confident in my current skill set and feel the MBA could provide me with more general management perspective and enhance my entrepreneurial skills. I also feel I am more mature, focused, and motivated than I have ever been.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I did a lot of research and spoke to a lot of MBA graduates and international hiring consultants. Everyone I’ve spoken to has said their MBA was the best thing they’ve ever done and has afforded them invaluable skills. Also, besides the benefits for one’s career I look forward to making some life-long friends; priceless.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? London Business School
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I was looking for school with a focus on diversity, a programme which considers itself a global MBA, had an entrepreneurial focus and of course was highly ranked.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I don’t think I have one defining moment, I am a product of all my experiences and interactions. I do feel however, that growing up in a country like South Africa with such a unique political and cultural background has influenced me greatly; being known as the Rainbow Nation embracing diversity is who we are.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I’ve always had a passion for investing and understanding value drivers and I would like to explore venture capital roles with a focus on impact investing.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Hopefully I will be back home in South Africa after having gained some international experience and skills which I can apply to our local market, which is rich with opportunity and thirsty for innovation.
Julian Becker
IESE Business School
“Driven, entrepreneurial individual with strategy consulting background and entrepreneurship aspirations.”
Hometown: Koblenz, Germany
Fun Fact About Yourself: Enthusiastic about anything related to Giraffes
Undergraduate School and Major: WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, Vallendar, Germany
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Oliver Wyman, Management Consultant
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Beside my job as management consultant, I organized a conference on social entrepreneurship called “SensAbility” connecting 250 social entrepreneurs and students together on a yearly basis. Four months before the conference, two of three main sponsors withdrew their support resulting in a five-digit budget deficit. As head of the team responsible for sponsoring and finance, I intensified sponsoring activities within my team, signed a new main sponsor and organized several fundraiser events. Ultimately, we managed to close the budget gap within two months only and ran a successful conference later that year.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Diversity of thought – while many MBA programs gather students that are diverse in terms of origin, IESE manages to get a unique variety of different perspective on a table. During several events, this diversity of thought has already made myself self-reflect and change.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? IESE is well-known for its “Summer Entrepreneurship Challenge”, a three-month dedicated program during which a student founds a company between the 1st and the 2nd year. There, I will have the chance to work on a social business idea and already learn how to start a company from setting up its legal structure to designing its products. In the “safe environment” of the MBA, this program is a unique opportunity to fail and try again.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Entrepreneurship club
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After three years in the consulting profession, I have gathered expertise on how to run projects and work together in teams. With the MBA, I now want to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to found and sustainably run a company and hope to achieve this goal by programs such as the “Summer Entrepreneurship Challenge” as well as a student body full of smart individuals of which many have already founded companies or worked in entrepreneurial environments.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? The experiences and network from my MBA will materialize not only over the next 5 years, but over my entire working life (i.e. 40 – 50 years). Given this long timeframe I am pretty convinced that the investment will ultimately pay off.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Apart from IESE, I considered enrolling at INSEAD and the London Business School. After partaking in several events and the admission process at IESE, I was fully convinced that it is this program that suites my entrepreneurial and personal growth targets best.
How did you determine your fit at various schools?
What factors did you prioritize? Diversity of personalities among applicants, MBA candidates and alumni, entrepreneurship course offering, program length, and MBA rankings
What tools did you use to evaluate schools? School visits, exchange with IESE alumni within current employer, and web research
How did you research culture? Interactions with individuals during school visits.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? At the age of 16, I moved to Valencia to visit a local Spanish-speaking high school. Despite not speaking the language and having no prior connection to the country, I quickly managed to immerge into this unknown surrounding and become fluent in Spanish within short time. Personally, my exchange to Spain helped me to develop my ability to adapt to new environments and gave me the positive mindset I leverage today to my professional and personal greater challenges.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? After my graduation in 2020, I want to return to Oliver Wyman and put in practice the learnings I will have gathered during my MBA at IESE. There, I will focus on gaining in-depth experience in applications of machine learning within the firm’s Digital, Technology & Analytics practice and quickly develop towards a senior project manager at Oliver Wyman.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself in the management of my own tech start-up.
Anna Del Llano
IESE Business School
“I am calm and at the same time very active. I Love people!”
Hometown: Barcelona, Spain
Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a very relaxed and responsible person. That is why so people might get surprised to find out that I would never miss a social event with my friends. I am very social and I get on well with all kind of different personalities. Another fact that can surprise people who do not know me very well is that I love climbing and other adventure sports.
Undergraduate School and Major: University of Barcelona (UB), Pharmacy
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Pfizer, Senior Drug Safety Officer
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:
In 2016, I was working and studying for a master’s d egree at the same time. It was not easy to do both while also maintaining an active social life. In addition, given the Spanish economic crisis, my contract was temporary. Therefore my professional future was uncertain. In October 2016, I moved to the UK with a new job and I had to adapt to the new job, country, and culture. Despite the difficulties faced, I have enjoyed the journey as I have learnt and I have also grown both personally and professionally.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why?Determination. My future classmates that I have met so far have a clear goal in mind and they will spend the time and energy necessary to achieve it. Even if they do not know what they want to do after the MBA, they are determined to find out and I am sure they will; this is their goal. They are very driven and they spread their enthusiasm to others.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? One of the main reasons why I chose the IESE full-time MBA is the focus on personal development. IESE can provide the tools to learn about yourself which in turn will enable you to be a good leader in the future.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The healthcare club is of great interest to me, given my passion for the pharmaceutical industry.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Although I love my current job, it is a very technical position and, after 3 years, I have reached the learning threshold. I have always been passionate about learning and growing. An MBA will be a big step to further develop my career and gain a more holistic understanding of business.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I spoke with people that have done an MBA in the past to learn about their experience and to assess if it was worth it.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Full time MBA at ESADE.
How did you determine your fit at various schools? For each particular school, I tried to speak to as many people as possible who had done or were doing the MBA. I also attended the events organized by the schools which are a great opportunity to discover how would be the life in campus and what is the profile of other candidates for that school. Apart from the personal advice (which to me is the most valuable), I also looked at the school values, ranking of the school and the companies that recruit in campus.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was probably when I attended the open day. I had the opportunity to attend a class and get a sense of what it would be like to be an MBA student.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I want to continue working within the pharmaceutical industry because I am passionate about science and I feel proud to be part of an industry that can make a positive difference to people’s lives. After the MBA, I would like to participate in a rotational development program at an international pharmaceutical company, preferably a Big Pharma (such as Johnson and Johnson or Novartis).
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years’ time I see myself assuming a global leadership position in business development. With regards to location, I will most probably be in Europe (although I am open to working in other places, depending on the job offer).
Deema Habboub
IESE Business School
“Aspiring, entrepreneurial, global mindset driven by maximizing value, innovation, creating inclusive opportunity, and improving lives.”
Hometown: Tampa Bay, FL
Fun Fact About Yourself: I renovated a house from the ground up. Including remodeling, insulation, drywall installation, plumbing, electrical, flooring, kitchen, bathrooms, painting, tiling, landscaping.
Undergraduate School and Major:
University of Florida, BS in Biology + BS in Food Science & Human Nutrition
University of South Florida, MS in Medical Sciences
Most Recent Employer and Job Title:
Business Development Manager at Harklinikken
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Throughout my career, I grew to appreciate technology as a stimulus of effective teamwork and collaboration in a network environment. So, I diligently developed my technical skills to become instrumental in analyzing operations and implementing technical solutions to improve business processes. As a clinical research coordinator, I created workflow systems that applied data analysis and collaborative work management tools to increase enrolment in clinical trials from the clinic’s general patient body. This led to being sent to Dubai to drive growth initiatives on a global scale. While further gaining cultural intelligence in this role and introducing tailored collaboration programs with regional leaders, I managed teams to develop corporate technical solutions introducing digitization, cloud-based solutions, online consultations and e-commerce, in compliance with global health regulations.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Community! My classmates are so diverse, yet our sense of shared purpose is apparent in the level of engagement. Even before starting the program, our efforts ripple beyond our divergences and people have been consistently supportive of each other in various ways including information exchange, translation, housing, excursion planning and meet ups. I am looking forward to the relationships and originality that will arise from such a transversal, global perspective fortified with unique individual experiences.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I believe support gives us the power to push further, and I was seeking an institution promoting a strong collaborative spirit. The IESE admissions staff were exceptionally attentive throughout the admissions process. I always felt comfortable voicing my concerns and they went above-and-beyond to answer my questions with sincerity. The ongoing support and passion showed they were invested in my success and established how the values at IESE align with my own expectations, character, and goals to drive change with a humanistic approach. Likewise, my interactions with their inspirational students and their enthusiasm reaffirmed my initial impression that this place is special and made it easy to confidently choose IESE.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The emphasis on case studies and small groups is extremely enticing because I too advocate hands-on and active learning—principles I have actively instilled to effectively improve learning outcomes. I want to embrace a multidimensional and diverse perspective and look forward to actively contribute and gain culturally attuned business acumen and ingenuity.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? My clinical experience taught me healthcare requires more than specialized knowledge. The effective and compassionate practice of medicine is best built upon the principles of a value-centered approach, cultural sensitivity, and access. I believe the same applies to business. My experience in the Middle East, an emerging market economy undergoing economic and social reform, motivated me to transform my capacity to think strategically across countries and cultures and I knew it was time to pursue an MBA. My interest is furthered by a significant lack of Arab women in Western and Arab business leadership across all industry sectors, notably technology and healthcare. More women in the classroom means more women in future top positions and more women becoming entrepreneurs, investors and decision-makers in the global sphere.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? An MBA, is a significant investment. Before committing, I put a lot of consideration into cost vs. benefit considering tuition and fees, living expenses, opportunity cost and forecasted returns. Then, putting aside the numbers, I began with evaluating why—leadership, coordination and mission-driven management have been factored into all my experiences, so what can an MBA provide that I could not attain on my own? I believe you are who you surround yourself with. Being self-aware, I thrive in a collaborative environment where I can create opportunity for others and myself. Having diverse, motivated peers seeking to become adaptable, broad-based business leaders, merging all core disciplines to drive growth initiatives across all sectors; my MBA learning experience would be priceless and possibilities endless.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? ESADE and IE
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I knew I needed to be mindful to choose a program fostering my objectives and learning style. I spent a significant amount of time researching each school online and connecting with current students and staff while comparing various qualities such as rankings, location, culture, program type, duration, and job outlooks. However, the most valuable thing I did was visit each school to get a sense of the culture and better evaluate if I would be more comfortable in one environment versus another.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was forgetting English. I was 8 years old when, after spending 3 years in Jordan, my parents decided to move back to the United States. I was proud of being one of the top students in my class, but became dejected when I began failing everything and feared being held back. I am fortunate my school provided me the additional support I needed quickly, as my ESL teacher was remarkable and helped me regain my confidence. She taught me what it meant to teach, and my gratitude for her support sparked my own desire to contribute to the success of others. What began as helping my younger siblings with their homework had a lasting impact on shaping my future as I discovered my own passion to support through education. I continued to nurture enthusiasm for learning as a mentor for children with learning disabilities and as a tutor for the university athletes. More recently, my passion for teaching has allowed me to create fulfilling, flexible jobs through founding a tutoring company offering students cost-efficient, personalized guidance to develop effective academic skills. Now, as these students are graduating from medical school and other professional programs, I am fortunate to see the students we served achieve their dreams and carrying forward the enduring enthusiasm to serve others.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? While I expect the program could introduce me to other intriguing possibilities, my interests forged the path of my experiences and my immediate goal is to build upon what I have learned and work in a strategy-focused role to advance healthcare through technology to increase global healthcare access, affordability and quality of care.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Ultimately, I am motivated to become a global leader leveraging a holistic and integrative approach to management to advance efforts in alleviating health disparities that fall along ethnic, socioeconomics, and national lines, whilst setting a positive precedent for women.
Tetsuya Hasuoka
IESE Business School
“Passionate Samurai engaged in postwar reconstruction of Angola, traveled 50+ countries, celebrates differences and teamwork.”
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
Fun Fact About Yourself: I was born on the same day, same month, same year with my wife.
Undergraduate School and Major: Keio University, International Politics and Japanese Diplomacy
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Marubeni Corporation, CFO of the Angola Branch
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment so far was to be engaged in a reconstruction project of three textile plants in Angola, as a CFO of the local execution office of a Japanese Conglomerate, Marubeni Corporation. Angola used to be the top cotton producer in Africa, but most of the textile factories were destroyed during the war. Marubeni, my current employer, signed an EPC contract with the Angolan government in 2009 for the engineering, procurement and construction of their three biggest textile plants. The factories are constructed to international standards, kitted out with some of the best machinery in the world and locals are trained to operate it. What is probably most notable about the project, and what I was most passionate was the incredible sense of accomplishment, pride and self-confidence it has given the young people of Angola. They are proud being part of the rehabilitation of the factories, and more, they are passionate in the rehabilitation of their country.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Passionate and open-minded. Many people might have the impression that MBA is a vocational school to learn how to win out in the competitive business world and achieve results. Of course, I think it is important to learn the business theories and learn how to implement the theories in the real world. However, the classmates I met have a bigger picture. They are very open-minded, willing to learn from different countries and cultures, as well as wanting to tell the worldwide classmates what they had experienced, sometimes failed, in their professional life. I am proud of already meeting such people, and so excited to the synergy that we can create through our coming IESE life.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The most attractive aspect of IESE is that IESE itself is always challenging for further growth. IESE has increased their student body, diversity, case methods, and as well expanded their campus globally in these few years. I feel the passion of IESE to spread good education to the world to make the world a better place. I simply wanted to join this ambitious IESE family and contribute to the further growth. And always, motivated people gathers to a motivated school.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am looking forward to join the “Africa Initiative” of IESE. The mission of this initiative is “Helping to develop sustainable business leadership in Africa in order to have a positive and lasting impact on African society.” This was also my ultimate mission that I had when I was engaged in the Angola project. I would like to know how the “excellent people” of the world think, analyze and act towards Africa to expand my insight of the continent.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? During the Angola project, I faced unpredictable challenges in terms of a different legal system, management style, negotiation procedures, language, and culture. I met various professionals who already had an MBA, and I thought the best way to boost myself as a better leader was to pursue an MBA. IESE’s leadership development program and case studies will be a great opportunity and challenge to take me to the next step.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I believe the most popular way to measure the return of investment of an MBA is to talk with the alumni. The alumni’s should be the representation of the quality of the MBA and if you feel respect, it shouldn’t be a bad decision. However, since there is no such same person or the same experience, it is more important that you have the passion to contribute and learn out of it.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? London Business School
How did you determine your fit at various schools?
1.Diversity; 2.Two-year program; 3. Intense class; 4. New language. I prioritized these elements because these will make the MBA life more challenging. I always try to choose the more challenging path and IESE program seemed thehighest mountain for me.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are?
I went abroad alone for the first time when I was 18 years old. The place was a small village near Hanoi in Vietnam and I participated in an international volunteer camp. University students from various countries gathered, stayed together for about 2 weeks, discussed and drunk, and had a very stimulating experience. At that time my eyes opened up to the world. Since then, I decided to expose myself to the international stage.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? Including, but not limited, my post-MBA goal is to expand overseas business by partnering European companies in Marubeni Corporation.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Beyond any expectations.
Laura Napoli
IESE Business School
“Renaissance woman in the making, propelled by love of problem-solving, cultural exchanges and family.”
Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Fun Fact About Yourself: I live in a perpetual state of travel-planning. Currently on the horizon: a weekend getaway to Narbonne, France.
Undergraduate School and Major: Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, International Politics
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Bitly, Director of Strategic Marketing
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:
In the startup world, high impact, measurable and scalable wins are the most coveted, so those are the accomplishments I’ve been chasing lately.
Having served as head of PR and communications at Bitly, I recently stretched into a marketing role while operating with a reduced workforce and budget. The content initiatives and growth tactics our team implemented produced 70% of new business deals in one quarter.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? I could praise my classmates’ drive, their formidable pre-MBA careers, and their diverse backgrounds, but that is all par for the course at IESE!
What has truly impressed me is the collaborative spirit of this class — the belief that we can all be winners and help each other succeed. During the group interview where we were competing with each other, in theory, for admission at IESE. In practice, everyone approached the assignment with generosity when it came to sharing their expertise, and humility when it came to accepting it from others. As we get closer to the start of the semester I continue to see this cooperation in action, as classmates around the world share tips and tricks regarding visa appointments, apartment-hunting, or where to find the best tapas in town.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? There are many excellent, international MBA programs out there, but my conversations with alumni, students, and admissions staff convinced me that IESE is also a strong support system. Living in Barcelona is a dream come true for my husband and me, but we recognize that residing in a foreign country and pursuing full-time studies will bring their own set of challenges to our personal and professional lives. I placed special importance on finding an institution that valued family members and partners as part of the community, and offered them support and resources to succeed alongside the student.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Did you know there’s a Bar of the Week club at IESE?!
Happy hour aside, I’m excited to join the Women in Business club. I see they host great guest speakers, networking events, and even their own student-run conference to promote and empower women business leaders. Plus, I have a feeling it’s a great place to meet smart, determined, cool ladies!
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Being trusted with a company’s narrative, public relations, and crisis management meant working closely with executive leadership early in my career. I saw up close the challenges, opportunities and myriad decisions faced at that level, and grew inspired by it. Over time, I desired not only to communicate a company’s mission, culture and strategic initiatives – I wanted to help shape them. I knew that the skills, experiences and network gained with the right MBA program would enable me to make that leap.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? When I first considered applying for business school, I spent months speaking with men and women in business I admire, both with people who held MBA degrees and those who didn’t. The advice itself was inconclusive, but what became clear is that the opportunity is what you make of it.
As someone who doesn’t have much quantitative and business training, I have a lot to gain academically, and I’m confident an MBA can only boost my solid professional trajectory. Yet the intangible prospects – of sowing lasting friendships all over the world, challenging my own mental and cultural boundaries, and experiencing an unforgettable two years in Barcelona with my partner– moved me just as much as the more measurable returns on my investment.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? IE in Madrid and ESADE in Barcelona (accepted at both)
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I went about determining the right fit in a very systematic way, identifying my non-negotiables from the outset to emerge with a handful of strong contenders. Every student has different priorities. In my case, they were location, academic rigor, and international reach. My husband and I decided to aim for Spain, which boasts some of the most competitive international MBA programs in the region. Here, my professional goal and our personal dream of living in a Spanish-speaking country converged.
Having a narrow focus from the beginning gave me the certainty that I wasn’t wasting my time or the institution’s during the admissions process. On the contrary, it allowed me to invest the necessary time to speak with members of the schools’ communities, to ask candid questions about MBA life, and to travel for interviews or visits. This process allowed me to perceive the nuanced differences between program cultures, didactic styles, and strengths and weaknesses that ultimately pointed me toward IESE.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My decision to go to Georgetown for undergrad has been more significant than I ever could have imagined. It was an environment that celebrated global citizenship, encouraged dialogue and understanding, and prioritized ethical education and leadership – values that have shaped me personally and professionally. Most importantly, I made lifelong friends and met the love of my life. (It’s a cliché, but it’s true!)
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I would like to pursue a strategic marketing role, preferably in Europe, combining my past professional experience and the skillset obtained at IESE. More than a specific industry, it is important for me to be at an innovation-driven, global company committed to ethical leadership. My personal interests align most with travel, hospitality and technology, so I am primarily seeking in that sector. More generally, I love brands that inspire people to come together.
Where do you see yourself in five years? My long-term aspiration is to be a senior executive at a global company, in a role that combines business strategy, marketing, and operations. Three years after graduating, I aspire to be on that trajectory at a global company, whether in Europe or the U.S. I can see myself leading and mentoring a marketing division to accomplish high-impact, measurable and scalable victories, and hopefully learning and honing new skills every day.
One caveat, though. I couldn’t have guessed five years ago that I’d be in Barcelona getting ready to attend IESE in the fall, and I couldn’t be happier about where I am right now. I think it’s okay to leave a little room in our plans for fate to play its hand!
Karina Kleissl
IESE Business School
“Brazilian, Austrian, American, defender of integrity and transparency, promoting the bright side of life.”
Hometown: Sāo Paulo, Brazil
Fun Fact About Yourself: My friends call me their “human Labrador” because I always get very excited with the smallest and most simple things.
Undergraduate School and Major: Maastricht University – BSc in International Business, Finance Major
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: BTG Pactual, Global Distribution and Investor Relations of Asset Management
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:
In the second year at my first job, which was also my second year of any work experience whatsoever, my boss unexpectedly quit. Until they found his replacement, I had to handle all of his tasks and assume his decisions, which were way beyond my scope and level of seniority. At that point I had barely gotten acquainted with my own responsibilities. It was a terrifying and exhausting experience. By the time they found a replacement, I had completely outgrown my original position both professionally and personally.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The cliché answer here would be diversity. The admissions team really did an impressive job in putting together the most different type of people on all possible levels: careers, nationalities, backgrounds, personal beliefs and goals. However, what truly describes my classmates so far is their willingness to help and their family-like attitude. I am impressed with the ease with which they created a support system for all. It is remarkable to see people that have never met personally, go out of their way to help each other out and share advice. The general mentality is that we are all in this together and we want every one of us to succeed.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? It was actually a very defining moment in which I realized how the school different from the others and right for me. Most top-ranking schools are so demanded by applicants that there is not much need for active marketing. IESE, however, constantly holds different types of recruiting events throughout the year. I once questioned the admissions officer about this: I was skeptical as to why IESE would go through all this extra effort if the school is already so highly-ranked. Her answer surprised me. The goal of these events, she said, is not only to attract prospective students. The point is to really make sure that the school’s values and propositions become clear to applicants and at the same time to help the admissions team in getting to know the applicants better and identifying those whose values are aligned with the school’s. The goal ultimately was to create the best match between school and student. When the fit is right, she said, the students as well as the school will be happier and more successful. At that moment, I made my choice.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am considering joining the Sailing club because it would be something completely new for me. I am also looking forward to becoming fluent in Spanish and, most of all, as a foodie I am looking forward to all activities related to eating and drinking.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I felt like I came to the point where I had gained enough experience in banking to know that it is not what I want to pursue in the long-term. I also think that I have now reached the right level of maturity to fully benefit from an MBA.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Speaking to alumni, I realized that in spite of the bigger costs, the returns of and MBA would be endlessly bigger and more valuable to me than any other postgraduate degree. I have never met anybody who has done an MBA and regretted it.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? None, I was fully set on IESE.
How did you determine your fit at various schools? The most important factor for me was to choose a school that had values aligned with mine. This is not easy to identify or measure, so the best research tool for me was speaking to alumni and admissions. While there are many different sources from which you can obtain useful information, it is only in direct conversation that you can see the sparkle in people’s eyes. I think this counts for any career decision in life.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? When I was nine, I moved from Brazil to the US with my mother. While I had already been brought up in a bilingual and multicultural environment, this was the first real culture shock I experienced. I had to learn a new language, new customs, and new habits. It was a tough experience for someone at that age, but now I am thankful because it made me develop in ways I never imagined, it made me become stronger, more observant and understanding of different backgrounds and people.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? Currently, I am focused on consulting, but I know that the MBA is an intense transformational process for most people, so I am keeping an open mind.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Somewhere where I’ll say: Wow! 5 years ago, I could have never imagined that this is where I would be.
Gintare Petrauskaite
IESE Business School
“Dreamer, restless learner, fearless pursuer and empath that wants to change the world.”
Hometown: Kaunas, Lithuania
Fun Fact About Yourself: Although tall and thin, weighing 60kg, I eat like 3 grown men!
Undergraduate School and Major: Copenhagen Business School, BSc International Business
Most Recent Employer and Job Title:
Intrum Group (Financial Services industry)
Business Controller (headquarters based)
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Somehow, they used to seem big, yet they no longer do. Excitement about admittance to IESE must have overshadowed the past accomplishments.
Yet if I had to mention one… It’s that despite the fast track of my career in finance, I have never thought that it’s all about me. It was always us – the team, the department, the company. The long nights spent on new financial structures and models, quarterly presentations and reports, performance analyses, mergers and acquisitions were all very significant at a point in time, yet all I remember now is what a great team I had and how we succeeded together.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Open-minded and kind. It’s a well-travelled bunch with lots of international experiences on their records. This exposure to diversity really opens one up to the notion that there are no rights and wrongs. It all comes down to perspective. In addition, the classmates I have met always had enough time and more importantly desire to help, consult, recommend, and in any other possible way assist me in the journey towards starting an MBA. Despite these commonalities, every story is somehow different, and every profile has something exciting about it. Can’t wait to meet the rest.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The culture of IESE. Humility, fun, professionalism, open-mindedness, excellence, diversity. I believe that learning is at its highest through interaction, thus culture was a key factor in my decision making.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Entrepreneurs club. My prior background is solely finance/corporate based, so I am very excited to expose myself to this new environment and way of thinking.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? It was my dream for years and the timing was perfect. I was starting to feel too comfortable in my finance job and that was a clear indication that it is time for change and new challenges. Magic happens outside of our comfort zone.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? A calculated decision is for rational people. I just had a feeling that it was going to be one of the best investments of my life.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? ESADE MBA
How did you determine your fit at various schools? Being a people person, I surely met a lot of MBA students from both schools. Real life examples are somewhat more interesting to me than the structured brochures. That helped me a lot. Even though both schools seemed great, I did feel a stronger connection and fit with IESE. My decision was made during the final interview with Pascal Michels. I thought that if someone as inspiring as him oversees the MBA admissions, then I can’t wait to be part of the class that will be created.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Skydiving. You are up there, standing on the airplane, 4 kilometer high looking down, and it’s so scary that you even start questioning your own sanity. But…you summon all your strength and jump anyway. Then, it’s the best feeling in the world.The scariest moments in our lives tend to be followed by the greatest. So, whenever I feel afraid or in doubt, I remind myself ‘jump anyway’!
What do you plan to do after you graduate? My MBA application says consulting, yet it couldn’t be further from who I am right now. One thing I am sure of, is that it’s ok to be ‘wrong’ as change is the only constant in life. My current aspirations lie with entrepreneurship. During my world travels over the last four months, I was inspired with a business idea. For now, I can only say, that it is in line with my 15 words description. You can’t change the world unless you change or awaken the people. The world is people. So that’s what my business will be focused on.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Living with my precious (and yet to be created) family in a seafront house, that is located strategically close to my business. Spending every day with people whose lives I hope to change or at least touch in a positive way. And, continuously dreaming…
As everything around us once started with a dream…
Dat Quoc Pham
IESE Business School
“An entrepreneur, a story teller and a seeker of meaning.”
Hometown: Hanoi, Vietnam
Fun Fact About Yourself: My friend calls me eccentric, which is a nice way of her saying I’m the weird one. I have two cats, one black and one white, just so I have the yin and yang in my home. I also have huge collection of music. I also wear engagement ring, but I’m not married. I love trekking and hiking. One time I did 3-day hike to a 3,000-meter mountain. Since one of the members had muscle cramp, we had to hike 5 hours, around 10km upwards, in complete darkness. But that sky full of the stars… I wish I can live that moment once more.
Undergraduate School and Major: Bachelor of Business English, Foreign Trade University in Hanoi
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Founder & CEO of HATCH! Ventures
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: It’s hard for me to single out one activity to be the biggest accomplishment in my career, since each challenge poses different meaning to me.
However, I can say the moment I was standing on the podium, giving the opening speech to the 2,000 people event I organized with my team, I was almost in tears. The event, HATCH! FAIR, is our annual startup and technology event, and is probably the biggest startup event in Vietnam with participants from over 20 different countries. My team of 25 members were not only amazing, but also crazily hard-working people. We worked every day, weekday and weekend, 14-16 hours day. Often, we went home around 2-3 a.m. Almost everything we dreamt of, from cutting paper usage to only 10%, to having 50% female speakers at a technology event, was achieved.
In such moment, all of the flashlights became insignificant. I realize that the relationship I built is the most important thing, and no matter what I do in the future, I would be ok.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Overwhelming. I have not met any classmate in person, but through the chats we have online, my classmates are all amazing people. In some way, I am slightly frightened knowing that I have so much to learn still.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?
It is definitely personal value of “doing well and doing good”. I believe that as an entrepreneur, you have the power to do many goods in the society. Apart from creating an innovative product or company, you also have the responsibility to be the leader in many other aspects.
Many MBA programs are geared towards purely finance or consulting career, which usually don’t interest me that much. I want to make sure that not only I will learn to be a better business leader, but also to be a better leader. IESE Business School seems to be the top choice (especially after many good recommendations from the alumni).
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I would naturally incline to work with the Entrepreneurship club. Andrew, the club president, has been very helpful in talking with me and sharing to me all the interesting articles. I have also been talking with a couple of people from the startup community and will try to meet them soon. I am very excited to learn about the startup ecosystem in Barcelona.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Coming from Vietnam, gaining an international working experience is very hard, especially if you’re not from a wealthy family. I missed out on my opportunity nine years ago with undergraduate education due to financial reasons. I would not want to do that now. I really want to go beyond the border and work in a company that has global impact.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? It is really hard to say whether it is worth the investment, but from all the good things I heard about IESE and Barcelona, it might be the best investment.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? I applied to quite a few of the schools, and got rejected by a few of them, and accepted by a few of them. IESE was the last school I applied. To be honest, when I looked back, all other essays I wrote to Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia were pretty bad. Not until IESE could I truly reflect about who I am and have a deep understanding of myself.
How did you determine your fit at various schools?
- School ranking: I did compare the schools across all the rankings and make sure that I choose the ones within top 50 of all the rankings. The MBA network is very important to me. The Financial Times was probably the most trusted source so far to me.
- Two-year program: as an entrepreneur, I know the importance of taking time to immerse myself into the experience. One-year program is a bit short and feels like a commercial exchange. There is more than just going to the class.
- Latitude: I travel enough to know that I need my sunshine.
- List of faculty members: I want to make sure I learn from the best. IESE does have amazing faculty members.
- Location: As I am learning business, I want to be in a city with international airport. Mid-size city is the best, since I really want to have a bit more space to myself (I am from Asia. Everyone knows that Asian cities are massive). Furthermore, I love Europe. I always have a good time in Europe. I was given the opportunity to do the MBA in US, but I turned that down. Lately I really don’t want to get into any political debate. Neither do I want to see any gun.
- Culture: I want to make sure that the place I go have a distinctive culture. And good cuisine. A few cities I’ve been to seem to have an identify crisis. It was just confusing to live there. Moreover, I really want to learn a new language, so it would be helpful to be in a place where English is not the only language.
- Startup Ecosystem: Silicon Valley would empty my pocket in a few months, so it is definitely out of the question. But it has never been my top choice anyway. I do want to live in a city with vibrant startup ecosystem and a strong investment community.
- Cost: I would not deny that cost of studying and cost of living play a very important role in my selection, especially when I have to finance the MBA all by myself. I used Teleport cities to compare different cities and picked a few cities I liked most.
- Startup Visa: I just want to make sure if I want to start a new company, there is a visa for it.
- School Value: What does the school stand for? What values are constantly reminded in the classroom?
- Recommendation: I highly recommend talking to alumni. You learn so much about the school and whether it would fit you or not.
- MBA interview (probably the most important criteria to me): I think MBA interviews are not only a way for the school to evaluate the candidate, but also for the candidate to assess the school. The quality and the depth of the questions help you understand what the school stands for. To be honest, some other MBA interviews were really boring. I had two interviews with IESE, each lasted around one hour. Both interviews were very interesting and challenging, especially the one with the Director of the MBA Admission, Mr. Pascal Michels. And no, I still don’t know what Mathematics is but I’m pretty sure it is still there when we all die. And yes, I do think most good movies have somewhat sad or unsettled ending.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I’m not sure if the world is ready for this yet.
Let’s me give you a sneak peek: it happened in bed. In fact, most of my ideas occur in bed.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? Either work for a growing startup or start my own company. We’ll see.
Where do you see yourself in five years? I will probably be managing my own company that is expanding globally. Or maybe I will stick to the startup I work with and help them expand. I love the challenges of growing a company and that’s probably where I feel the most comfortable.
Henrique Ramin
IESE Business School
“Nomadic Brazilian finance professional that comes from a multi-cultural background and is a citizen of the world.”
Hometown: São Paulo, Brazil
Fun Fact About Yourself: I have lived on 4 continents and traveled to more than 50 countries.
Undergraduate School and Major:
Graduated in 2012 – Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP) – Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)
Most Recent Employer and Job Title:
(2017 – 2018) Ethiopia Investment Limited – Private Equity Associate for Sub-Saharan Africa region
(2016 – 2017) William Blair & Company – Investment Banking Coverage for Latin America region
(2014 – 2015) Votorantim Bank – Investment Banking Senior Analyst for Corporate & Investment Division
(2011 – 2014) Citigroup – Investment Banking Analyst for Latin America Investment Banking Group
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One of the biggest accomplishments of my career occurred when I worked for William Blair & Company. I was the only member of the bank working at the Sao Paulo office and led teams around the world to successfully finance many multi-million dollar projects around Latin America. I had excellent exposure to clients (CEO and Shareholders) and answered directly to the Latin America Group Head for the bank.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? True Diversity. With each new person I meet, I can’t help but to be continually impressed at how many different professional and personal backgrounds are present in this cohort. This diversity will certainly enhance all student’s experience with IESE’s case method of instruction and will prepare the cohort to be effective managers in an increasingly globalized world.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I was blown away by how engaged and willing to help IESE’s alumni and staff were at the initial stages of showing interest in the school. Every single person I spoke with went above-and-beyond the call of duty to ensure they were available and to meet with me, even before I had applied. This speaks to the quality and strength of the IESE network, something that was very important to me when deciding what program I wanted to attend.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Traveling with my classmates to the various international and career treks that are sponsored by IESE.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I am really interested in transitioning into a role with a hedge fund in Europe. While I am an Italian citizen, I was looking for an efficient way to increase the depth of my network on the continent and found that IESE provided the perfect opportunity to do so.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? The school’s 3-year salary statistics certainly were a positive component of my decision, but when considering the international network that the school would provide, the decision to obtain IESE’s MBA was a no-brainer.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? None.
How did you determine your fit at various schools? In my opinion, to find the right school, you have to speak with as many people associated with the program as possible. I spoke to 10 or 11 people who were alumni, career services representatives, current students, and professors about the school. Before submitting my application, I attended an event at IESE’s Sao Paulo campus and traveled to visit the campus in Barcelona. At both locations, I had really great conversations with many current students about the merits of the program, life in Barcelona, etc. I repeated this process at other schools and after a 2-year long evaluation period, decided that IESE provided the best opportunity to achieve my personal and professional objectives for the MBA.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? While I can’t necessarily pin point one particular instance that shaped me into the person that I am, I would point to the history of my family. My grandfather immigrated to five different countries, fleeing from multiple crises and wars in Armenia, Syria, Greece, and Egypt, eventually ending up in Brazil. My parents both immigrated to Brazil from Italy and Greece respectively. When you grow up with your parents and grandparents speaking 7+ languages, it really drives you to travel, work, and live among many different cultures.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? After earning my MBA, I see myself as an associate or principal at a leading hedge fund working in strategic asset allocation.
Where do you see yourself in five years? My goal is to eventually become the head of portfolio management at a Private Equity firm focused on emerging markets. As I progress in my career, I want to take more ownership of investment decisions and direct management of portfolios. I also want my career to continue on a path that invests in multiple geographies and industries regularly.
Eta Yu
IESE Business School
“Business woman, world traveler, part-time bar tender and barista, and an adventurer.”
Hometown: Jiangsu, China
Fun Fact About Yourself: Having visited over 50 countries, I’ve accumulated a lifetime of experiences. I drove across the Australian outback, dived in the Similan islands, and prayed in Dharamshala with the Dalai Lama. Not every experience was joyous. In Beirut as bombs went off, I was stunned by how normal the locals reacted. In Gansu, I saw real water scarcity meeting people who trekked many miles just to shower. In Kolkata volunteering at a charity, I felt helpless to assuage their pain of the dying, only able to offer words as they passed from this world. All experiences changed the way I see the world, made me understand, respect and appreciate diverse cultures.
Undergraduate School and Major: Journalism, Sun yat-sen University
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Co-founder, Jia Home
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Starting my own business is my biggest career accomplishment. Taking my savings and my corporate management perspective, I started JIA Home to bring these old homes into the new China. Within two years, I led my team in completing 20 projects, modernizing old architecture, and building awareness for development through reuse rather than replace. Through this experience, I’ve grown much as a leader, learning to negotiate, assess risk, and be decisive.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Loving and supportive. When I had troubles with my Spanish student visa, all my classmates and teachers tried their best to help me even without me asking.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? IESE’s case study method was the key factor that led me to choose the program. In Kraft and Adidas, I was most excited by projects where I could develop new business and that lead me to become an entrepreneur. Being an entrepreneur taught me much but most importantly, I realized to achieve my career goal of building world class businesses, I needed a strategic mindset and global business experience, which I hope to get by entering the consulting industry after MBA. IESE’s curriculum and case-study method so favored by consulting firms will position me to successfully enter consulting.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Woman in business club and TED*IESE Barcelona
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Studying in one of the most prestigious universities in China gave me solid media background. Five years working and interacting with different functions in consumer goods companies provided me a general picture of how a standard business operates and solid skills in negotiation, communication and general management. I discovered I was most excited by projects where I could develop new business, which led me to become an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship taught me a deeper business sense and matured me as a leader of people from different backgrounds. But most importantly, I realized to achieve my ultimate career goal of building a world class business, I need to stand higher and look further, I needed a strategic mindset, global working experience, and solid well-rounded business knowledge. IESE’s case-study method and projects like capstone will hone my strategic mindset and provide me opportunities to practice what I learnt into real business.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Thinking of IRR, is the MBA going to help me reach my career goal faster? Am I going to be a better person after MBA?
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Darden and Yale SOM
How did you determine your fit at various schools? Alumni, faculty and teaching method.
I did campus visit during application and talked with as many alumni as I could.
Too often, we approach international business with a “them versus us” perspective. IESE’s global faculty and peers will help me to impart a more inclusive atmosphere – which will let me see opportunities outside the normally accepted vectors within and outside the program.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? In college, the first project I led after joining the Entrepreneurship Club was to help patients suffering from leprosy find a way to make a living. I formulated the idea of teaching them to do handicrafts from ancient Canton mythology and sell those handicrafts abroad. In three months, we visited everywhere in the fabric market, trying to find the right materials and an experienced Canton embroidery master. We contacted numerous NGOs seeking help in exporting those handicrafts. This project won us a silver medal and helped solve the patients’ financial problems. This experience made me realize the beauty of business and the possible positive impact that business can bring to people, which made me decide to become a business woman.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? My post-MBA career goal is to enter consulting in China.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I plan to devote my career to building world class businesses in digitalized segmentation tourism. It is an industry that contributed $120 billion Inbound and $122 million outbound in 2015 with a continuous growth of 8%-15% for the past few years and expected to grow more in the future. I am attracted to the financial and social impacts of this industry, which has ample room and high demand for improving life quality. I will leverage my experience and network to build service businesses that focused on young Chinese professionals, providing them with differentiated tourist products and experience, and on young expats coming to China, helping them involve and fit in a different culture by providing a full package from housing to working.
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