IE Business School – International MBA

Bettina Suanno, International MBA Candidate 2011, writes about her experience during the Short Exchange in Singapore.

As part of my MBA electives I took a class that simply changed the way I think about South East Asia. The course was named “Doing business in South East Asia”, but it was really a lot more than that.

The whole experience was incredible, beginning with the fact that it took place in Singapore, along with other 27 students who traveled to that amazing place and stayed there for one week. The first day we did a city tour and visited different locations including the Marina Barrage, an impressive dam constructed to provide water to the city and to control floods. We also went to the Flyer and the Asian Civilisations Museum who was really fascinating.   

After the touristic view of the city we received remarkable lectures in the astonishing Nanyang Technological University of Singapore during the week. We had excellent professors from Nanyang giving us all the information about the historical and political overview of South East Asia, religion & culture of the region, Asian business environment, leadership, management and working styles in Asia. We had a final lecture about Asian Business communication and Negotiation styles.

In order to have a better scope of the business environment, we also visited companies located in Singapore such as DHL, Cysco System and the Jay Gee Melwani Group (retail sector). I have to admit that DHL was my favorite; it was simply amazing to see one of the hubs of this company operating.

I am from Latin America; I really wanted to visit and get to know Asia because of its emerging giant economies. I had the opportunity not only to see it in a business perspective, but also to live it and understand it through incredible lectures and experiences as part of my MBA program. I have a passion for traveling, but this experience was beyond traveling; it was about really understanding how and why South East Asia is leading the world.

Check out the more pictures by clicking here!

Sergey Gorbatov, International MBA Candidate 2011, writes about his experience during the Short Exchange in South Africa. 

Africa has always attracted the world by its untamed natural beauty, majestic wild animals and abundance of local indigenous cultures. We, however, went to that continent with quite a distinct mission: learn how to do business in Africa. A group of 20 MBA students went for one-week exchange program with Wits Business School in Johannesburg on February 28th – March 3rd. It was the first academic exchange between the schools, so expectations were high but we were wondering what was in store for us there once we arrive to South Africa.

The week surpassed all expectations. The intensive program put together by the MBA team at Wits combined both academic and cultural elements. We got a chance to learn more about the urban, social and political setup of South Africa, as well as gain valuable insights into marketing, financial, strategic and organizational aspects of businesses in various countries on the African continent. Two company visits, to Vodafone and Standard Bank, gave us an opportunity to engage directly with senior managers of two large international businesses, who shared with us the challenges that their companies are facing, as well as some personal stories about living in South Africa.

Thanks to some flexibility in the program, we were also able to explore more of the country: many students went to Cape Town to enjoy the beaches, wineries and vibrant night life; safari did not leave anyone indifferent; and the Apartheid Museum left a lasting impression in the hearts of many of my fellow MBAs.

IE Consulting Club in association with Accenture and Cemex are hosting the “IE Management Consulting Forum 2011″. The forum will be held this afternoon at 4pm and Saturday 9th of April. The event will include presentations, case workshops and discussion panels involving senior business leaders sharing their opinions on different topics in businss.

For more information about the IE Consulting Day click here.

Last week the International MBA students of the November 2010 intake saw the launch of the Consulting Track, an initiative developed by the Career Management Centre (CMC) in partnership with the IE Consulting Club and aimed at providing students with an in-depth and practical preparation for the management consulting profession.

It’s a fact that the majority of MBA students worldwide go into consulting upon graduation from their respective business schools. To prepare IE Business School students better for this, the CMC has devised a multi-session program that invites consulting professionals to lead a select group of students in seminars, workshops and mock interviews, preparing them for the rigorous recruitment process that lies ahead.

The Consulting Track consists of 4 phases:

1. Information Phase: a 2-hour session led by a consultant in which we discuss topics such as careers in consulting, ideal profile, etc.
2. Preparation Phase: two sessions focused on the application and selection processes, CV and CL, the interviews, etc.
3. Training Phase: a 3-hour session run by a consultant on the fit and case interviews used in the consulting recruitment process.
4. Drilling Phase: after a careful selection of the best candidates by a Selection Committee (formed by 3 consultants from the top strategy consulting firms), students will be offered 3 mock case interviews conducted by consultants and HR staff.

For those interested in consulting this is an invaluable chance to gain direct professional advice and feedback.

In future months the Careers Centre expects to launch a similar track for careers in Marketing. Both these tracks provide International MBA students with first rate opportunities to enhance their skills and prepare themselves better for the post-MBA career of their choice.

The Opening Ceremony of the International MBA program April 2011 intake, took place yesterday in Segovia at IE’s University Campus. Over 250 students from more than 75 nationalities had the opportunity to network during this event. Entrepreneurship was one of the key topics discussed. 

We would like to welcome our new international MBA students!

La Ceremonia de Apertura de la clase de abril 2011 del programa International MBA tuvo lugar ayer en Segovia, donde se encuentra el Campus de la Universidad de IE. Más de 250 estudiantes de alrededor de 75 países, tuvieron la oportunidad de hacer networking durante este evento. Gestión emprendedora fue uno de los temas principales.

¡Nos gustaría dar la bienvenida a los nuevos estudiantes del International MBA!

One of IE Business School’s key values is entrepreneurship. The school was founded in 1973 by a group entrepreneurs and we are proud that 10% of our alumni start their own ventures after gradauation. Jeremy Melul, International MBA Class of 2009 graduate,  decided to start his own company Jogabo after finishing the program. We interviewed Jeremy where he shares his experiences with the MBA but also his current situation with his new venture:

Hi Jeremy, could you please introduce yourself?

My name is Jeremy Melul, I am both French and English and I graduated from the 2009 International MBA program. I currently live in London UK but I am a citizen of the world after having lived in London, Paris, Brussels, New York, Boston, Palo Alto, Sydney, Cape Town, Madrid and Pune. I work for my own startup, “jogabo”.

Why did you come to Madrid and IE?

I came to IE because I was looking for a more innovative program and something more geared towards entrepreneurship. I also wanted to diversify my US centric network a bit. After having done my Bachelor at Tufts, and my Master at Stanford, Europe was really my only option and I have to admit that the advantages of being in Madrid and getting to re-learn Spanish in such a wonderful environment really influenced me. Oh and did I mention the weather in Madrid?

Describe your International MBA experience
It was an amazing experience but it sure went by fast. Obviously I got a lot of the knowledge I was seeking coming in as an Engineer looking to get the bigger picture on things. But that is obviously not the only reason I decided to get an MBA.

Tell me about “Jogabo” the company you founded
Jogabo is the social and easy way to play soccer. Our aim is to make amateur soccer “bonito” by connecting soccer enthusiasts, facilitating the organization of games and adding a social layer of fun and competitiveness to the beautiful game. If you look at how people get their games organised or how they go about looking for playing opportunities it is quite astounding and archaic. It is a painful and inefficient process that requires using multiple disconnected tools and usually leads to many people actually not playing, which to me is the biggest concern. At any given time and location, there are many games being organized and many players potentially looking for other players. Unfortunately, they are just not aware of each other’s interest, and are not connected in any way. When you think about all the tools that are out there, be it smartphones, facebook, twitter, location aware devices (you name it), this shouldn’t happen! What we are doing is building a location aware web application for the soccer community that allows users to organize games, share their plans and discover opportunities to play in their area. Organizers can create games, invite players and get simple tools to manage their event. Players can follow games their friends are planning, as well as games that match their location and interests thereby helping them discover playing opportunities they would ordinarily be unaware of.

How did the program help you found your company?
We are a lean startup and are bootstrapping the company for now. This is obviously not what Business School prepares you for. However, the program has helped me prepare for steps we will take in the near future once we start looking for funding and we start hiring people. It is good to know that I am well equipped to tackle the future because it gives me the confidence I need to be able to just concentrate on “now”. And in startups, it is all about what is the most important thing that we need work on RIGHT NOW!

What is the next step for “Jogabo”?
The next step for us is to launch the site in closed beta, which is what we are working on non stop to make our deadline. I am actually in the US right now so that I can work closer to my technical co-founder. You know how the story starts right? “Two guys, in a garage…” so I guess we are trying to improve our odds a little bit that way.

What do you recommend to people starting the IMBA?

I have two main recommendations for new intakes. First of all, get involved in extra curricular activities through the Clubs and take a leadership role if you can. It really enhances yourwhole experience. For me it was the Football Club (obviously) and my MBA experience would not have been the same without it. It was a lot of work in addition to the existingcourse workload: organising the internal league, the 11-a-side team, the teams tournament travels to Paris, Barcelona and Los Angeles and starting the IE GreenLaces Cup. Looking back through, it was a hell of an experience with many opportunities to bond with some of my peers outside of my section. Secondly, take advantage of every minute of your MBA because it goes by fast and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Work hard but don’t forget to play hard.

Students at IE Business School that are interested in Entrepreneurship can also join the Entrepreneurship Club or participate in Venture Lab where students have the possibility to develop a business idea and make it real. 

Prince Charles is to visit IE Business School on April 1 in his capacity as President of Youth Business International (YBI). The private visit will include a meeting with Spanish entrepreneurs and business leaders to promote entrepreneurialism among young people. During his visit to Spain, The Prince of Wales will also be meeting IE’s young entrepreneurs in an event presided by Diego del Alcázar, Santiago Íñiguez de Onzoño and Juan José Güemes, accompanied by Andrew Devenport, CEO of the YBI.

El Príncipe Carlos, como presidente de Youth Business International (YBI), visitará IE Business School  este viernes 1 de abril en un encuentro privado donde se reunirá con emprendedores y empresarios españoles para fomentar el emprendedurismo entre la juventud.  Durante su visita a España,  SAR el  Príncipe de  Gales tendrá la posibilidad de conocer a jóvenes emprendedores de IE. Dicho  encuentro, que estará presidido por Diego del Alcázar, Santiago Íñiguez de Onzoño y Juan José Güemes, contará además  con la presencia de Andrew Devenport, CEO de YBI, entre otros.

Last week, on Tuesday, March 22nd; 30 top MBAs from Stanford University visited IE Business School to attend a networking event with some of ourInternational MBA students. The visit was organized as part of a trip to Spain during which they met with several personalities such as HRH the Prince of Asturias, Diego del Alcázar, Rodrigo Rato and Emilio Botin among others.

During one intense hour students from both leading business education institutions mingled and shared their views and experiences on different topics such as entrepreneurship and finance. Students were accompanied by professors Paris L’Etraz, from IE, and Hau Lee, from Stanford. Four of the participants, two from IE and two from Stanford, were interviewed by the newspaper Expansión Empleo about the employment and entrepreneurship opportunities they have identified in the Spanish market.

To read the complete article from Expansión.com, click here.

Richard Barnard current student of the International MBA program – Class of 2010 argues that the International MBA program provides opportunities apart from just working and studying:

Although our daily schedules are packed with classes, meetings and work, the majority of the International MBA students do find some time to relax and enjoy life. The phrase “work hard, play hard” is an appropriate maxim.

The IE Business School intramural football (soccer) league is well underway, with players from across IE playing midweek and at weekends. The quality players can aim for the IE representative team, which recently won the “Tackle Africa Cup” tournament hosted by London Business School and attended by Business Schools from across Europe.

IE’s Clubs ensure a constant stream of events, seminars, parties and workshops for the students to enjoy. The incredible diversity of the IMBA student intake results in fascinating events that provide a window on to the varied cultures of the world.

Weekend breaks are very popular, to provide respite from the studying and enable us to appreciate the country and continent we are in for a year. Recent groups have gone skiing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, to the historic city of Salamanca, last weekend a large group headed to Valencia, on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, for the fiesta of Las Fallas, which celebrates Saint Joseph with a riotous combination of street carnival, music, fireworks and bonfires. Personally, I flew to Rome last weekend, thanks to the budget airlines that are based in Madrid, and watched the 6 Nations tournament rugby international between Italy and France, which Italy won by 1 point! The celebrations were epic!

Finding time to relax and enjoy yourself is crucial within the IMBA programme as the workload can appear daunting and thus the need to freshen yourself with something new is vital. On the horizon we have the Spring Games hosted by IESE Business School in Barcelona at the end of March and then the annual MBA Tournament in Paris in May. Events to look forward to and work towards.

The earthquake with a magnitude of 8.9 on the Richter scale and the massive tsunami which struck Japan on March, 11th, 2011 had a devastating effect on the country and sadly, even today we are still hearing of increasing numbers of victims. The current situation is bleak – over half a million people are homeless and running low on food and supplies, 18,000 are expected to be dead or missing, and the country’s financial loss is speculated to be US$309 billion.

IE Business School has carried out various initiatives to raise funds to help those in need in Japan…

IE Japan Club (run by current Japanese International MBA students) is organizing a number of activities. For example, donation boxes have been placed in IE buildings and are receiving warm support from students. All funds raised will be sent to Japan Red Cross in Tokyo.

IE Lebanon Club with the support of IE Spain Club, organized a Donation Campaign last Tuesday in partnership with a local restaurant to help raise funds. The restaurant gave a portion of revenues gained on this day to IE to donate to Japan.

IE Alumni Association is taking advantage of IE’s extensive network to raise funds for Japan, spreading the message to over 40,000 people in more than 100 countries.