Posts Tagged ‘Estudiantes#8217;

For the last 30 years EFMD has been organizing Case Writing Competitions with the aim to improve management education by developing new teaching materials and learning methodologies. This year IE Business School won the “Euro – Mediterranean Managerial Practices and Issues” category for the case “Novartis, Commercial Strategy for Success” written by professors Claire Bastien and Teresa Serra.

According to EFMD this year’s competition was a great success breaking the record in the number of submissions received. Education institutions across the globe can use these cases for teaching purposes, at IE Business School we take a practical approach to teaching focusing on the case methodology.

To learn more about the EFMD Case Competition click here.

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.

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. 

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.

Chad Dixon, graduate of the International MBA program, class of 2009, was interviewed by TopMBA.com to share his professional experience post MBA.

Chad is employed by Calderys, a refractory solutions company that offers services to a broad range of industrial sectors. He was  able to secure a position combining both his favorite interests: finance and leadership. He explains the importance that the program played in helping him to achieve this  position:

“As an MBA student I was forced to develop positions on topics, under a wide range of scenarios, and quickly. An intense 15-month MBA helped me develop a certain tact, or even confidence, to move through any unknown territory I encounter.”

For the complete article please click here.

The Entrance Exam (IE Admissions Test/GMAT/GRE) is one of the requirements of the admissions process for the International MBA program.  Only one exam is required, however, should a candidate sit the IE Admissions Test and also have the GMAT or GRE, it is recommended to present the additional exam.

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) has recently been accepted by hundreds of business schools in the US, Europe and Asia. Many students struggle to decide which test they should take given that both tests are accepted by most business schools, however, The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) remains the most popular test. Taking the GMAT or GRE can be time consuming due to the level of preparation required and it might not by feasible for all candidates given their professional and personal commitments. At IE Business School we have developed our own admissions test, offering applicants an alternative to both the GMAT and GRE. The IE Admissions Test is divided into three parts: 1) Verbal, 2) Numerical and 3) Diagrammatical – it’s different to the GMAT and GRE in its practical approach and given that students cannot prepare for it.

For information on the three above-mentioned tests, see the following article on find.mba.com: http://www.find-mba.com/article/510/should-i-take-the-gmat-or-gre

Richard Barnard current student of the International MBA program – Class of 2010 describes his experience just as Core Period 2 starts:

Core Period 2 is now upon us and it brings a variety of new challenges for the IMBA students to overcome.

The majority of our Core Period 1 classes are now completed, only Managerial Economics, Marketing Fundamentals and Entrepreneurial Management straddle Periods 1 and 2. These 3 subjects have been joined by Cost Accounting, Financial Management, Strategic Management, Operations Management and a non-examined course entitled Creative Management Thinking.

As we were advised at the start of the IMBA programme, Period 2 is where the “crunch” occurs, where the workload skyrockets and the students’ ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects is put fully to the test.

To provide an additional challenge we also change workgroups at the start of Period 2. This forces us to apply all that we learned from the positive and negative experiences of group work in Period 1 to immediate effect, as the deadlines for Period 2 projects start immediately and continue throughout the term.

The key skill we are all developing is how to perform effectively rather than just efficiently. Within the limited time we have outside of classes, workgroups meetings, applying for internships and attending business school organized industry seminars we must develop the ability to absorb, analyze and apply the content as effectively as possible. It puts you to the test.

Term 2 is an examination we are embracing thus far. The pain of the workload is undoubtedly eased by the fun we have when we take a deserved break from our studies. The country-themed dinners are proving popular and with St. Patrick’s Day and the 150^th anniversary of Italy’s unification on the same day next week we are ensured of good times ahead. See you all on the dancefloor!

Richard Barnard – Current student of the International MBA program Class of 2010 and Fellow student at IE Business School, writes about his experience during Core Period 1 of 13 month, intensive program. 

IMBA Program – Long days and late nights, Core Period 1 draws to a close.

As Core Period 1 draws to a close the days are getting longer and the nights later. Project deadlines, presentations and revising for the final exams have taken over our IMBA student lives.

As promised when the IMBA began, the programme has taken off with regard to workload. Deadlines are converging and with exams starting this week it is now common place to have classes all day, followed by work group meetings into the late evening, and then onto the library for late night study group sessions sometimes through until the library closes at 3am. Surviving on 4hrs sleep is becoming an art form, if not a necessity.

In sync with the workload the learning experience has accelerated. A vast quantity of information is being provided which we have to absorb and process “on the run”, learning the skills of assimilating information at high speed.

In addition to the academic work the IMBA students have enjoyed visits from Director-level representatives of Google Europe and Paramount Pictures Europe. The talks they gave have highlighted the dynamic corporate world that awaits us upon completion of our course. The speakers also reinforced the belief that we are on the right track, enhancing our professional skills in a diverse environment where the expectations of success in all that we do are sky-high. It’s always good to have some reassurance when times are getting tough.

The week ahead for me: Information Systems graded presentation on Tuesday; Marketing Fundamentals mid-term graded presentation on Wednesday; Organizational Behavior final exam on Thursday and to finish off the week in style I have my Quantitative Analysis final exam on Friday. It’s going to be long week!

To all my fellow IMBAs – good luck in your exams. Let’s stay strong, make it through the next 10 days and celebrate in style on the other side.

More and more students are looking to gain a greater global perspective and appreciation through our intensive one-year MBA that brings together over 70 nationalities in the classroom. Through small working groups, based on the practical case methodology approach, students are the focal point, learning from their differences and experiences stemming not only from their nationality, however also from various industries, functions, company size, academic background, etc. We also have one of the highest percentages of women in our programs, with 32% currently represented. All making for a truly diverse and transformational experience.

Santiago Iñiguez, dean of IE Business School, said in the article Asians see sense in European business schools, Straits Times, October 2010: “People are questioning the American model of shareholder’s value and are leaning towards the stakeholder’s values perspective, which favours responsibility over profitability. This is closer to the European model of business management.”

The European MBA has attracted international attention, American and Asian students are no exception, moving from the more traditional two-year MBA program to a one-year MBA surrounded by a more diverse student body. Today, almost 25% of IE’s students are from Asian countries. “Five years ago there was only one Singaporean student. This year there are eight.” says Santiago Iñiguez. The Chronicle of Higher Education looks into the appeal of the diverse one-year European programs.