Posts Tagged ‘MBA program#8217;

IE Business School has recently been considered one of the best schools in the World for Entrepreneurship by BusinessBecause.com. 

Venture Lab, at IE Business School, is highlighted as a great opportunity to turn disruptive and innovative ideas real by creating very strong feasible business plans. In Venture Day business plans are presented to Venture Capitalists in order to create relationships that can result in successful funding. On another note BusinessBecause.com also places emphasis on the the 25% of graduates that are actively involved in entrepreneurial activities 5 years after having completed the International MBA program.

Some recent entrepreneurial successes include companies such as Zinkia, RenewEn, BioOncoTech and CityDeal recently acquired by Groupon.

For the complete article please click here.

During the International MBA program students have the opportunity to participate in several real consulting projects. The IE Consulting Project (IECP) is offered during the elective period and this April marked the conclusion of the April 2010 class’s IECP where 16 International MBA students presented their final projects to senior management at Unilever.

This year four teams of four students each worked on projects closely aligned with Unilever’s core activities such as Corporate Social Responsibility, Strategic Planning and Process Improvement. In order to complete these projects teams met with senior management but also visited Unilever facilities in Europe.

Duncan McIver, Works Director of Unilever’s Aranjuez facility concluded: “Once again I am extremely impressed with the caliber, professionalism and enthusiasm of the students and the work they have produced. Some projects were more strategic and others more operational, but in all cases the conclusions and recommendations have been practical, and applicable immediately to our business.”

To learn more about the International MBA program and our teaching methodology please click 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.

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. 

As every year, the IE Global Alumni Forum will take place, an event that brings together Alumni from IE Business School who are invited to attend and have the opportunity to strengthen their network.

Last year over 1,000 managers and entrepreneurs from 43 countries met in Madrid and explored ways to exit the economic crisis. Experts including Joaquín Almunia, Luis Rojas Marcos and Bernardo Kliksberg addressed economic crisis, the continuous fight against poverty and the management of critical situations.

This year our Global Alumni Forum will take place in two different locations, namely Lima and Madrid on the 25th of March and on 30th of September respectively.

Diego del Alcázar – President of IE explains the importance of the event:

“In this first 2011 Global Alumni Forum, key players from the world of politics and entrepreneurship will be joining us to share their vision of the importance of innovation, entrepreneurship and academia. Peru was the venue of the APEC and ALC-UE forums in 2009, which resulted in it becoming a reference for both local and international investment.

In the Lima and Madrid Global Alumni Forums we’re aiming to add yet another successful event to those of previous years. At our last Forum in Madrid I had the pleasure of seeing over 1,500 of you who had travelled from countries around the world to be here, showing that together we form a dedicated network of global leaders.”

We look forward to seeing you on March 25th!

Fore more information on the Global Alumni Forum in Lima, Peru; please click here.

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!

Last Thursday the International MBA Program Academic Team hosted a “Welcome Back Cocktail” bringing together students from over 70 countries. This International MBA  networking event was held to give April and November intake students an opportunity to catch up with their peers after the summer break and to welcome the recently arrived Exchange Students to the IE Community.

El jueves pasado el equipo académico del International MBA celebró un “Cóctel de Bienvenida” reuniendo estudiantes de 70 países. Este evento de networking del International MBA, fue para dar a los alumnos de las convocatorias de Abril y Noviembre la oportunidad de ponerse al día con sus compañeros después del verano y dar la bienvenida a los Alumnos de Intercambio a la Comunidad IE.  

During 2010, IE Business School started a new phase of internationalization in the area of entrepreneurial management. “The School has recruited mentors and investors from different world regions to help develop the business projects of student and graduates from over 100 countries. IE has also created an advisory board comprised of successful entrepreneurs and investors to guide initiatives in the field of entrepreneurship”. From Juan José Güemes, new President of the International Center for Entrepreneurial Management at IE Business School, March, 2010.

A clear example of the entrepreneurial spirit at IE is the online language learning community busuu.com, founded by alumni of the International MBA, Class of 2007, Adrian and Bernhard. 

Learn more about the challenges and rewards they have encountered when starting their own company, and how IE Business School helped them achieve their goal:

Source: IE Media Campus

Due to the current economic situation around the world, some business schools are reviewing in which areas to focus the curriculum of their institutions, as well as, the integration of values in their programs. As explained in the article “Putting some soul into management” published in The Times of India, July, 2010; ”the new model rests on three pillars – sustainable business, responsible leadership and interdisciplinary curriculum”.

IE Business School is an international institution dedicated to educating business leaders through programs based on our core values of global focus, entrepreneurial spirit and a humanistic approach. David Bach, Dean of programs at IE commented on the article mentioned above ”Most business schools work with other business schools. Brown and IE are instead bringing a non-business perspective on critical questions affecting senior managers, into management education.” IE Business School and Brown University have a partnership to offer a new program (IE Brown Executive MBA Program) that incorporates management education, value creation and sustainability.

Read more: Putting some soul into management – India Business – Business – The Times of India