IE Business School

Master in Management | Part 1


Sergio · 2016 - 2017

Published: 1 July 2021 | by Sergio

Sergio from Colombia started a Master in Management (MIM) at IE Business School in 2016. In his first blog, he describes why he decided for this program, the admissions process and his first impression at IE Business School.

What have I done before?

In August of 2013 I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering at Universidad de los Andes, in Colombia, with a special focus on Structural Engineering. I then worked for over two years at Proyectos & Diseños S.A.S., a civil engineering consulting firm in Bogotá, focusing on structural designs for a variety of structures, from two-level residential houses to international airports to five-star hotels. In 2015 I started working with the World Lebanese Cultural Union, an INGO dedicated to working with the Lebanese Diaspora, and as of April, 2016 I have been serving as Secretary General for the organization’s Youth Council.

Why Master in Management?

uring the last year of my Bachelor’s Degree and at Proyectos & Diseños I focused on very technical aspects of engineering, so when I started thinking about a Master’s Degree I wanted to open doors to a wider range of professional possibilities. I wanted this Degree not only to enrichen my academic and professional skills but also to help me achieve future career goals, and felt the MIM was a perfect opportunity to do so.

Why IE Business School?

IE has a great reputation and has managed to position its MIM Program as one of the best in the world in a very short period of time. From an academic point of view, IE was one of my favourites from the start and the fact that it is located in Madrid gave IE a few additional points in my scale. I had visited Madrid a few years back and fell in love with the vibe of the city, its people, and its environment. The true game changer was the diversity. I spoke to a friend who had previously attended IE and she told me all about her experience meeting people from all over the world at the Business School. I found it especially attractive that IE’s student body is made up of students from all over the world, something that would give me a chance to work with people from different cultures, learn new things outside the academic environment, and see things from a different perspective.

What was the application/admission process like?

Applying to IE was a very simple process, in comparison to other business schools. The requirements were clearly stated from the beginning and the Admissions team did a great job by quickly responding to the questions I sent their way. I felt it was a very personalized process, making me feel like they really cared about my application. The IE Office in Bogotá was very helpful as well and their staff was always available when I had doubts, questions, or simply wanted to pass by to see how the process was going. They helped me to make sure that all the required documentation was in order and gave me some helpful tips for my arrival in Madrid. Above all, I feel that the application process was very fast (and I mean it in a good way). Other business schools took a long time to notify their decisions or even to answer simple questions. The fact that IE handled the process in such an efficient manner and completed it much faster than the other schools I had considered for my Master’s made me feel like they really cared about my application and they wanted me to attend the Business School.

What’s my impression after a few weeks?

So far it has been a great experience, no matter from which angle I look at it. I’m enjoying Madrid and the Business School; I’ve done activities that I had never done before; I’ve met people from all around the globe, and some of them I can already consider to be good friends that will last a lifetime. I feel I have grown not only professionally and academically, but personally as well. I find it wonderful that every day I get to speak with my classmates in Spanish, English and Portuguese, and have even had the chance to practice my Arabic. Although I’ve been at the MIM Program for just over a month, I am confident when I say that this year at IE will be memorable.

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