Marta Santos-García Rico
I’m Marta Santos-García Rico and I started my IE University journey with the Bachelor in Business Administration. I went on to work at a consulting firm specializing in the banking and insurance sectors for a year and a half. I was ready for the next step in my career and decided to return to IE University to study the Master in Finance.
“Finance is a very competitive and challenging field. Your differentiating factor will lie in your commitment to expanding your knowledge beyond what is expected of you.”
Above and beyond the basics of finance: dedication to a career goal
Marta Santos-García Rico already has some impressive achievements under her belt—including work as a consultant at the Madrid office of international consulting firm Management Solutions. In addition, she and her family created an NGO, Juntos Salimos, during the pandemic, at which Marta found time to volunteer, helping to connect hospitals with supplies that could help provide the basic necessities that hospitals lacked for daily diagnostics during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as thermometers and masks.
Having already attained the Bachelor in Business Administration in 2022, Marta was aware of both the academic excellence and career benefits IE University provides to its students. Her decision to undertake the Master in Finance was based on two factors: she was looking for a career transition and she wanted to study a program that would “go above and beyond the basics of finance.” Marta knew the program would require a substantial commitment, but she was prepared to put in the effort since it would equip her with the skills and knowledge to attain the sought-after profile in demand by finance firms.
One of the unique features of the Master in Finance is the variety of specializations it offers. She had no doubt in the fact that she wanted to focus on Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity. For Marta, establishing a clearly defined goal was pivotal, especially as it serves as the foundation for formulating a plan that enables you to progress toward your desired destination.
“I wanted a finance program that would go above and beyond the basics of finance.”
The appeal of a career pivot into finance is that it is a very competitive and challenging field. “Your differentiating factor will lie in your commitment to expanding your knowledge beyond what is expected of you,” explains Marta. She feels that people often shy away from taking on more responsibility, not realizing that it is actually the bridge that will take them from where they currently are to where they want to be in the future.
Marta advises prospective students to keep in mind that dedicating effort to the program is the key to excellence. However, it must be said that it’s equally important to take advantage of the extracurricular opportunities IE University offers for both personal and professional growth. She emphasizes the importance of good time management and adaptability. “These are skills that you need to develop in order to perform better not only in the Master in Finance program but also in the finance industry.”
