Innovate, Launch, Lead: Stories of Top Sci-Tech Students in the MxT Program

The IE Impact Xcelerator in collaboration with IE Business School has launched a pilot of the new Management Exponential Technology Program (MXT), the newest Global Gateway initiative, tailored for top dual-degree students and designed to sharpen skills in technology and management, pushing them to develop the mindset to face the evolving tech landscape. As an entrepreneurial-driven, rigorous polytechnic, IE School of Science and Technology continues to elevate its students’ talents and potential, exposing them to the diverse perspectives of industry experts, as well as other students across the school.

The program’s “transformational cycle” includes one core course and multiple unique opportunities to learn, network, receive mentorship, and gain exposure. One of the most important elements of the initiative, is the select crop of students that participate. With plans to found their own start-ups, step into consulting or private equity, work towards green solutions or as a data professional, the participants applaud the program. Each said the MxT enabled them to develop a broad mindset and step out of narrow perspectives.

Meet five of the amazing MxT student profiles selected for the pilot program.

“Encouraging students not just to dream but also to 10x dream is as important a role for any professor as is giving a good grounding in the basics,” said the Academic Lead for the MXT, Professor Joe Haslam. “Our goal for the MXT is to attract students to IE University that otherwise would only look at other educational institutions. The pilot program is just the first step in our ambition to make IE University the go-to place for exponential technology in Europe.”

Daeyeong Mun

“I discovered that I have a flexible mindset that allows me to adapt new technology to real business situations.”

Despite studying a law degree, Daeyeong Mun’s passion for technology and entrepreneurship drove him to start a career in role analyzing and proposing business process improvements at two major South Korean corporations; SK and Coupang. However, with a limited experience in IT and technology, Mun pursued the dual degree of the International MBA with Master in Business Analytics and Big Data, aiming to step into the consulting industry.

“I believe the consulting industry is the best field to be exposed to diverse industries. I am especially excited to suggest new technologies that I learned at IE to companies using consulting services,” he said. “By combining the knowledge gained from consulting and the entrepreneurial skills acquired at IE, I plan to prepare for and successfully run my own business in the future.”

Mun said the MxT program taught him how to apply new technologies into real-life scenarios and expand his perspective. A parent himself, he saw a wide gap between Spaniards’ and Asians’ parenting style – the former which he described as more relaxed compared to his culture’s sensitivity to childcare. With that said, he’s exploring a business model that combines and balances each of the parenting styles’ strengths.

He said he thinks personalization and DNA analysis technologies hold the greatest potential in the tech landscape.

“DNA analysis is no longer a complex and expensive technology; it can analyze individual health data and provide personalized recommendations. Additionally, the vast amount of DNA analysis data from numerous individuals can give rise to various derivative industries,” he explained. “For example, there are endless business opportunities, such as selecting food for children who cannot yet express their preferences or recommending optimized cosmetics based on DNA analysis.”

When asked what advice he has for students entering the tech sector, Mun emphasized having a flexible mindset.

“The most important mindset I gained from MxT is to think broadly and not be confined by preconceived notions, while also diving deep when identifying a specific business model,” he said. “I believe this mindset will lead me, and us, to success in the rapidly changing business world.”

Fabian Vagnoni

Fabian Vagnoni studies the Dual Bachelor in Business Administration with Data and Business Analytics (BBADBA), aiming to develop technical knowledge while still being able to use it for impact. Vagnoni has a clear vision for his next five years.

“I would love to work in the tech sector, more specifically in AI. In five years, I want to be in the U.S., preferably in Austin, either working on founding my own start-up in the sector or doing a PhD program on Deep Learning Engineering to then jump into industry,” he said.

Being part of the MxT enabled him to meet with top industry experts, an experience which he described as inspiring for his mindset.

“MXT is a talent incubator. It gathers remarkable people from all years to listen and speak to remarkable professionals. That is why the main thing that stands out from MXT is not the lectures themselves, but the capacity to be in the same room with those people,” he highlighted. “When you gather together people with such strong convictions and mindsets, they grow from each others' effort. We all end up inspiring one another.”

Vagnoni’s experiences stretch over several personal projects in video game design, software, data, AI, and deep learning engineering. Despite AI’s disruption across different sectors, he believes that quantum computing and alternative energy resources hold great potential as well.

“Apart from the buzzy words of artificial intelligence, I would say that the engineering of quantum computers and the exploration for alternative energy sources are very promising, especially the sci-fi-sounding fusion reactor,” he pointed out.

Leana Barbion

Leana Barbion also sought to combine tech and business knowledge and become a self-described “middleman” between both worlds. Thus, she chose to apply to the Dual Master of International MBA with Computer Science and Business Technology.

Even though Barbion worked in several industries like hospitality at Four Seasons Hotel, and accounting at Lactalis Group, she has a passion for green technology and sees herself working in a company developing solutions for environmental and social issues.

“I am deeply interested in climate technology and solutions for niche problems that will have a macro-environmental and social impact,” she said.

Barbion stressed the need to keep an eye on climate and health technologies such as nanorobotics which will drastically change humans’ lives.

Having connected with innovation experts in the MxT program, Barbion encourages everyone seeking a career in tech to challenge themselves outside of their comfort zones.

“Be ready to be challenged and get out of your comfort zone. You will develop an exponential mindset and leave the program with the tools to have an impact,” she brought up.

Tomas Ploquin

Tomas Ploquin, another BBA DBA student said he chose the degree for being modern and up to date on the latest technologies within the business landscape. Over the past two years, his passion for the real estate industry grew, driving him to intern at different companies across the sector – now at a big asset management company of private equity real estate in New York.

“I wish to combine technology and real estate and start my own company some day – hopefully in the next five years,” he said.

He applauded the networking opportunities with founders and CEOs provided by the MxT program, highlighting their value when he gets to build his own company.

Within the real-estate industry, Ploquin said that AI will increase the field’s efficiency.

“It's quite obvious now that we're seeing an AI revolution, in real estate having AI do things and not only inform you about things will be key to increment the efficiency of firms investing and developing real estate.”

Blair Ferguson

Blair Ferguson, also pursuing the BBADBA aspires to be a data professional working flexibly across several industries, particularly on how AI applies to sports, health-tech, and maritime – three sectors he’d been exposed to.

“I am interested in AI and exploring business applications to the technology. With regard to industries, I have previous experience in the sports industry, and I’m currently working on a project in the maritime industry. I also have an interest in the health-tech industry,” he said.

Developing an “exponential world view” was his key takeaway from the MxT program apart from all the technical skills and networking he’d formed.

With that attitude in mind, Ferguson also took part in the school’s Tech Venture Bootcamp, becoming an official member of the IE Venture Lab. His previous experiences include working as a data analyst in sports clubs, as well as at the Founders’ Associate in a Singaporean-based Reg-Tech company – offering verified e-contracts published on the blockchain.

His advice would be to foster one’s technical skills, especially as their accessibility improved in today’s world.

“In this day and age, the value of technical skills is higher than ever before. Furthermore, the accessibility to once closed off technologies has vastly improved,” he said. “The cross-industry applications of the skills create further opportunities for students with all interests.”