Christina Stathopoulos
Christina, a US expat living in Madrid since 2012, graduated from the IE MBD program in 2016 to help pivot back into her field of interest – analytics. She also holds a Bachelor in Science, Technology, and Society with a focus on Statistics from North Carolina State University. After completing her IE Master, she went on to build a strong career in the data world, working at SAS Institute and Nielsen as a systems and data engineer, respectively, before landing her current role at Google.
She currently works as an Analytical Consultant at Google, advising top advertising clients towards more data-driven decision making. Her love for education and public speaking led to her being appointed an Adjunct Professor at IE Business School, teaching analytics courses in the MBA programs, as well as working with IE’s international growth teams by representing the university on in-person speaking tours across Central Asia, the Middle East, and virtually around the globe. She recognizes IE for the personal and professional growth it has allowed her, accelerating her career in the analytics arena and better preparing her for work in highly competitive, international environments.
“I chose the MBD program because it offered quite a unique approach, combining technical skills with business acumen to better prepare students for analytics leadership in the corporate world.”
Q&A WITH CHRISTINA
Define your experience in the MBD in one word.
Diverse
In what ways do you think program has changed your life professionally and personally?
My time studying at IE profoundly changed my life, both personally and professionally. On a personal level, I’ve made friendships and created memories with classmates that will last a lifetime. My classmates came from all over the world, and I have been fortunate to later visit many of them in their home countries, from Russia and Georgia to the Philippines, the UAE and more. Professionally, my IE MBD education prepared me well and gave me a competitive advantage that has allowed me to excel in the workforce, landing dream jobs along the way.
What was your favorite memory from your experience?
My favorite memory from my time at IE was the graduation ceremony in Sevilla. Besides being a beautiful ceremony in a historical building, it was the opportunity for my entire class to gather and celebrate the finalization of a wonderful journey together. All our hard work had been recognized, and although a bittersweet end to a pivotal period in our lives, we were eager to see what was coming next.
Why did you choose to study this program at IE?
I was drawn to IE, and specifically the MBD program, for several reasons. The university as a whole was appealing due to the highly diverse student body, globally well-respected brand name, and first-class professors from a mix of both academia and industry. I chose the MBD program because it offered quite a unique approach, combining technical skills with business acumen to better prepare students for analytics leadership in the corporate world.
What were some of the main challenges that you encountered on your way? How did your master program and IE help you through these challenges?
I essentially used my time at IE to help pivot my career into my passion. Before IE, I was working in a field far from my original studies of statistics, and I wanted to find a way into the professional analytics field. The IE MBD program did a phenomenal job of preparing me to excel, boosting my hard and soft skills, as well as giving me networking and career advice, that in due course helped shape my career into what it is today.
What is networking like in the MBD?
The networking at IE is exceptional and hard to beat. The university is so diverse that you are constantly surrounded by fellow students from all over the world with varying backgrounds, helping to expand your perspective of the world and learn to work in an international environment. IE also has a very active campus life, which leads to many network opportunities at on and off-campus events and the chance to engage with fellow students, alumni, and leading professionals.