Irene González
My name is Irene González, and I’m from Spain. I was born and raised in Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands, where I had lived my whole life before I began my studies. Now I’ve had the opportunity to live in both Segovia and Madrid. I decided to come to IE University after considering the opportunities it offered me in terms of diversity, networking, career opportunities and future paths.
"The dual degree I am studying was not offered by other universities, and I believe it is the perfect complement for my future."
Two degrees, two cities and endless opportunities
After living her whole life in the Canary Islands, Irene was ready for a new adventure. She took a leap—and a flight—to embark on her new journey, first to Segovia and then to Madrid, where she is currently studying two IE University programs rolled into one: the Bachelor in Philosophy, Politics, Law and Economics (PPLE) and the Bachelor in Data and Business Analytics.
One of the main things that drew Irene to IE University is that the dual degree she is studying is not offered by other universities. This is a degree that she believes to be the perfect complement for her future. Her program involves two years at IE University’s Segovia campus and three years in Madrid, giving her the chance to explore two new and very different cities. Irene was also excited to take advantage of the variety of clubs, activities and events available to students.
According to Irene, IE University offers an incredible experience for students in which life and studies can be perfectly balanced. She has already participated in several clubs, including Girl Up, IE University’s chapter of the UN Foundation nonprofit that promotes women’s leadership development; the IE Women in Business Club, which seeks to foster gender equality in the business world; and the IE Eco Club, a student-led effort focused on sustainability. Irene found that all of these clubs offer incredibly interesting activities, talks and events that help both her personal and professional growth.
Her favorite extracurricular experience, however, has been playing on the IE University women’s soccer team during her years in Segovia. Being part of the team gave her the chance to meet wonderful people and have a great time playing the sport she most enjoys.
As for academics and professional outlets, among the key factors that attracted Irene to IE University were the opportunities, especially in terms of networking, events and workshops. Because she’s been taking advantage of everything on offer, Irene was able to create a better CV and cover letter and has learned a few tips on how to ace interviews. Moreover, she found that IE Talent and Careers offers several opportunities to help students to discover their likes and interests so they can begin to set a course for their professional future.
When Irene is not attending workshops, going to class or studying, she enjoys going to the gym, reading, playing music and spending time with her friends. This year her Dual Degree brought her to Madrid, and she has found that she loves going for walks in the city. She also spends a lot of her time studying and working on assignments in the IE Tower.
Although Irene has not yet decided what she wants to do after graduation, she is trying to discover what she really likes. She looks forward to gaining internship experiences to help her find out what her future holds. Irene shared a quote that she likes to bear in mind, from Ginni Rometty, the first woman head of IBM: “Your value will be not what you know; it will be what you share.” We look forward to seeing how Irene shares with the world all she is learning during her IE University experience, and how she encounters the career path that will best fit her as a businesswoman of tomorrow.
