21/01/2025
Read our interview Shogo Kumaki to find out how the Global Online MBA is helping him evolve.
You’re searching for the best business schools in Europe, America and the rest of the world. Perhaps you’re comparing ranking pages and wondering how reliable the information is. Of course, you’ll expect we’re biased towards IE Business School. That’s why, to give you a true story and insights on our programs, we spoke with Shogo Kumaki. Shogo is a student of our Global Online MBA and is continuing his career at Johnson & Johnson alongside his studies. Read on to see why he chose to study with us, why we’re one of the best business universities in Europe and how he’s breaking cultural barriers to be a modern professional with international prospects.
Trust our ranking as one of the best business schools in Europe
Shogo says our reputation for being one of the top business schools in Europe was key to making his decision. This was enhanced by the fact our Global Online MBA is the top program of its kind in the entire world: “I was mainly influenced by rankings from sources like the Financial Times and QS. After checking those sites, I picked some schools to research. Honestly, in the Global Online MBA space, IE Business School is number one. That was a big factor in my decision.”
Learn how to become an entrepreneur
At IE Business School, we specialize in entrepreneurship. But how do you become an entrepreneur? We believe through an innovative mindset that stays ahead of trends. And Shogo already feels the program fits with his long-term goals: “My goal for the MBA is to gain basic business knowledge, which I think is similar across all business schools. However, I also wanted a more diverse environment, with a focus on entrepreneurship and technology. Those topics were especially attractive to me.”
IE Business School’s MBA programs go beyond academic norms which others may conform to. We achieve this with a groundbreaking faculty who have real professional experience in business.
“So far, my experience has been positive, and I’ve noticed that the professors have an entrepreneurial mindset in each course,” says Shogo. “For example, in management accounting, the course focuses heavily on cost management, framed from a startup perspective. This aligns with my aspiration to eventually start my own business.”
Old-school professionals will be forgotten
Why do you want to study in Europe? It may be because you understand that a global mindset is vital to modern success in business. We agree, which is why we actively recruit students from many countries. “My cohort is extremely diverse, with people from all over the world—Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and South America,” says Shogo.
“It’s been an incredible experience. In terms of cultural learning, I find it fascinating how different cultures approach business. The Japanese approach, for example, tends to be more indirect. Relatively, we don’t directly say things or act aggressively, which contrasts with cultures where directness and assertiveness are more common. This cultural diversity has expanded my perspective, especially during our online discussions, where I encounter ideas I wouldn’t have thought of on my own.”
Shogo values the challenging discussions he might not encounter in his native Japan. “We recently discussed a leadership course topic where we watched the same movie and shared our thoughts. Some characters were very direct, and I thought it was difficult to handle, but others in the class felt they should have been even more direct.”
“It’s been very insightful to hear how different people think about leadership, and this learning and experiences will definitely be useful when working in global markets.”
You might think that networking opportunities would be more limited with blended learning, but you’d be mistaken. IE Business School uses state-of-the-art online platforms to ensure students feel connected despite the time difference. We also incorporate face-to-face learning periods into the curriculum with hybrid programs. You can find out more with this recent article about Chan Heng Hong’s experience on the Executive Master in Digital Transformation and Innovation Leadership‘s Global Immersion Week in Dublin.
You can work in Europe and the US
Shogo has aspirations to work in Europe, the US and more. “In the future, I’m interested in targeting international markets, particularly in Singapore or the United States. At Johnson & Johnson, we have many branches, and I would love to work in the U.S. headquarters or take on a role in the Asia-Pacific region in Singapore. My aspiration is to grow in these regions and broaden my skill set. This Global Online MBA is in English, which is essential in preparing me for the international roles I’m aiming for.”
Interacting in English is one thing. Leading teams is another. Shogo understands the nuances in this difference and is using the Global Online MBA to adequately prepare himself: “As I move into a regional role, I may work with teams across various countries, including China, Korea, Australia, Japan and India. If I move to the United States, I’ll likely have colleagues from Europe, South America, the Middle East and Asia. To lead such diverse teams, I need to develop leadership skills for managing people from different cultural backgrounds. This program is providing me with the tools for that.”
Studying an MBA in Spain is better than in the US
Shogo makes a particularly interesting point about choosing to study an MBA in Spain rather than the US. “I know the US is historically strong in MBA education,” says Shogo, pointing out the biases many of us have when choosing where to study an MBA.
“But for an online MBA, Europe seemed like the best option. After researching, I found that most of the top online MBA programs were based in Europe, including Spain and the UK. So I decided not to consider U.S.-based online MBAs.”
IE Business School is one of the best business schools in Europe for many reasons. However, you may not have considered its location as a key factor in your decision. Madrid is the best erasmus city for a reason. Furthermore, it’s the capital of Spain, safe and exciting. Our sunny climate here is the envy of Europe, along with a low cost of living. Remember that Madrid is also a financial hub with lots of opportunities for internships and employment. Whether you enroll in our presential Executive MBA or enjoy face-to-face meetings here with our Global Online MBA, you’ll be guaranteed a very high quality of life. This won’t be the case in many parts of the US.
Scholarships to study at IE Business School
We offer various scholarships for master’s programs. The IE Asia Pacific Scholarship is for candidates from the region with strong academic or professional backgrounds, leadership potential and significant growth prospects. You also have the IE Scholarship which is applicable for any region. Both can cover 10-40% of tuition fees. The deadlines for these awards are before the program’s start date.
You also have the IE High Potential Award for candidates with a GPA above 8/10, and the prestigious IE Business School Dean’s Award, which covers 70% of tuition for candidates with exceptional academic records. These two scholarships are automatically considered upon completing the admissions process for IE Business School.
There are many scholarships which may be of help to you. If you’re interested in studying with us and learning more, click the link below.
