20/02/2025
The hard work does eventually pay off.
Pursuing an MBA is a transformative journey. For Gérault-Landry, a student of the Global Online MBA at IE Business School, this experience has been both demanding and rewarding. But the process has given him unique insights on how to balance study and work.
Currently working as a sales manager at Ecolab in Switzerland, Gérault-Landry wanted an MBA that would help him advance his career without sacrificing his current professional commitments. First, he explored some of Switzerland’s prestigious business schools. But he ultimately settled on IE Business School‘s Global Online MBA because of its unique online format.
Read on for Gérault-Landry’s insights on the value of a global education.
Tell us how you balance study and work during the Global Online MBA.
“Overall, students have a lot of flexibility—the program is designed in such a way that it’s really up to you how to divide your time and submit your deliverables. The most important commitment is attending the live class on Saturdays, but you can choose either the morning session or the afternoon session.”
“Additionally, from Monday through Thursday evening, you participate in forums at your own pace. You get questions from professors on articles that you need to read, and you can discuss ideas with your peers, anything from what’s going on in the economy to thoughts about the specific course topics. These forum posts can be done whenever you find the moment in your busy schedule.”
Considering this is an online program, how much hands-on learning do you get?
“There is a lot of hands-on learning because of the group work involved. This can range from discussions with peers to creating presentations about current trends and events.”
“Some might assume that an online MBA is less impactful, but I would say it’s even more impactful because you are combining it with a full-time job.”
“One big benefit is that you gain skills that you can immediately apply to your work. For example, in the first two terms, you get deep knowledge about business, finance and economics. These have been very helpful for me in my current job as a sales manager managing an international team.”
Does the program keep you up-to-date with global trends in the industry?
“Definitely. We are living in crucial economic times, which are very dynamic and unstable. Most courses have a fixed curriculum, but here, they adapt the learning to what is going on in the world.”
“Another unique aspect is that the professors are very open to student input. If you believe something is missing, you can ask the professor to cover that. So, this MBA is really adapting to what we as students need to be successful now and in the future.”
How is the program building your global mindset?
“On the Global Online MBA, I’m studying with people from all around the world—from Asia, Africa, Latin America, the US, Europe and Canada. In fact, you get mixed with different time zones, which makes it more challenging sometimes to find a moment to sit together for group work or group presentations, but that’s also part of your experience.”
“This global mindset is something you can really feel.”
“It’s a shared value for everyone doing this MBA. They want to learn cultural differences from other people and understand how different cultures approach things. They want to learn how to share ideas in a way that respects every culture’s nuances.”
How has IE Business School helped you define your purpose?
“I’m seeing a lot of personal growth as an individual. I believe that the more you learn in life, the more you can enrich other people’s lives and the world in general. That’s one of the reasons why I joined this program.”
“For me, purpose is very important. Something that became even clearer to me during this MBA is I want to have an impact not only on the planet, but also on people. As a manager, having an impact on a team by helping them make the right decisions and approach business from an ethical standpoint is very satisfying.”
“Before joining this program, I already had a vision of what I wanted to achieve and where I wanted to go. But IE Business School has definitely strengthened my vision by giving me the confidence and tools to be successful.”
Would you recommend this program to others interested in getting an online MBA?
“Yes, I would. It definitely adds value to you as a professional. The only advice I would give is to be prepared—don’t underestimate how tough it is to combine study and work. You will be challenged, you will have moments when you have a huge amount of things to do. So it’s really about prioritization. If you are 100% committed and you understand that this is part of your growth journey, you will really be successful and get great benefits from this experience.”
