Darío Esteban

Dario Esteban remembers a particular moment in his childhood when his father told him, “It doesn’t matter how many times you fall, but how many times you pick yourself back up again.” This is the ethos that guides his life till today, shaping a resilient spirit that is ready to adapt to new environments and tackle challenges as they arise.

This powerful mindset took him through a difficult first year abroad when his foreign college of choice failed to live up to his expectations. A long-time lover of debate, he tried to connect with individuals, student groups or other organizations with whom he could discuss the many “interesting, controversial and relevant” topics of the day, but there were none to be found. Unfortunately, his mood and overall mental health suffered due to the lack of this healthy outlet, so Dario decided to pick himself back up, yet again, and traveled back home in search of balance and community at IE University.

At the university, Dario chose to pursue the Bachelor in Data & Business Analytics because, as he says, “Data is the gold of the future.” The fact that these credentials would let him work anywhere managing and analyzing data—from Chanel to Goldman Sachs to McDonald's and more—provided an immense level of flexibility that was an additional bonus.

But the icing on the cake was when Dario went to one of IE University’s Club Fairs, where he discovered all the fantastic clubs and activities on offer. More importantly, he finally found a new home in the IE Debate Club and, needless to say, he signed up immediately. Dario was already a seasoned pro at this point: as far back as middle school, he had participated in numerous formal debates across Andalusia, as well as several Model United Nations (MUN) conferences around Europe. But because he needed to brush up his skills, he instantly enrolled in several training sessions provided by the club. Dario was determined to prepare himself to take part in as many events as possible and even hopefully represent the club in various delegations.

Within the space of a few months, he had already achieved his goal. Dario was selected as one of the delegates who would represent IE University and the IE Debate Club at the 2023 Harvard National Model United Nations. He admits, “My experience at Harvard was unforgettable.” Indeed, the prestigious conference was the perfect opportunity for personal, academic and intellectual growth. Dario not only got to meet many amazingly talented debaters from all over the world, he also gained an unshakable confidence that allowed him to shine without giving in to the “underlying fear of being disliked.”

That in itself was a big win, but the biggest accolade from the conference was when Dario and his partner, Isabella Miller, were endowed with the Best Delegate award. “At many points prior to and during the conference, I felt incredibly defeated and found myself doubting my capabilities and worthiness to be part of the team,” he explains. But, in typical fashion, Dario channeled his doubts to putting in the time and effort required to hone his craft—and it paid off. 

His biggest takeaway from the Harvard MUN is that preparation matters. He is sure that the amount of hard work and dedication the IE Debate Club team applied in the lead-up to the conference played a crucial part in both their overall performance and eventual victory. Dario applauds IE Campus Life for not only providing them with necessary guidance and support throughout the process, but also financing part of the trip itself.

For now, Dario is looking to the future, determined to progress on the path to his dream career in data. He encourages other students to try their best and give it their all in pursuit of their own goals. “I became part of the team by being there and trying since day one, from the speech competition to the training sessions and being actively engaged in everything related to the club” he explains. Similarly, other students should give it their best shot—you never know what could happen next!