Your Own Path

Sofia Silva Carballido knew she wanted a career which married the international relations and technology worlds, but the pathway to this was something she had to pave herself. By coming to IE University, Sofia was able to immerse herself in an international community of open-minded people interested in sharing their cultures and perspectives. This diversity was combined with the entrepreneurial mindset of the university itself, which Sofia embraced after graduation.

Sofia defines success as peace of mind. In her career, she has found a role that manifests her interests by working in digital government and public sector innovation at tech company Public. Based in London, Sofia appreciates the UK’s digital government infrastructure as well as the city’s vibrant community of artisans and creatives.

A born problem-solver, Matheus enjoys the process of working through a problem that does not have a solution rather than simply executing a formula. In his role at Amazon, he manages operations and efficiency for Amazon’s grocery home delivery service, where he has the opportunity to test ideas that can help the company improve.

Matheus recognizes that the person he was when he arrived at IE University was not who he was by the end of his time in Madrid. His approach to work and problems transformed from a notion that there was a single pathway toward finding the answer to a more nuanced mindset, open to trying various routes to a solution.

Matheus also appreciated the balance IE University encouraged between social, academic and personal life, which is something he felt he might not find at other higher education institutions. Now that he is no longer at IE University, he misses the buzz of activity and people.

We recently caught up with Celia García Virosta, who graduated from the Bachelor in Business Administration at IE University in 2018. She currently lives in London and has worked at Fiduciam (London) since 2019. As an IT Project Manager, Celia works closely with both the technology and business departments within the company.

Celia credits IE University for expanding her horizons, opening her mind to different cultures and helping her discover that she could fit in outside of Spain. Another valuable takeaway for Celia is that the faculty were active professionals that inspired her.

Iñigo Cavestany, from Madrid, studied the Bachelor in Business Administration and now works at IBM.

According to Iñigo, the most powerful thing about IE University is that it’s made up of doers, makers and people who love to test and experiment with everything. He’s a digital advocate at IBM, and his mission is to embrace open ecosystems that improve the world as we know it.

Ever since he graduated from IE University, Iñigo has been collaborating with many startups across all types of programs, both through IE University and the MBAs, by helping them with the technologies they have at IBM. Currently, he is working with NetSpot, a startup incubator, and Velca, the ultimate electric mobility solution for urban cities.

For Iñigo, there’s no standard day—they’re all different. His biggest challenge personally is to manage himself, and he believes that each of us has to find the balance that best suits our life. After all, as Iñigo says, the ultimate purpose in life is simply to be happy.

From Spain, Tess studied the Dual Degree in Business Administration and Laws and now works at Google NYC.

Tess is an account manager for large customers at Google in New York. At IE University, she enjoyed how professors brought their professional experience into the classroom.

Tess’s work involves helping her clients improve their branding, chiefly with regard to Youtube and Display Advertising. But at heart, she sees herself as an entrepreneur, eager to use her skills to produce creative new ideas at Google. She believes IE University helped her in this, giving her the soft skills she was looking for—such as teamwork and presenting to groups of people. She also credits IE with teaching her to think big, giving her the entrepreneurial mindset to believe she can do anything. For Tess, success is about achieving goals, whether personal or professional, something she sets and monitors throughout the year.

Alejandro Sáez studied the Dual Degree in Business Administration & Laws. He is now the CEO and founder of eGoGames, Europe’s leading esports platform.

In Alejandro’s opinion, IE University inspires you to believe, push and lead, while instilling teamwork and other human values. For him, becoming an entrepreneur means believing in yourself and taking care of your whole team. As a serial entrepreneur, has also founded a restaurant and a tech firm but now focuses solely on eGoGames.

When Alejandro emerged on the scene, the mobile gaming industry was focused on monetization through ads and in-app purchases. He wanted to take that aspect away and create a new industry framework built only around competing and winning money. That’s how he came up with eGoGames. With eGoGames, people can play simple games such as Candy Crush, and win money by entering competitions such as one-on-one, leagues, tournaments, events, all based on their skill level.

Alejandro advises anyone who wants to become an entrepreneur to believe in themself. In his spare time, he enjoys working out, boxing, golf, and spending time with friends.

Looking ahead to five years’ time, he would like to make eGoGames the world-leading esports platform, and eventually, a 100-year company.

He is from Mexico and now is the CEO of Quádriga. He studied the the Bachelor in Business Administration.

Originally from Mexico, Bernardo Dillon studied the Bachelor of Business Administration at IE University before becoming CEO of Quádriga, the leading premium vehicle leasing company in Mexico City.

At IE University, he greatly valued the quality of the conversations between classmates and professors, especially thanks to the richness of culture and diversity of his peers. He credits it with helping him become more open-minded. He also appreciated the spirit of entrepreneurship, which is central to the IE University environment, as it has helped him develop more entrepreneurial skills to succeed in the modern professional world.

He is from Mexico and works at Didi’s National Fleet. He studied the Bachelor in Business Administration.

Alejandro is originally from Spain, but was educated at international schools in Spain before taking the Bachelor in Business Administration at IE University.

He always wanted to be within a dynamic and international environment—particularly within a tech company. He currently works as a manager at Didi’s National Fleet, mainly in the vehicle solutions department. There, he tries to find new business opportunities to help add value to the company, as well as working to improve the user experience on the operational side. At IE University, he found the international atmosphere he was looking for, learning how to develop through his projects and to present his ideas successfully.

From her native Spain to around the globe, we follow Letizia Caprile’s story and how her experience in the Bachelor in Architecture at IE University has catapulted her successes.

Over the course of her academic and professional career, Letizia has gained a unique global perspective on what it means to be an architect. She has worked on a wide range of design projects all around the world. From Spain to the UK, Chile, and beyond, Letizia shares just how far she’s been able to go with IE University. Her extensive international experience and humanistic approach to architecture are what have helped guide her in founding Kaura Studio. In her free time, Letizia enjoys cooking and escaping the city to unwind from her busy schedule.

They are from Germany and Finnland and are the founders of Cutnut. Teiko studied the Dual Degree in Business Administration and Laws, and Philipp and Benjamin studied the Bachelor in Business Administration.

These IE University graduates are taking the entrepreneurial world by storm. The trio created Cutnut, a B2B software used by companies to produce, and distribute high-quality story content for their social media platforms, websites, and apps. They have been featured in this year’s Forbes 30 under 30 list for European media and marketing, and their company has been growing exponentially from its conception. Their tool will be used to create stories for the brand new Google AMP format as well social media, bringing vertical content to all available platforms. It seems that innovation runs through their veins and together they are an unstoppable force in the future of entrepreneurship.

Olivia works in New York as a Global Assistant Manager at L'Oréal, one of the world’s largest beauty brands. She studied International Relations at IE University.

She credits her degree at IE University for shaping her personal and professional journey, especially in fostering her entrepreneurial mindset. In addition to her role at L'Oréal, she is the founder of two successful businesses, highlighting her passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. Her program guided her toward digital strategy and brand management, which have been key to her career. Beyond work, she remains dedicated to empowering others in the beauty and business sectors.

Karan works in Copenhagen as a sales and marketing executive for TM Group. He studied the Dual Degree in Business Administration & International Relations at IE University.

Karan credits his degree at IE University for shaping his personal and professional growth by transforming his outlook on life and business. His program helped guide Karan toward marketing and cross-cultural leadership, which he’s still pursuing in his current role. He recognizes the global importance of business administration, citing its role in economic growth, innovation and ethics. Beyond work, Karan engages in diverse activities, from movies and sports to political activities.

Aurora currently works in her native Norway as a content producer at Videocation.no, a digital publisher of online courses. The skills she gleaned during the Bachelor in Communication & Digital Media have been vital for her career development. She says that through the teamwork tasks she did as part of the program, she gained confidence in herself, become more assertive and is better able to handle conflicts.

Outside work, Aurora enjoys running, spending time in nature and socializing with friends. Hear her full story here and get more insights into her life in Oslo.

Currently working at Gladia in Paris, Anna studied the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) at IE University.

After completing her law degree, Anna realized that pursuing a career in legal practice wasn’t her only option. Instead, she decided to follow her passion for the arts and gained as much experience as she could in the cultural sector. Now, Anna combines all the knowledge and skills she gained from the program with her love for creativity and communications in her role as Content Strategist at Gladia, turning ideas into real-life projects. After work, she enjoys sports and biking outdoors or attending different cultural events in the center of Paris.

Tamara is a Madrid native with Palestinian and Syrian roots. She currently works at Mondelēz in Madrid, which she joined after graduating from IE Business School’s Bachelor in Business Administration.

She started working at Mondelēz through an internship for the brand, Royal. This led to her moving to London to continue working for Mondelēz. Advancing rapidly within the brand, she then moved into the World Travel Retail business unit, which also allowed her to return to Madrid.

Tamara chose IE University as it is open minded, business driven and culturally aware—three traits she feels identified with. Nominated by IE University to be an Eisenhower Youth Leader, Tamara is still a proud member of the organization today. She believes that this honor has allowed her to truly be part of more than one global network.

Finding herself with more spare time than usual during the pandemic, Tamara came together with Vanessa, a friend she met during her time at IE University. They started Baby Pakka, a baby’s clothing brand centered on sustainability.

Despite her busy lifestyle, Tamara finds time to take care of her own mental health through morning meditation and yoga. She has even been able to get back to horse riding, one of her favorite hobbies. Finally, she has one piece of advice for future students—to take the time to focus on themselves.

From New York, he now works at Unilever. He studied the Dual Degree in Business Administration and Laws.

New York City native Elliot graduated from IE Business School with a Dual Degree in Business Administration and Law. He strongly believes that the most realistic way to learn in the professional world is to join a company where you make a substantial impact from day one.

He works at Unilever, focusing on providing digital innovation for personal-care brands; everything from product innovation to optimizing creativity and advertising to reach consumers at the right time, in the right place. He credits IE University with helping him build his network, which has helped him both in his professional career and in his personal life.

She is from the Czech Republic and works at Havas Prague. She studied the Bachelor in Communication and Digital Media.

Since graduating, Jasmina has shown true determination in pursuing her passions. She currently works at Havas in Prague, a creative agency that manages social media for large global companies, including Google. After taking on a number of roles, she has gained new insights and opened the door to a world of opportunity. At IE University, Jasmina made every effort to follow her passions, taking part in photography, music, and sports activities. As a result, she has evolved into a multifaceted professional who brings a dynamic skill set to her professional environment.

He is from the Czech Republic and works at LinkedIn in Dublin. He studied the Bachelor in Business Administration.

Lukas is originally from the Czech Republic but currently works in the sales development at LinkedIn in Dublin. He’s taking part in a rotational program, where he gets to experience different departments every few months to get insights into all areas of business. Eventually, he would like to pursue an entrepreneurial path, and is grateful to IE University for providing him with the necessary resources and opportunities to do so. When not thinking about his future, Lukas enjoys exploring his new city or taking part in a range of sports, including running, table tennis, and mountain biking.

She is from France and now works at Salesforce in Dublin. She studied the Bachelor in Business Administration.

Philippine is always looking to get involved in extracurricular activities. At IE University, she made the most of the diverse community on campus, immersing herself in team-based experiences. She discovered how to organize teams to improve productivity, and her innovative mindset has helped make the most of her time there. Thanks to these skills developed in the Bachelor in Business Administration, she was chosen for a summer internship at Salesforce’s EMEA Headquarters in Dublin. Philippine has an exciting future ahead of her, and we are in no doubt she will be able to achieve whatever she sets her mind on.

Ana, a self-described “people person,” studied the Bachelor in International Relations. Originally from Spain, she now works as a sales specialist for Banking and Finance in Zürich, where networking and building client relationships are her favorite aspects of the role. The international nature of IE University, which enabled Ana to connect with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds, was an ideal preparation for her current job.

Ana’s day-to-day life doesn’t revolve solely around work: she also enjoys sports and has an active social life. Learn more about her lifestyle and hear her advice for prospective students.

Originally from Spain, Leticia now works in Zürich as an underwriter for credit and surety at Swiss Re. At IE University, she studied the Dual Degree in Business Administration & Laws.

In her current role, she needs to understand both the legal and macroeconomic implications of transactions. She says she puts the skills she learned at IE University into practice on a daily basis.

In her spare time, Leticia enjoys running and surfing, and has taken advantage of living in Switzerland to develop a new hobby—snowboarding!

Originally from France, Timothé studied the Dual Degree in Business Administration & International Relations, followed by the Master in Big Data & Business Analytics. He’s now working as coordinator for the AWS/EMEA Alliance at Deloitte in Brussels, where he applies the tools he acquired at IAs a Credit Rating Analyst at DBRS Morningstar, Matteo de Palma credits his time at IE Business School as preparing him to enter the professional world and be a valuable asset to his team as a financial analyst. In this role, he uses data and models to support the lead analyst in the composition of credit reports. He thinks the most valuable quality yo have is being able to learn from others.

Learn more about Matteo's daily routine in Madrid and how he balances everything.E University to his role.

As an early career professional, Laura Jimenez Ruiz is working as a Credit Analyst at S&P Global Ratings, squeezing as much as she can out of the experience while she prepares for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam. Her role entails a broad range of analyses of creditworthiness of companies, and she hopes to ultimately become an associate at S&P.

When she was at IE University, Laura took advantage of the opportunity to learn a wide range of skills, including the ins and outs of Excel and how to tackle public speaking with confidence. Perhaps more importantly, IE University gave Laura something that studying alone cannot provide: the mental flexibility to approach problems from multiple perspectives and to think outside the box.

Laura defines success as becoming really good at something you are passionate about and that you must invest a lot of effort in, and she is in the process of achieving this as she climbs her way up the career ladder.

Orhan Cody, who is part of the International Investment Group at BNP Paribas Real Estate, defines his role in simple terms: he connects the right people to the right projects with the right capital.

Based in the world financial center of London, Orhan has daily interactions with others who share his career ambitions and mindset. His attraction to IE University also allowed him to surround himself with like-minded people, and he enjoyed getting to know classmates through small group work as well as professors with real-world expertise in the business world.

Orhan’s time at IE University molded the framework of his perceptions of both himself and the world around him. He advises current students to explore as much as possible to understand what they like best and are most intrigued by, and then gain experience so that they can jump-start their career, regardless of the route they choose to take.

Ahmed is originally from Libya, but he currently lives in Madrid where he works for Banco Santander. Before starting his career, he studied the Bachelor in Business Administration at IE University.

What Ahmed likes most about IE University is the team spirit, the openness, the flexibility to work with others and the speed of learning. Before starting his degree, he expected higher education to facilitate interaction with people from different cultures and backgrounds, to learn about current as well as past business knowledge, and to access a great network of professors and alumni that can help him start his career.

In Ahmed’s opinion, success is the ability to manage all the important aspects of your life, which for him include family, work and health. In his free time he likes to read, play the guitar, play padel and see his friends. For Ahmed, the most important thing is to dedicate time to his wife and spend time with her after a busy day of work.

From Spain, he now works at Morgan Stanley in New York. He studied the Dual Degree in Business Administration and Laws.

Eric’s global mindset helped him find his role in Equity Capital Markets at Morgan Stanley in New York.

Eric believes speaking multiple languages and being culturally aware are important to finding a global career—all skills he honed at IE University. But he specifically credits the university with helping him create the mindset to find opportunities and internships, encouraging him to prepare his CV from day one. With such a fast-paced job involving capital increases chiefly in Latin America, Eric doesn’t have too much free time. But when he does have some time to himself, he gets involved in many different activities with friends, whether golf, poker or the gym.

He is from Spain and works at J.P. Morgan in Geneva. He studied the Dual Degree in Business Administration and Laws.

Originally from Spain, Pablo moved to Geneva, Switzerland to work at J.P. Morgan as an investor analyst. He’s currently taking part in a three-year program at the company to grow his skills—and he’s using his time well. At IE University, he learned to develop his own point of view to better connect with people. Now, alongside dedicating himself to his work, he takes every opportunity to network with people from many different departments and gain new perspectives. A keen believer in the power of technology, he hopes to move more into the technological side of finance in the future.

José Luis Martín is a Real Estate Analyst at Kroll in Los Angeles, where he navigates one of the world’s largest and most competitive real estate markets. A graduate of IE University’s Dual Degree in Business and International Relations, José Luis credits his success to the practical experiences, teamwork, and guidance from IE’s inspiring professors, which helped shape his professional journey.

Outside of the office, José Luis enjoys the vibrant lifestyle of Los Angeles. He continues his passion for sailing, which began at IE’s Sailing Club, and spends his free time hiking, running, and playing music, making the most of both work and life in the City of Angels.

Originally from France, Timothé studied the Dual Degree in Business Administration & International Relations, followed by the Master in Big Data & Business Analytics. He’s now working as coordinator for the AWS/EMEA Alliance at Deloitte in Brussels, where he applies the tools he acquired at IE University to his role.

Timothé has ambitions to start his own company one day. As well as volunteering with a charity helping underprivileged children, he enjoys life in Brussels to the full, spending time with friends and taking part in sporting activities. His recipe for success? Dream big, but keep your feet on the ground!

Paula works as a consultant at Dalberg in Copenhagen. She studied the Bachelor in Psychology at IE University.

Driven and result-oriented, Paula Faciolince is always thinking about impact. She has built a dynamic career supporting innovation and sustainable development, and now works at a renowned social impact advisory firm. Paula’s goal is to close the gap between business and social impact. Convinced that collaboration is the key to solving pressing global challenges, she wants to use the practical outlook, holistic skills and international network she gained at IE University to leave a mark in her field. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, art and walking around the city with friends.

She is from Mallorca and now works at Accenture in Madrid. She studied the Bachelor in Psychology, which she describes as “the perfect combination of business and psychology.”

At IE University, Lucía was especially impressed by the emphasis on diversity and inclusion, as well as the blend of academic excellence and soft skills that her chosen program offered. She now puts these skills into action in her role in the People, Talent and Organization team at Accenture, where she works with companies and teams from all over the world.

Discover what else Lucía learned at IE University, why she loves Madrid and her top tips for success.

Originally from Poland, she studied the Dual Degree in Business Administration & International Relations and now works as a senior associate and sustainability manager at Position Green in Oslo.

Pola’s work involves helping companies conduct their business responsibly, as well as tackling Position Green’s own sustainability work. In addition, she’s an external collaborator for IE Impact Bridge and still visits IE University to teach classes in impact investing.

Studying at IE University gave her skills she uses often in her work, including problem-solving and analyzing real-life business cases. Learn more here about how Pola manages her work-life balance and hear her personal definition of success.

Since joining IE University as a student of the Bachelor of International Relations, Antoine has worked as a Strategic Marketing Intern at NAVAL GROUP and a tournament coordinator for Stade Français.

He is always looking for new ways to learn, and found that IE University provided him the perfect environment to do so. Whether working on a range of projects, or fine-tuning the necessary techniques to foster a strategic and innovative mindset, Antoine has shown how IE University can help you grow into the professional you aspire to be.

Antoine was drawn to study International Relations by the skills the program imparts, from determination to understand the world around us, to how it can help you become more consistent in yourself—both personally and professionally.

Now a resident of Paris, he looks back fondly at his time at IE University and is grateful for all the experiences he enjoyed, which he credits for leading him to where he is now.

A graduate of the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Bart Friese is a Senior Consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He says that studying at IE University taught him to face challenges head-on and step outside of his comfort zone.

It also made him discover what he wanted to do, inspired by professors who also worked as lawyers at the same time. Since graduating, he’s made the move to Amsterdam. He talks us through his role and the skills he gained at IE University that he now uses every day, as he guides buyers and sellers through large transactions as part of a deals team.

Ainhoa Busto always knew she wanted to pursue a career in law that transcended borders, bringing together diverse perspectives and legal practices from around the world. Her journey at IE University allowed her to experience this firsthand, as she joined a community of students and professors from all corners of the globe. At IE, she developed a collaborative approach, an open mind, and a strong appreciation for working with people from different jurisdictions—qualities that have become instrumental in her career.

Today, as an associate at White & Case in Madrid, Ainhoa thrives in a role that combines her passion for law with the international experience she gained during her studies. For her, success is about both professional growth and personal balance. Outside the office, Ainhoa enjoys catching up with friends, connecting with IE alumni, exploring new destinations, and finding balance through indoor cycling.

Snorre Qveim, senior associate at Selmer law firm in Norway, believes that success equals happiness.

The cross-disciplinary curriculum of the Bachelor in International Relations, particularly the specialization in international business law, gave Snorre in-depth insights into the commercial and economic aspects of corporate law contracts and transactions, which he’s found invaluable in his current role.

Although Snorre admits it’s challenging to balance work and play, he enjoys running, reading and spending time with friends.

Alvaro Vidal cites the decision to attend IE University and study at the Segovia campus as the best decision of his life. 

Now an Associate in Commercial Privacy and Data Protection at Bird & Bird law firm, Alvaro spent his time at IE University gaining the tools and instruments necessary to become a great lawyer, which led directly to his opportunity to enter two of the biggest law firms in Spain upon graduation.

Paulina Samovica is an alum of our Dual Degree in Laws + International Relations. When she graduated, Paulina was looking for a legal role in the tech field.

Her role at Corsearch perfectly fit her criteria, as it provides her with the opportunity to work with intellectual property under brand protection. Now living just outside Amsterdam, Paulina has to manage a busy weekly schedule to hit her clients’ goals. She balances a range of responsibilities across marketplaces, social media, domains and websites with direct interactions with her clients, but still makes time for herself outside of work.

From Spain, Ana now works at Cleary Gottlieb in New York. She studied the Dual Degree in Business Administration and Laws.

Ana’s IE University journey was one of both professional and personal growth, which led her to her current position as a Forreign Associate in International Arbitration at Cleary Gottlieb and Cuatrecasas in New York.

Ana’s work in arbitration mainly centers around Latin-American companies, across a wide variety of sectors. She says her time at IE University helped cultivate her natural curiosity and passion for trying different things to express themselves—giving her a clearer vision of what she wanted to do with her future. IE University also gave her the confidence to speak up and state her point of view, something she finds useful on a daily basis. In her spare time she’s a keen runner, and hopes to run the New York marathon. When she’s not working or pounding the pavement, she can be found socializing with her friends.

A Spanish citizen with Colombian origins, Laura has ambitions to change the world. After studying the Dual Degree in Business Administration and International Relations, she took up a role as content advisor at AmCham EU in Brussels and was swiftly promoted to a senior position. She credits the networking opportunities at IE University with giving her a head start in her career.

Laura envisions her future career path moving towards a focus on international relations. She also enjoys painting, reading and spending time with friends. Take a closer look at Laura’s life in Brussels—and hear her advice to prospective students of international relations.

From Bolivia, she is now working at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington. She studied the Bachelor in Business Administration.

For Bolivian Adriana, who took the Bachelor in Business Administration at IE University, success means having a positive impact on society and the environment, while also taking every opportunity to give back.

She works as an Infrastructure and Energy Operations Consultant at the Inter-American Development Bank in the extractive industry division. She’s currently working on a lithium project, coordinating with a lot of Latin American ministers to exchange environmentally friendly practices. At IE University, she learned how to give presentations and effectively communicate her ideas, as well as working with a diverse group of people and making connections that help her in her daily professional life.

From Peru, Mickela works at the United Nations in New York. She studied the Bachelor in International Relations.

Mickela works as a financial affairs advisor at the United Nations in New York. She says IE University’s open mindset is what taught her not only to take in, but to appreciate and value different ideas.

Mickela’s original ambition was to become a diplomat. But over her four years at IE University,  the wide variety of internships available gave her access to a number of professional experiences. In the end, she decided a career as a diplomat wasn’t for her. Instead, she would like to create an education-based NGO dealing with social and emotional well-being. Her current role keeps her busy with meetings and reports but when she does have a moment, she enjoys dancing, theater, cinema and ice skating.

Olivier, from Mexico, studied the Dual Degree in Business Administration and International Relations. He now works for Nestlé in Paris.

Olivier recognized the value of the opportunities available at IE University early on. He immersed himself fully into the university’s diverse community, finding long-term friends and lasting connections within its vibrant, multicultural student body. He also developed confidence in public speaking, a skill that is essential for his current work. Olivier is now a senior internal auditor at Nestlé, which involves minimizing risks and providing risk assurance across different areas of the business. In his free time, he enjoys running or longboarding through the streets of Paris and practicing melodic riffs on his guitar.