My name is Manuel Azaña. I am an associate consultant at GLR Partners, a Valencian consulting firm specializing in branding, strategic management, human resources and go-to-market digital transformation.

Before I describe a typical week on the Data Science Bootcamp, I would like to outline my background as well as the difficulties and advantages that participants with a similar profile to mine may experience.

I worked in digital marketing and business consulting for almost my entire professional career. This sector works with large amounts of data and it was clear to me that a postgraduate program like the Data Science Bootcamp would allow me to specialize in this area. In addition, the Bootcamp was a great opportunity to take a leap both in my career and in the level of service we offer at GLR Partners. 

Given my profile and professional background, the Data Science Bootcamp did not come without its difficulties. On the one hand, having a business background allows you to better understand the “final” objective of everything you do. On the other hand, your experience with key areas such as programming or mathematics is not as broad as you would like it to be.

Also, studying alongside an intensive consulting job can be extremely exhausting at times, both physically and mentally. However, despite these difficulties, it’s worth it in the end.

A typical week at the Bootcamp is a week of learning new things. A week of listening to incredible teachers who care about helping you assimilate new concepts that a few days ago you couldn’t even dream of understanding. A week with amazing colleagues who will be by your side to help you get the most out of this experience. When people talk about IE University, they emphasize the importance of networking, but it goes much further than this. I am leaving this experience with a group of friends I can rely on when things get tough, share new ideas and opportunities, and celebrate the highs and the lows. 

In short, the IE Data Science Bootcamp is a unique experience for many reasons. It offers the opportunity to train in a booming field under the guidance of top-level professors and meet incredible people who will accompany you well beyond the program. Last but not least, the Bootcamp gives you the chance to get to know yourself better and prove you are capable of doing things you never thought possible.