Some journeys start with a map. Others start with a backpack and a stubborn sense of hope. When it comes to student life at IE University alumni success stories, Telma and Yolanda are proof that both paths can lead somewhere extraordinary.
IE University alumni success stories: Curiosity, courage and a few curveballs
Telma, a Bachelor in Business Administration student, showed up at IE University with a wide-open mind and a suitcase full of questions. “I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do,” she says, laughing. “I just knew I wanted to explore, to learn as much as possible.”
She dove into the multicultural learning environment headfirst, stacking summer internships abroad like souvenirs—first in administrative sales, then at a Barcelona startup with the help of a Santander scholarship, and finally, all the way to Poland. Each experience added another brick to the bridge she was building toward the future.
And then came the real kicker: fifteen days after handing in her thesis, Telma joined Google Dublin. No drumroll, no fireworks. Just a lot of hard work and what she calls “proving your abilities every single day.” She adds, “It’s not about having perfect grades. It’s about showing up smart, staying sustainable in how you work, and not letting the fear of ‘not knowing’ slow you down.”
That, right there, might just be the unofficial motto of student life at IE University: jump in, get your hands dirty, and learn how to swim on the way down.
Careers after IE University: Planning, persistence and a little bit of luck
Yolanda’s journey was a different flavor of wild. A Dual Degree in Business Administration and International Relations student, she had her eyes set on shaping the way business meets the world. IE, with its entrepreneurial mindset and competitive job market vibes, felt like the perfect launchpad.
After graduation, she threw herself into a digital transformation and recovery project—until a twist of fate (and a few sharp conversations) pointed her toward Microsoft. “They actually encouraged me to apply,” Yolanda remembers. “At first I thought, ‘Seriously? Me?’” But a few interviews later, there she was, sitting in a Microsoft office, proof that believing in yourself isn’t just a nice idea—it’s a survival skill.
Her advice to current students and fresh alumni is simple but sharp:
“Stay busy. Stay transparent. Show companies why you’re an asset. Take risks. If you don’t jump, you don’t fly.”
What Telma and Yolanda teach us about careers after IE University
Neither Telma nor Yolanda had a crystal ball. What they had was grit, a little faith, and the right environment to sharpen their edges. Careers after IE University aren’t born in tidy classrooms with bullet-point lists. They’re crafted in late-night group projects, summer internships abroad, awkward networking events, and moments of sheer terror before a big presentation.
It’s about stepping into uncertainty armed with curiosity and walking out the other side with stories to tell—and sometimes, job offers from Google and Microsoft in your inbox.
Your next step starts now
Telma and Yolanda’s stories aren’t fairy tales. They’re proof that the right university doesn’t hand you a career—it hands you the tools, the connections and the wild encouragement to build one yourself. If you’re ready to turn ambition into action, explore what IE Business School and Talent & Careers can help you achieve. Your story could be next.