For tomorrow’s leaders, networking has been described as “a critically important skill.” But it’s an ability that’s often overlooked in education, where the lines can be quite narrowly drawn and the focus is often purely on academic achievement.
That is very much not the case at IE University, where we recognize the value of direct exposure to the companies and people operating at the sharp end of the business ecosystem. So in early June, 12 outstanding Bachelor in Business Administration students were given the opportunity to travel to Manhattan, where they came face-to-face with top sector players in a range of industries. A packed working week arranged in collaboration with the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce provided our students with an international networking opportunity at the very highest level.
NYC Immersion Week: Transformative from the start
At IE University, our students learn from experts and observe the working world in action before plunging into it. Recently, IE Business School students participated in NYC Immersion Week. This thrilling one-week program packed a punch with guided tours and meetings with over 20 key representatives from major American and Spanish companies in business, banking and international relations.
NYC Immersion Week was organized by IE University’s New York Office and the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce, a nonprofit American institution that represents companies seeking to establish business relationships between Spain and the US, has been facilitating access to the US job market for young internationals for over 20 years.
Our students knew from the moment they saw the agenda that they were in for a full week: meetings and discussions with key representatives from major American and Spanish companies and institutions in business, banking and technology kept them busy from early Monday morning to lunchtime on Friday.
Networking throughout Manhattan
After a welcome from IE University’s Erika Ortiz de Artiñano and Gemma Cortizo from the US-Spain Chamber of Commerce, it was straight down to it. First stop was Rockefeller Plaza, to the New York home of global management consultant firm McKinsey & Co. Their strategic business builder Peter Stumpner shared his extensive experience in leadership, growth strategy and organizational transformation.
From there, our intrepid dozen headed south to another iconic NYC landmark, the World Trade Center, where they met JPMorgan Chase & Co’s Montserrat Serra. An economist with 26 years’ experience internationally and co-chair of the firm’s Hispanic Latino Advocacy Program, Ms. Serra offered her deep expertise in LATAM markets, alternative investments and global private equity sales.
Meeting one of the Big Four
Monday’s final stop was EY in Park Avenue. Our students were able to ask senior manager Macarena López about her extensive international tax and cross-border advisory experience for the strategic consulting and auditing giant.
Three unique networking experiences down already, and it was only the end of day one. For our twelve, a peek into what their future might look like in environments that demand unrelenting excellence, innovative thinking, an entrepreneurial mindset and resilience. Four days still to go.
To Hudson Yards, Broadway and SoHo
Tuesday’s first stop was with the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, to meet Marta Baeza, chief of
staff to the head of US Wealth & Retirement and an IE University alum. Here was a chance to ask for advice from someone who had lived the IE Experience and built a successful international career.
No let-up in the pace, however, as from there our dedicated dozen headed to Broadway. Not to take in a show, but to meet Diego Barajas, a vice president of Morgan Stanley within their Inclusive Ventures Lab. This was a rare opportunity to pick the brains of an experienced operator in the venture investing and startup acceleration sector, as Diego supports early-stage companies through growth and scaling. For any student with their eyes on launching their own venture, his knowledge was invaluable.
Tuesday’s final stop was to a rapidly expanding tech startup in the entertainment sector, Fever, where they met another IE University alum. Fever’s Pablo Candelas, formerly of Amazon, specializes in financial analysis, business case development and evaluating new growth initiatives. Given the entrepreneurial approach that characterizes all IE University programs, it’s not surprising that there were plenty of questions for Pablo.
Midweek meetings
Continuing the theme of meeting actors in diverse sectors, Wednesday’s networking opportunities took our students to the offices of top sector players in property investment, private equity and human resources. Criss-crossing Manhattan once again, they met Investindustrial’s Álvaro Gandarias; Glenfarne Group’s head of HR and administration Sandra Peláez; Emmanuel Lagarrigue and Cecilio Velasco from KKR’s energy transition section; and Lincoln Leadership Advisors’ managing partner Carla Arimont.
These interactions were more than an exclusive look inside the corporate world of New York; they provided concrete examples of the realities of various career paths and the chance to put questions to the people who are already walking them.
A Thursday in the financial sector
In a packed five days, perhaps Thursday was the most intense. Our participants spent the day visiting some of the finance industry’s top players: Deloitte’s Financial Services MD Roberto Haig; president and co-head of Funds at Palladium Equity Partners Daniel Ilundain; Goldman Sachs’s New York MD Salvador Villanueva and Evercore’s vice president of Investment Banking César Bustillos.
If our students wanted to know what it’s like to work for demanding clients in fast-paced, exacting environments at the top of the financial sector, here was their chance to find out firsthand from the people doing just that.
Tech, banking and finance on Friday
Friday’s last leg of the experience took our students firstly to Citi, one of the world’s leading financial institutions. Credit portfolio officer Bruno Morais knows a thing or two about product management, analytics, risk and marketing. He offered his profound insight into the world of digital acquisition, portfolio growth and credit strategy.
The penultimate stop saw our twelve return to the World Trade Center to meet with Uber’s Lilian Bosetti. In over eight years with Uber, Lilian has led high-impact teams across strategy, operations and expansion in both the US and Europe. A fantastic opportunity to discover what it means to lead in the rarefied air at the top of your sector!
Our students’ last stop was the Sixth Avenue office of global financial services giant UBS. Aitor Mesones, an international director and portfolio strategist for the firm, spoke about advising corporations, institutions, governments and private clients alike on strategic financial and investment matters.
Leveraging the networking experience
After a whirlwind NYC Immersion Week, Friday afternoon gave our twelve top performers the chance to get out into the Big Apple and reflect on everything they’d seen and heard.
This latest of the many opportunities IE University provides for students to gain exposure to the top of the business world should stand them in good stead for the future. When they come to those critical networking moments that might define their own paths, they’ll be able to call on the experience of having engaged directly with key sector players, some of whom are among IE University’s own worldwide network of alumni.
We know they’ll be successful, and that’s why we organize these opportunities. Our thanks to all of the top professionals who gave their valuable time so freely, and to the US-Spain Chamber of Commerce for their collaboration in organizing this hugely valuable experience for our students.
