Raphael Ortegat
I was born and raised in Brussels but relocated near Bruges when I was 12 to attend boarding school. For my undergraduate studies, I moved to Switzerland. Although I’ve moved around a lot, I was gifted with a very loving and present family which has really shaped my personality. I love challenges and I’m always trying to prove to myself and others that I can achieve even the craziest of dreams.
"It is when you start believing in yourself that you’ll start dreaming again."
Persevering to achieve life goals
Before coming to IE Business School, Raphael studied in Switzerland where he had the opportunity to complete two internships in accounting and finance. After graduating, he took the GMAT intending to apply to the School. Despite having the chance to start the Master in Finance in April, Raphael decided to wait until the September intake, giving himself five months to concentrate on the CFA level 1 and pursue his dream of competing in an ironman.
Raphael chose the School to complete his competitive master’s degree program, thanks to its faculty of experts with over 20 years of experience in practical work in the field and academia. And while he anticipated high-level teaching, Raphael was still shocked at the quality of its professors. The diverse student body, international reputation and growing development also played a part in Raphael’s choice. He wanted a short, intense program, with a vast choice of electives and the chance to learn a new language—IE Business School was the perfect fit.
To Raphael, having teachers that are pioneers in their field is a huge source of knowledge. He explains that while you can quantify almost everything in life, a financier distinguishes themselves by the way they interpret the numbers. Therefore, learning a professor’s philosophy built upon their long-lived professional experience is crucial.
The Master in Finance begins with a two-week pre-program period, targeted to fit students with the necessary skills to hit the ground running from September. Raphael found this period very useful, alongside regular events and speakers and help from the Talent & Careers team.
One of Raphael’s goals for the future is to work in Asset Management or Wealth Management, applying what he’s learned in the Master in Finance. These fields encompass all the aspects of finance he loves: strategy, global market knowledge, industry knowledge, risk perception, analysis and client relationships. In the long term, he’d like to apply this core financial knowledge to the sports industry—one of his life passions.
“Without sports, I would never have dared to dream about everything I have achieved today.”
Raphael’s love of sports is rooted in a 20km race that he watched in Brussels when he was 10. He wanted to join in ever since, participating for the first time two years later. Raphael then tried team sports, where he discovered friendships, cohesion, commitment and fair play. More individual sports such as a marathon or biking taught him commitment, discipline and dedication. But that first race is when Raphael realized what sports really meant to him and empowered him to believe in his own capabilities.
He recently took a leap of faith and participated in an Ironman event, pushing himself to learn new things and test his limits. Despite social restrictions at the time, he dedicated 14 hours a week to training to make his dream a reality—a testament to how perseverance is the key to achieving life goals. In the end, Raphael completed the Ironman Emilia Romagna in 10 hours and 57 minutes.
He is also enjoying the opportunity to learn and grow on a personal scale as part of his master’s program. He considers quality education as fundamental to his future development, especially considering that finance is a very competitive environment.
Raphael recognizes that the field of finance is still growing and there will always be more to learn. However, the Master In Finance is an opportunity to not only achieve strong personal development but also to get your foot in the door to your ambitious career aspirations.
