Georgy Aroniya

Why did you choose your program(s) at IE University?

Growing up, my favorite subjects at school were economics, history, and math. These have shaped my understanding of the world. Becoming a politician was my goal. That’s how I ended up at IE University – the only university from my list offering a unique combination of everything society consists of, namely economics, politics, and law. Studying politics, law, and economics as a triple-major degree is the toughest but the most rewarding program. All three disciplines covered by this program are crucial for the multidimensionality needed to make the most of this world. Economics could not operate without a properly functioning and independent legal system, while politics is always and everywhere determined by economics. Only by studying all these disciplines in detail can one gather all the tools necessary to understand what is going on in the world.

Having to choose again, I’d go through the same path.

Please share a favorite memory from your time at IE University.

My favorite moment must be my first day. I planned to stay at IE for a year and later transfer to the United States. Yet, I realized I was not going anywhere on my first day in Segovia. The rest is history. 

How did your experience at IE University prepare you for your professional career? What competitive advantage did it provide you?

If one stays curious and hungry for knowledge, IE University offers a backbone for any career. A typical academic curriculum is thought-through and proven by years of experience, while open-minded and professionally trained faculty make one’s intellectual journey a blast. During my four years at IE University, I grew up from a regular high-school graduate to a graduate ready to tackle some of life’s challenges. The relationships I’ve built at IE University with fellow students, faculty members, and upper management, all in an international environment, have been crucial to my professional career. Oh, I must mention The Stork, too – the official student newspaper of IE University – which I helped to build in its early days.

The main advantage that IE University enriches its students with is the multidisciplinary approach toward life. It is more evident through the lens of the Bachelor in Politics, Law, and Economics, as it provides us with the broadest and the most holistic worldview one could have. 

There are many unique merits that IE University alumni share, but international exposure must be the most important. What makes IE University stand out from virtually any other university - is the degree of diversity in students and faculty. Everyone comes from a unique background, and it must be praised. Our background makes us unique, so having the opportunity to interact with people from over the world is the best competitive advantage one could wish for.

Tell us about the IE alumni community and the impact it has had in your life and/or career.

IE University is a popular choice for Georgians – this is something I realized only after graduation. There are Georgian alumni in every sphere of business – entrepreneurs and founders, C-level executives, and members of the national regulatory bodies. Yet, it’s not only about contacts but rather about the universal feeling of joy that all IE University alumni share. The crucial aspect is the instantaneous connection that two alumni make while meeting each other for the first time. You might not know a person, but once you realize they graduated from the same university as you did, the pleasure is immeasurable, while the shared experience is unique.

In June, I returned to Madrid for the first time since the pandemic for my classmate’s wedding. Even though several years have passed since I’ve seen my university friends in the flesh, nothing changed. That’s how friendly and tight knit our community is.

Now for the advice. Is there anything you wish you had known when starting at IE University? What advice would you give to incoming students?

Get to know as many people as possible! Don’t be shy and try new things! Study Spanish and travel! 

Describe your current role and how you got there. What was the hiring process like?

I’m an anchor on the leading business media network in the Caucasus – Business Media Georgia (BMG). We are the only 24/7 television network covering business and economics news in the Caucasus. Business Evening Show, which I’m hosting, airs everyday evening at prime time. We cover everything that happened during that day in Georgia and the world and interview guests. Apart from the anchoring job, I’m directly involved in many tasks within the company, such as interviews and coverage, project management, and marketing.

I transitioned to television from Forbes Georgia, where I worked as a columnist mainly focusing on technology.

Tell us about your proudest career accomplishment to date.

I’ve become the anchor of the daily television show in nine months since my first day in the industry. Everything has happened quite fast for which I’m grateful to our team.

Let’s talk about skills. What skills should job seekers develop to be competitive in today’s workforce and what skills are necessary to succeed in your field?

In today’s world, soft skills are everything. First and foremost is knowing how to communicate with people and make connections. We are social creatures and must cooperate to achieve our goals. Yet, knowing how to introduce oneself and a good handshake is not enough. One must constantly develop themselves, as progress comes from discipline.

With the rise of ChatGPT and Bard, humans have become obsolete in many ways, but we shall not whine, as they must make our lives better. Thus, I’d recommend everyone to get acquainted with and know how to use these models, as it is as important as knowing how to google.

What advice would you give to IE University students and alumni who are looking to pursue a career in your field?

The media business is all about soft skills. Professionals from various fields, such as finance, economics, and business, make great journalists. There are many skills one must master to work in the media business, including writing, public speaking, and articulation; it is easier, however, to acquire them by doing rather than by studying. Moreover, developing soft skills is easier than acquiring economic and financial knowledge – the latter needs years to accumulate in your brain. If you see yourself in the media business, read all you can about everything you are interested in, as asking the right questions requires a broad knowledge base. Take your chances and reach out to editors and media executives and send them your portfolios – that is how you end up in the media.

What motivates you in life?

Solving problems and challenging myself. It’s crazy how good of a rival you can be to yourself if you want to become better.

Name one thing you can’t live without and explain why.

Reading. Mental stimulation is important for anyone, not only media professionals. One must always know what is going on in the world.

Share something most people don’t know about you.

Blueberries are my favourite berries. I could eat a kilogram of blueberries in one serving.

If your former classmates and teachers could give you a superlative award, what would it be? For example: “Best person to have in a group” or “Most likely to play devil’s advocate in class”.

“The coolest guy to wear suit-and-tie for a living”.