Yolanda Mercado
Yolanda is an alumni of the Bachelor in International Relations and the Bachelor in Business Administration at IE University. As someone who loves to challenge herself and seeks to make an impact on business development by contributing strategies that innovate business trends, Yolanda has spent the last five and a half years in the consulting world, gaining experience in both the public and private sectors. In her current role as a Project Manager at Microsoft, Yolanda is involved in delivering digital and technological projects. She is Mexican and Spanish and has lived in four different countries.
"If you put your mind to it, you can achieve it!"
Q&A WITH YOLANDA
What three words would you use to describe an IEU alumni?
Diverse, entrepreneurs, and ambitious.
Tell us about your current role and how you got there. What was the hiring process like?
Before my current position as Project Manager at Microsoft, I was managing and delivering a Digital Transformation and Recovery Plan project for another company and crossed paths with a Microsoft team. After working together on a specific project for over six months, Microsoft recommended that I apply for a job at the company. After four personal, behavioural, technical, and expert interviews, they offered me a job!
How did your experience at IEU prepare you for your professional career? In what ways do you think the program has changed your life personally and professionally?
IE’s educational approach is practical, involved at every step of the way (in education, electives, exchange, etc.), and distinguishable. IE’s entrepreneurial spirit applies to every bachelor, enhancing participative lessons, a lot of projects, and other teaching skills that embrace your creativity. The educational method encourages you to develop your ideas and better prepares you for the “real world”. IE professors are also great mentors during your university years and professional career.
From a personal perspective, the program encouraged me to believe in myself more and be less scared to challenge myself with new possibilities like projects, internships, jobs, etc. This impulse has opened many doors for me. As for my professional life, IE allowed me to apply and work in great internships that taught me so much, aside from my education. These professional opportunities have helped me to grow and pushed me to be where I am today professionally.
What is the competitive advantage that studying at IEU provides or has provided you?
The most enriching experience is the diversity amongst the students. You learn from your peers who inspire you in so many ways. Also, IE’s methodology aims to teach valuable content but also helps you grow professionally and open your mind by implementing practical and innovative approaches.
Do you have any advice for IEU students and alumni who are looking to pursue a career in International Relations and Business?
I think this dual degree is very different and yet complements each bachelor in many ways. I would recommend finding professional steps that allow you to combine both. It might seem hard to find, however, there are many opportunities out there!
What skills do you consider are needed to succeed in your field?
To be a successful Project Manager, it’s important to be a proactive problem-solver, listen to your team and keep them motivated, as well as have great people skills, aside from technical knowledge (especially in my field). My role also requires creativity for strategies that are defined and drawn in the delivery and expertise in Project Management. Decision-making is constant and crucial so it’s important to have visibility, understand all the project’s conditions and scope as well as its status, and ensure we deliver quality.
Tell us about the IEU alumni community and the impact they have had in your life and/or career.
I have not only made lifelong friends but also appreciate how much I have learned from such diverse ways of thinking. It is fascinating to think of any place in the world and know someone from there. It is truly inspiring. Many alumni have also inspired me to consider making my entrepreneurial ideas a reality in the future. After graduation, I also experienced how IE alumni are willing to share their experiences and be accessible to one another.
Why do you think it’s important to engage with the IEU alumni community?
My university years were some of the best I have had so far. They helped me grow professionally and personally. It is fulfilling to continue interacting with IE alumni after graduation and brings back a lot of memories. Plus, it is inspiring to see how much people are growing. They remind me of how wonderful the IE community is and I’m happy to be a part of it.
What skills would you recommend job seekers develop in order to make them more competitive in today’s workforce?
Do not be afraid to apply for jobs. Be relaxed and transparent! Try to read between the lines and think about how you can be an asset to that potential entity. Find what differentiates you from others and make them want to hire you. You are looking for a job, but they want the right person for it. It’s important to be proactive during your job hunting and throughout the application process. It’s also crucial to differentiate yourself and stand out!
What’s the best career advice you have ever been given?
This advice is often taken for granted, but with time I see that it is one of the best pieces of advice you can get. Make sure that your work makes you happy. You must like what you do. It is simple but to the point! You must like what you do, and if you do, that will contribute to your overall happiness.
If someone was considering going to IEU, what would you tell them?
I think it is a great decision. IE is not only a great learning hub, it also makes you valuable in many ways. You get to learn from your courses, but also well-known professionals, and it is great for networking! You are going to have so much fun and meet great people. I’ve had the great opportunity to advise others applying to IE.
Why did you choose the BIR & BBA programs at IE University?
I was actually in the first generation of the BBA/BIR dual degree. I liked that it mixed both things and I was curious how these two paths could interlace and direct me to a mixed professional course. I do not regret making this decision at all.
What is one thing you wished you knew when you were a student? What advice would you give to students who are about to begin the program?
I was lucky to get the following pieces of advice during my years in college and I believe every student should have them in mind.
First, always keep yourself busy. Try to participate in as many opportunities as possible, learn new things, and do internships every summer, especially during your last years of university. These experiences will give you so many competitive advantages when you enter the job market.
Secondly, never stop believing in yourself. If you put your mind to it, you will achieve your goals. It is important to sometimes take risks when you are fighting for something you want. In my 5th year, I remember that I was doing two theses, courses, and beginning my internship at Accenture as a consultant. I was generally told that it was an overload of work and, therefore, I should consider postponing one of my theses. By the end of the academic year, I managed to get a job offer at Accenture, pass all my courses, finish my theses on time, and achieve honours for by BBA thesis. If you put your mind to it, you can achieve it!
What is your favorite memory from your time at IE?
I have many great memories. The Spring Balls were always a blast and I enjoyed my time with friends. I also remember late night finals study sessions with my friends at university and ordering pizza and drinking coffee non-stop but keeping each other up and motivated. Coffee breaks in university were always a delight since my friends and I laughed a lot and spent our breaks under the sun. My university years were amazing!
Please tell us about a career achievement that makes you proud.
A recent achievement I’ve had is at work. I’m currently involved in one of the biggest projects on the EMEA level. After accomplishing the project’s scope and meeting the customer’s expectations, the team managed to identify various optimization opportunities and ways we can continue to contribute to the customer’s transformation. The team managed to close an amendment equalizing half of the revenue objective in all EMEA and there is the prospect of closing another amendment in the coming months. This has been recognized as a successful customer story globally and internally.
Are there any daily habits that you attribute to your success that you’d like to share?
As a project manager, you must organize yourself, prioritize your work, and always have a strategic plan. Project managers have many different tasks and have to balance being a people person too. It’s crucial to assure the work is done and delivered with the expected quality. It is also crucial to have people skills to make sure your team is motivated and will therefore meet customers’ expectations. To sum it up, project managers ensure the project is being delivered with high quality and find opportunities.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
Something I internally tell myself constantly is that I can always do more. No matter what I’m achieving or doing in my professional life, I can always do more (activities, projects, personal achievements, volunteer work, etc). Therefore, I try to challenge myself and find ideas and opportunities that I can implement or get involved in, with the goal to grow and become a better person. No matter what I’m achieving at the moment, it can always be improved, and I always have to keep learning and doing a little more, testing myself and trusting that I can make a difference and help others outside my everyday work.