Adam Boone
An experienced financial executive, Adam has spent the majority of his career building and managing finance functions on a global level. As a strategic, big-picture thinker with an extensive background in FP&A, Investor Relations and Corporate Finance, Adam has proven to be as comfortable in front of a board as he is behind an analytical data set.
Currently, Adam is the VP of Finance at LeafLink, a series B startup based in New York City that is the leading B2B wholesale marketplace for the cannabis industry. Prior to LeafLink, Adam spent over six years with the OLX Group, the largest operator of online marketplaces worldwide, as it scaled up to become a multibillion-dollar business.
"The program has fantastic company visits during residential weeks where you network with executives and IE alumni."
DEFINE YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE GLOBAL EXECUTIVE MBA USING ONE WORD.
Intense.
IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU THINK THE GLOBAL EXECUTIVE MBA HAS CHANGED YOUR LIFE, PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY?
Professionally, the program has made me a more well-rounded executive. Now, I feel that I’m able to talk about the subtleties of any business-related topic. From supply chain issues to marketing ROI, the program has enhanced the way I think and deal with business problems. On a personal note, the program has helped me to better organize my life outside of work and school, allowing me to be more present with my family and friends.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO STUDENTS WHO ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN THE PROGRAM?
Organize your life before the program starts. Set expectations with family, friends and work regarding the journey you are about to take and the time commitment that it will require.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OF THE GLOBAL EXECUTIVE MBA?
My favorite memories have to be from the time spent with my classmates outside of the classroom. One specific memory that stands out was the night before our official kickoff in Madrid. After going on a walking tour of the city, we found ourselves at a beautiful rooftop bar. It was a great way to start the program and meet everyone.
WHAT IS NETWORKING LIKE IN THE GLOBAL EXECUTIVE MBA?
Networking is one of the pinnacles of this program, and our class was exceptionally good at it! The program has fantastic company visits during residential weeks where you network with executives and IE alumni at Google, MasterCard and YouTube, just to name a few. The IE network is massive and truly global. Now, I’m connected to executive IE alumni from all corners of the world. IE is a powerful family to be a part of!
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE IE’S GLOBAL EXECUTIVE MBA?
I chose IE’s Global Executive MBA because of the diversity of the student body (more than 20 nationalities in our program alone), the varied professional backgrounds of my classmates, and the truly global experience the program offers.
WHAT ARE THE RESIDENTIAL WEEKS LIKE? WHAT IS THE ONLINE PERIOD LIKE?
The residential weeks were very intense but a lot of fun. After months of seeing your classmates on video conferences, and chatting with them on class forums, you get to connect in person and have some fun. This led to a lot of napping on the bus or in between classes—all of which was documented for the class to enjoy!
The online forums are a great learning tool. You quickly become obsessed with checking forums to see what your classmates are writing, which helps you put together your own responses. It becomes such a part of your life that you start posting from almost everywhere. For our class, the most common place to post from was the airport!
