Martin von Knobloch
Specializing in cybersecurity, IE Global Online MBA graduate Martin Daniel von Knobloch defines himself as a “hybrid hacker.” Despite being born and raised in Paraguay, Martin has had the chance to live and study in six other countries across Asia and Europe. As an IT security consultant based out of Copenhagen, he has been able to travel around the world, hacking all sorts of public institutions, banks and technology companies, among others. This work has helped him find security flaws and vulnerabilities, thus being able to advise his clients on how to better protect themselves from malicious attacks. He also was head of the cybersecurity office for a FinTech startup in Lisbon. Now based in Madrid, Martin works for McKinsey & Company, helping clients navigate the cyber challenges presented by digital transformation projects.
"It is a leading business school in Europe with the program itself selected as the best online program in the world, and the blended methodology format allows for a very flexible schedule while also creating the possibility of having an extremely international cohort."
DEFINE YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE GLOBAL ONLINE MBA IN ONE WORD.
Enriching
IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU THINK THE GLOBAL ONLINE MBA HAS CHANGED YOUR LIFE PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY?
I went into the program looking to supplement my technical knowledge with some business skills to further progress in my working environment at the time. However, the MBA experience pushed me to pursue different interests as it opened my mind to a world of possibilities. Now I find myself having achieved the so-called post-MBA “triple jump:” I live in a new location, work in a new industry and have a new job function.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO STUDENTS WHO ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN THE PROGRAM?
Make the most of your time and be sure to be nice to your loved ones, as they will need to be very patient with you over the upcoming months. The Global Online MBA is a very demanding experience that will require quite a lot of time from your already busy life. However, it is definitely manageable and you will come out on the other end with stronger time-management capabilities.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OF THE GLOBAL ONLINE MBA SO FAR?
Definitely, the times we got to meet up with classmates in Madrid and during the Global Immersion Week. Even though we are constantly interacting virtually, there is no piece of technology out there that can replace the experience of being all in the same place.
WHAT IS NETWORKING LIKE IN THE GLOBAL ONLINE MBA?
I came into this experience thinking it would be very difficult to create meaningful connections by purely interacting in a virtual fashion—I admittedly stand corrected, as the dynamics of a traditional face-to-face program also appear in this virtual setting. You still click with certain people who will end up becoming part of your inner circle, but at the same time, the practicality of virtual communication means that you are more likely to approach and interact with the rest of your class. Additionally, when the program is over, it is not as difficult of a transition because you are already used to communicating with peers virtually, and are more likely to keep in touch and establish long-lasting relationships.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STUDY THE IE BUSINESS SCHOOL GLOBAL ONLINE MBA?
While I would have loved to have taken a year off work and completely focus on a full-time MBA program, I did not find that option financially viable. So, I decided to opt for a part-time program instead. I did a lot of research and ended up selecting IE Business School for two main reasons: it is a leading business school in Europe with the program itself being consistently selected as the best online program in the world, and the blended methodology format allows for a very flexible schedule while also creating the possibility of having an extremely international cohort.
WHAT ARE THE RESIDENTIAL WEEKS LIKE? WHAT ARE THE ONLINE PERIODS LIKE?
The residential weeks are definitely the best part of the program. This is the only time you get to meet your peers face-to-face, so they are very intense weeks where you are introduced to the MBA and are given the time and space to socialize and get to know the people you are going to be working with for the upcoming months. The residential weeks are a lot of fun and are held in one of the most exciting cities in the world, Madrid!
Online periods are where the real work happens, through a combination of weekly video conferences and weekday forums. The topics discussed in the forums will be introduced and completed by the professor during the video conferences. To help navigate a variety of time zones, most of the work is done asynchronously with your team members. Individual work is mostly centered around reading cases and posting and interacting on the forums.
