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International MBA

Curated learning for the Next Best You
duration11, 15 or 19 months
languageEnglish
locationMadrid
intakeSeptember & January
MODE OF STUDYFull-time
FORMATIn-person
duration11, 15 or 19 months
languageEnglish
locationMadrid
intakeSeptember & January
MODE OF STUDYFull-time
FORMATIn-person

AN MBA FOR A CAREER PATH AS UNIQUE AS YOU 

The business world is evolving faster than ever, creating opportunities and challenges in equal measure. But how can you decide which moves are right for your career? Which skills you’ll need for your next role? With so much advice out there, how can you know which applies to you?

The answer is to work with experts in the world of business who will get to know you from the ground up. At IE Business School, we have the connections and expertise to be your trusted guide.

The International MBA is a degree curated for you and your career. That starts with helping you discover who you are and where your aspirations lie, giving us the insight to create an academic experience tailored to your needs. We maintain an ongoing and far-reaching dialogue with the business community and continuously analyze job data, giving us the expertise to organize the business world into carefully defined Career Pathways for you to explore.

We’ll help you choose a unique path that aligns with your goals, strengths and experience – and then we’ll curate your academic journey to equip you with the exact skills and knowledge you’ll need to succeed in the next stage of your career. We’ll keep working with you as you progress on your journey to ensure your program evolves alongside your needs and ambitions. Our mission is to help you find the best path for you – and deliver the MBA to take you there.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

CAREER DISCOVERY ACCELERATOR

Imagine a world where you have a trusted guide to help you navigate the complex landscape of career choices, identify your true passions, and empower you to pursue the right pathway. The Career Discovery Accelerator is precisely that guide—a catalyst for your personal and professional growth. It is a unique program within your International MBA for discovering your options and planning for what’s next. It will help you make a well-informed decision about what pathway to pursue by choosing your degree Concentration, and/or identifying the types of jobs you want to target. 

It is divided into three transformative phases, each designed to empower you with invaluable insights and actionable strategies:​​

FIND THE PATHWAY THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU 

Marketing, Branding & Sales

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roles & jobs within this pathway

  • Creative Director
  • Sales Strategist
  • Corporate Communications Director
  • Digital Marketing Manager
  • Public Relations Director
  • Brand Manager
  • Customer Insight Analyst
  • Marketing Research Director
MARKETING, BRANDING & SALES in the international MBA

The high-energy world of commerce at the front office of business. 

Do you have an eye for narratives and want to deepen your expertise in business-centered communications? Whether you are creative, analytical, a big-picture strategist or a master of the sale, this pathway will sharpen your skills, thinking and behavior to make your storytelling even more convincing. While this pathway gets you ready for a number of promising career trajectories, they tend to focus on business growth and the power of branding. 

You can pursue this pathway in the International MBA by choosing the concentration in Branding, Marketing & Sales or by pursuing a Dual Degree in any of the following combinations:


YOUR CAREER IN THIS PATHWAY​

Careers in this pathway focus on growth and the top-line of business. Whatever your unique way of working, there are diverse job opportunities to consider—whether you are wildly creative, deeply analytical, a big-picture strategist or a master of the sale.

We continuously talk to company recruiters and conduct analytics on the job market to offer our students an updated view of the landscape in the career pathway of Marketing, Branding & Sales. Our mission is to help you make a good choice about whether this pathway might be a good fit with your aspirations, strength and goals. Explore the major career areas we've identified for you in this pathway and their transversal applicability.

Strategic Marketing & Brand Management

 Roles in this area are about brand strategy and brand building, go-to-market strategy and execution, omnichannel marketing, marketing communication and 360º marketing management. 

Customer Insights & Market Research

This area is about using qualitative and quantitative methods to find insights about customer attitudes, preferences, purchasing behavior, satisfaction and market trends.

Digital Marketing, Marketing Analytics, and Digital Sales

This rapidly growing career area focuses on everything digital: from marketing performance analytics and online optimization, to sales-tech and sales analytics, commercial workflow automation, and customer analytics.

Sales & Business Development

The new world of sales is big and exciting. Careers in this area focus on sales strategy, sales force management, sales ops, digital nurturing, sales analytics, sales tech and B2B development.

Creative Direction, Content & Branding

Roles in this area focus on the strategy, management and production of content, media and creativity to drive the branding, marketing and sales activities of a business.

SOME COURSES IN THIS PATHWAY

  • Strategic Brand Management
  • Marketing Strategy for Decision Making
  • Marketing Strategy for Sustainability
  • Services Marketing & Customer Strategy
  • Digital Marketing: Online Advertising, Social, Mobile and Analytics
  • Neuromarketing: What happens in our mind
  • Pricing Strategy

Certificates

IE Certificate on Foundations of Sustainability

With sustainability never having been more important, organizations are realizing that environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns are everyone’s responsibility. And they are placing sustainability at the heart of their business, requiring all their employees to play their part.  With this Certificate, you’ll learn how to incorporate a sustainability point of view across all business activities and functions, and be prepared to tackle the social, economic and environmental challenges of today’s world in any organization.

AWS logo

Amazon Web Services Certifications

We've partnered up with AWS Academy to provide our students with access to enroll in Amazon Web Services Academy courses, such as Cloud Foundations and Data Analytics. These courses open the door to AWS Certifications, giving you yet another opportunity to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and unlock your potential.

Salesforce

IE-SalesForce Associate Certificate

Sales and Business Development are becoming one of the fastest growing fields and sales skills are needed to make businesses grow, to pitch and win new clients, to better engage with internal and external stakeholders, to sell ideas internally, to develop new markets and to stay one step ahead of competitors. This certificate will give you SalesForce fundamentals to succeed in any commercial role. ​

STRATEGY, ORGANIZATION & TRANSFORMATION

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ROLES & JOBS WITHIN THIS PATHWAY​

  • Corporate Strategist  ​
  • Business Transformation Consultant ​
  • Project Manager ​
  • Digital Transformation Officer ​
  • Chief Operating Officer ​
  • Strategy & Business Operations Transformation Manager ​
  • Transformation/Change Lead ​
  • Public Sector Optimization Consultant
STRATEGY, ORGANIZATION & TRANSFORMATION in the international MBA

Become a leader of change to drive value and competitiveness.  ​

In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, companies must continuously transform to stay relevant, efficient and competitive. If you’re a leader passionate about designing and implementing change, this pathway puts you on track to choose from a vast range of career opportunities. Its aim? To teach you the mindset and skills needed to formulate, plan and execute major organizational transformations that will unlock company value; to prepare you with the analytic, visionary and management capacity to deliver useful and lasting change. 

You can pursue this pathway in the International MBA by choosing either the concentration in Strategy, Organization & Transformation or Healthcare Management or by pursuing the International MBA + Master in Talent Development & Human Resources Dual Degree.


YOUR CAREER IN THIS PATHWAY​

Careers in this pathway focus on designing and implementing business and organizational strategy either from within a company or via roles in general or specialized consulting firms.

There are diverse job opportunities to consider—from strategic market analysis and forging the overall vision and strategy for a company or business unit to diving into managing the transformation projects that bring a new strategy into reality.

We continually talk to company recruiters and conduct analytics on the job market, to offer our students an updated view of the landscape in the career pathway of Strategy, Organization & Transformation. Our mission is to help you make a good choice about whether this pathway might be a good fit with your aspirations, strength and goals. Explore the major career areas we've identified for you in this pathway and their transversal applicability.

Business Strategy and Transformation

Roles in this career area involve formulating, planning and implementing business strategy via transformation and integration projects. This could apply to any function or area of a company’s value chain from market entry and exit decisions, to product and service portfolio strategy, to operations strategy and optimization. Professionals in this area work in corporate strategy departments, corporate innovation units, venture-building units and as consultants in management consulting firms and firms specialized in strategy consulting and industry analysis.

Organization Strategy and Transformation

Professionals in this area focus on every company’s most strategic asset—people.  It’s about developing and managing the implementation of strategies for hiring, engaging, training and developing talent. It’s also about designing organizational structures, building an organizational culture, and implementing employee-centric systems and initiatives that drive well-being, engagement and performance.  Roles in this area are in talent departments, HR departments, learning & development units and corporate universities. Professionals in this area also work in the talent and organization groups within management consulting firms and firms specialized in talent and organizational consulting and training.

SOME COURSES IN THIS PATHWAY

Strategy, Organization & Transformation concentration​

  • Consulting Skills​
  • Strategic Foresight: Navigating Uncertainty​
  • Business Transformation​
  • Strategy Implementation​
  • Ten Keys of Leadership​
  • Business Thinking: Creative Skills & Solutions​
  • Maximize your Negotiation Power & Success​
  • Effective Communication​
  • Effective Presentations Method​

Healthcare Management concentration​

  • Digital Healthcare Management​
  • Overview of the Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Industry​

(This concentration has two mandatory electives plus one from the Strategy, Organization & Transformation or Digital Business & Analytics concentration areas)

Certificates

IE Certificate on Foundations of Sustainability

With sustainability never having been more important, organizations are realizing that environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns are everyone’s responsibility. And they are placing sustainability at the heart of their business, requiring all their employees to play their part.  With this Certificate, you’ll learn how to incorporate a sustainability point of view across all business activities and functions, and be prepared to tackle the social, economic and environmental challenges of today’s world in any organization.

AWS logo

Amazon Web Services Certifications

We've partnered up with AWS Academy to provide our students with access to enroll in Amazon Web Services Academy courses, such as Cloud Foundations and Data Analytics. These courses open the door to AWS Certifications, giving you yet another opportunity to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and unlock your potential.

Finance & Investments

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ROLES & JOBS WITHIN THIS PATHWAY​

  • Investment Banker ​
  • Chief Financial Officer ​
  • Asset Manager ​
  • Impact Investing Manager ​
  • ESG Auditor ​
  • Fintech Consultant ​
  • Forensic Accountant ​
  • Financial Trader
FINANCE & INVESTMENTS in the international MBA

Money funds growth, fuels development and powers the world. Learn how to make it work in your favor. 

Finance is at the heart of business, economic development and everyday life, but it takes a true specialist to understand how it works and how to best leverage it. If you’re interested in an intellectually challenging and fast-paced career with vast potential for rewards, this pathway will give you the analytical and interpersonal skills that it takes to accelerate your journey to success. It centers around understanding the ins and outs of money, investments and financial systems and applying that knowledge in the real world.  

You can pursue this pathway in the International MBA by choosing either the concentration in Finance & Investments or Accounting, Forensics & Audit or by pursuing the International MBA  +  Master in Finance Dual Degree.



YOUR CAREER IN THIS PATHWAY​

Careers in finance are diverse, fast-paced and intellectually challenging. The focus is on business and economic activities related to money and investments and the financial systems in which these assets are bought, sold or traded.

Careers in finance are highly quantitative and analytical in nature, but also may draw heavily on interpersonal skills like sales and relationship management. 

We continuously talk to company recruiters and conduct analytics on the job market in order to offer our students an updated view of the landscape in the pathway of Finance & Investments. Our mission is to help you make a good choice about whether this pathway might be a good fit with your aspirations, strength and goals. Explore the major career areas we've identified for you in this pathway and their transversal applicability.

Corporate Finance & Investment Banking

Roles in this area focus on identifying and securing corporate funding but also privatization, merger and acquisition and/or IPO deals, raising and allocating capital in the form of equity or debt. Professionals working in this field drive corporate restructurings, carry out private placement of capital, and provide debt and equity advisory services.

Private Equity, Venture Capital & Alternative Investments

Roles in this area are all about managing portfolios of assets that are not publicly traded, such as startups that show potential for long-term growth, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), real estate and other alternative classes of assets that can be expanded and further consolidated by private equity funds.

Asset Management & Global Markets

Professionals in this area manage portfolios of assets to increase wealth over time by acquiring, maintaining and trading investments that have the potential to grow in value. Global Markets, Sales & Trading refers to the division for making markets in stocks, bonds and derivatives, also referred to as the Markets or Securities Division, depending on the bank. This career area also involves professionals who do the research that informs investment and portfolio management decisions as well of those who manage passive funds as well as hedge funds

FinTech & Digital Finance

Roles in this area are about the integration of new technologies into the services offered by financial companies in order to improve experience delivery to consumers or to embed payments, trasactions or other financial services into other financial or non-financial businesses.  FinTech is deeply reshaping the financial services industry, with new technologies in transaction processing, wealth management, lending, capital markets, cryptocurrencies, and the use of AI and blockchain and other related technologies that are automating and enabling the decentralization of aspects of the financial system (DeFi).

Financial Analytics & Forensics

Professionals working in this area work at the intersection of finance, accounting, compliance and business analytics. In today's data-rich corporate environment, they leverage vast amounts of financial, accounting, and other internal data to gain insights into a company's financial needs and health. Using advanced analytics and increasingly AI, forensics experts work to uncover financial irregularities, misconduct, and hidden risks.  This career area is also about internal and external compliance and audit in order to drive decision-making and transparency.  This involves analyzing and visualizing data for financial reporting and other types of reporting related to risk management, compliance, and ESG.

Sustainable Finance & Impact Investing

Roles in this area focus on investment with the intention of generating positive environmental, social and governance impacts alongside financial returns.

Sustainable finance is defined as investment decisions that take into account the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors of an economic activity or project that targets companies or industries that produce social or environmental benefits. Roles in this area include impact investing and philanthropic investing.

SOME COURSES IN THIS PATHWAY

Finance & Investments concentration​

  • Corporate Finance & Investment Banking​
  • Private Equity, Venture Capital & Alternative Investments​
  • Asset Management & Global Markets​
  • Fintech, Digital Finance & DEFI​
  • Sustainable Finance & Impact Investing​
  • Advanced Corporate Finance
  • Business Valuation: Intangibles
  • Financial Modelling​
  • Managing Portfolios​
  • M&A

Accounting, Forensics & Audit concentration​

  • Financial Control, Forensics & Audit​
  • Building Financial Projections​

Certificates

IE Certificate on Foundations of Sustainability

With sustainability never having been more important, organizations are realizing that environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns are everyone’s responsibility. And they are placing sustainability at the heart of their business, requiring all their employees to play their part.  With this Certificate, you’ll learn how to incorporate a sustainability point of view across all business activities and functions, and be prepared to tackle the social, economic and environmental challenges of today’s world in any organization.

Digital Business, Transformation & Innovation

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ROLES & JOBS WITHIN THIS PATHWAY​

  • Chief Innovation Officer  ​
  • Data Scientist ​
  • Director of Digital Analytics  ​
  • Automation Consultant ​
  • Chief Data Officer ​
  • Data Analyst ​
  • Chief Operations Officer ​
  • Chief Technology Officer
Digital Business, Transformation & Innovation in the international MBA

Unleash the potential of technology to improve business performance. 

Want to understand how to turn massive amounts of data into insights? How to leverage technology to boost efficiency? Get ahead of the most powerful technological trends? This pathway deepens your expertise in the technology that can improve performance across any area of a company’s business and operations. It teaches how to lead digital strategies, transformations and make data-driven decisions. As technology becomes more and more impactful, so do professionals who know how to use it. 

You can pursue this pathway in the International MBA by choosing either the concentration in Digital Business & Analytics or Business Automation & Operations or by pursuing a Dual Degree in any of the following combinations:



YOUR CAREER IN THIS PATHWAY​

Careers in this pathway focus on the use of technology and data analytics to drive improvement in performance across any area of a company’s business and operations.

It’s about formulating digital strategy, masterminding technology and data-driven innovations, and making transformation happen via project management and change leadership. 

We continuously talk to company recruiters and conduct analytics on the job market in order to offer our students an updated view of the landscape in the pathway of Digital Business, Transformation & Innovation. Our mission is to help you make a good choice about whether this pathway might be a good fit with your aspirations, strength and goals. Explore the major career areas we've identified for you in this pathway and their transversal applicability.

Digital Strategy & Transformation

Modern business is built on a foundation of digital technologies and data—and innovations that these enable. Roles in this area focus on formulating enterprise-, business-, and product-level tech strategies that drive innovation and improved performance. It’s also about leading the successful implementation of these strategies via digital transformation projects. Specialists in this domain are tasked with crafting strategies at enterprise, business, and product levels to spur innovation and elevate performance. Digital strategists and transformers work both inside of companies in technology and innovation units, as well as in general and specialized consulting firms.

Business Intelligence & Analytics

This career area involves roles focused on the use of data as a strategic asset to drive business decision-making, value creation and competitive advantage. Occupations within this sphere are dedicated to constructing and executing a robust data strategy, anchoring the foundation of informed business judgments and insight generation. It´s about formulating data strategy as well as leading projects to implement data tools and produce data-driven business insights. Professionals in this area work across the value chain of a company, from its supply chain through to its digital sales and marketing operations.

Technology & Data Programs | IE

Tech & Innovation Management

This Career Area is the engine room of digital advancement, blending technical expertise with managerial acumen to navigate the fast-paced evolution of technology. This sphere involves identifying emerging technologies, assessing their potential impact, and managing their integration into business models to fuel innovation. Spacialists, consultants & managers in this space are responsible for fostering an environment that encourages creativity and the incubation of new ideas while ensuring these innovations align with the broader business objectives. They act as the bridge between technological potential and business reality, ensuring that investments in tech yield tangible benefits and solidify the organization’s position at the forefront of innovation.

Digital Operations & Supply Chain

This Career Area is pivotal in the digital era, focusing on optimizing processes through the integration of digital technologies. It is key to enhancing agility, visibility, and efficiency within the supply chain, front and back-office operations. Professionals in this field implement systems like IoT, AI, and blockchain to revolutionize inventory management, procurement, and logistics. Their expertise leads to the creation of smarter, more responsive supply chains that can adapt to changes in demand and minimize disruptions. By digitalizing operations, they contribute to a seamless flow of information and materials, driving operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

SOME COURSES IN THIS PATHWAY

Digital Business & Analytics concentration​

  • Tech & Business Strategy​
  • Digital Business Models​
  • Digital Transformation Implementation​
  • Tech Product Management​
  • Digital Services Design​
  • Data Driven Strategy

Business Automation & Operations concentration​

  • Strategic Project Management​
  • Supply Chain Management

Certificates

IE Certificate on Foundations of Sustainability

With sustainability never having been more important, organizations are realizing that environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns are everyone’s responsibility. And they are placing sustainability at the heart of their business, requiring all their employees to play their part.  With this Certificate, you’ll learn how to incorporate a sustainability point of view across all business activities and functions, and be prepared to tackle the social, economic and environmental challenges of today’s world in any organization.

AWS logo

Amazon Web Services Certifications

We've partnered up with AWS Academy to provide our students with access to enroll in Amazon Web Services Academy courses, such as Cloud Foundations and Data Analytics. These courses open the door to AWS Certifications, giving you yet another opportunity to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and unlock your potential.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP & CORPORATE INNOVATION

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ROLES & JOBS WITHIN THIS PATHWAY​

  • Founder & CEO ​
  • Director of Business Development ​
  • Business Innovation Consultant ​
  • Venture Capitalist  ​
  • Business Analyst ​
  • Venture Creation Lead ​
  • Innovation and Operations Manager ​
  • Startup Consultant
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & CORPORATE INNOVATION in the international MBA

Challenge the status quo and build something new.

For the bold, the risk-takers and those who thrive on disruption. This pathway arms you with what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, whether launching your own company, turbo-charging the growth of a scale-up or joining a corporate unit focused on innovation or venture building. It instills a ‘can do’ mindset and the practical skills to help you achieve your specific goals and purpose. Discover why the Financial Times ranks IE Business School as Europe’s top program for entrepreneurship teaching (2022).  You can pursue this pathway in the International MBA by choosing the concentration in Entrepreneurship & Corporate Innovation.



YOUR CAREER IN THIS PATHWAY​

Startups

Do you have an idea, a team (or both) and are thinking about launching a company? This is a tough, high-risk career pursuit and not for the faint of heart. It’s about studying your potential market and customers, refining your idea, forging plans that will inevitably need to change, building a team that can survive, raising funds, and getting it off the ground. You’ll most likely have to self-finance for some time, or try to make this happen in parallel with a full- or part-time job.

Scale-ups & Growth Hacking

Being an entrepreneur via a startup isn’t the only way to get into the game. If you're interested in the electricity of being involved in something young, vibrant and even wild—but you also like the idea of stability and a consistent paycheck—then you might consider the world of scale-ups. These are early-stage companies that have traction, have secured funding, and are starting to ramp up their growth. The founders and funders are looking for talent who can make big contributions to helping them scale. If you have a lot of grit and an entrepreneurial spirit—but don’t want to start a company yourself—then targeting a scale-up might be a good option for you in the next steps of your career.

Corporate Innovation & Business Building

Individual entrepreneurs aren’t the only people who generate innovative ideas and build businesses.  Increasingly, big companies do it too. Leveraging their assets, know-how and talent, corporations are starting to become adept at sensing opportunities and capturing them. This happens in two primary ways: innovation units within companies identify opportunities to drive new products, services and business models, or make changes to existing ones, and work within the existing corporate structure to turn these ideas into reality: “venture building” units within companies are spinning out startups to bring innovations to reality outside the company as new ventures.

SOME COURSES IN THIS PATHWAY

  • Startups​
  • Scale-ups & Growth Hacking​
  • Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital​
  • Knowledge Incubator​
  • Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing​
  • Corporate Innovation & Business Building​
  • Business Families & Family Firms​
  • Venture Finance: From Bootstrapping to VC​
  • Venture Lab Accelerator

Certificates

IE Certificate on Foundations of Sustainability

With sustainability never having been more important, organizations are realizing that environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns are everyone’s responsibility. And they are placing sustainability at the heart of their business, requiring all their employees to play their part.  With this Certificate, you’ll learn how to incorporate a sustainability point of view across all business activities and functions, and be prepared to tackle the social, economic and environmental challenges of today’s world in any organization.

PRODUCT MANAGEMENT & SERVICE DESIGN

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ROLES & JOBS WITHIN THIS PATHWAY​

  • Product Manager ​
  • Service Designer ​
  • Director of Product Management ​
  • UX/CX Design Consultant ​
  • Corporate Strategist  ​
  • Chief Operating Officer  ​
  • Product Owner ​
  • Digital Design Lead
PRODUCT MANAGEMENT & SERVICE DESIGN in the international MBA

Spearhead the design, development and management of a company’s products and services. 

Products and services are the lifeblood of businesses, and this pathway prepares you to drive real value inside a company. It centers on honing a broad set of practical skills like the analytical and empathetic capacity to understand markets and customer needs, creative thinking to design new products and services, and the management know-how to lead complex company-wide projects. If boosting your versatility is a priority, this might be the pathway for you.  

You can pursue this pathway in the International MBA by choosing the concentration in Product Management & Service Design or by pursuing a Dual Degree in any of the following combinations:



YOUR CAREER IN THIS PATHWAY​

PRODUCT MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT

Product management is a large and growing area of business. These are multifaceted roles that involve conceiving, planning, developing and launching new products that address unmet needs of a company’s customers.  It also involves managing existing products across their lifecycle, including ongoing strategy, marketing and communication, and incremental improvement.  Product management can have important interfaces with manufacturing and supply chain operations, as well as corporate strategy departments.

SERVICE DESIGN & CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Roles in service design focus on the experience of customers (CX), users (UX), employees (EX) or any other stakeholder of a company whose experience matters to the bottom line or the fulfillment of its purpose.  People working in this area are typically members of diverse teams that bring together designers, engineers and techies, insights analysts, marketers and communication specialists, and project managers.  Service design involves not only the initial design of new service experiences, but also the ongoing management and innovation of existing services.

SOME COURSES IN THIS PATHWAY

  • Product Management & Development​
  • Service Design & Customer Experience​
  • Services Marketing & Customer Strategy

Certificates

IE Certificate on Foundations of Sustainability

With sustainability never having been more important, organizations are realizing that environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns are everyone’s responsibility. And they are placing sustainability at the heart of their business, requiring all their employees to play their part.  With this Certificate, you’ll learn how to incorporate a sustainability point of view across all business activities and functions, and be prepared to tackle the social, economic and environmental challenges of today’s world in any organization.

Sustainability and Business Transformation

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ROLES & JOBS WITHIN THIS PATHWAY​

  • Chief Sustainability Officer ​
  • Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Strategist   ​
  • Decarbonization Consultant ​
  • ESG Supply Chain Manager ​
  • ESG Auditor ​
  • Circular Economy Policy Lead ​
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager ​
  • ESG Product Designer
Sustainability and Business Transformation in the international MBA

Lead the transition toward a greener, fairer and more sustainable world 

Businesses are under immense pressure to shift to more sustainable practices. It may be an unprecedented challenge, but it’s also a striking opportunity for people who want to dedicate their careers to creating a better world. If you want to lead this wave of change, re-think businesses to maximize their positive impact and help achieve a sustainable future, this pathway will prepare you for that journey. Professionals with this expertise are in scarce supply but high demand.  

You can pursue this pathway in the International MBA by choosing the concentration in Sustainable Business or by pursuing the International MBA + Master in International Development Dual Degree.



YOUR CAREER IN THIS PATHWAY​

Careers in this pathway are diverse but share a focus on the critical transition of business to more sustainable practices, products and ways of working.  It’s about rethinking business in terms of its impact on the environment, society, employees and other stakeholders.

The objective is to reduce or eliminate negative impacts and maximize positive impacts through the formulation and implementation of sustainability-driven strategies and responsible business management and leadership.  

Sustainability and Business Transformation is a new and rapidly growing career pathway and so we are continually engaging with company recruiters and tracking the job market to highlight key career areas for your next steps. Our mission is to help you make a good choice about whether this pathway might be a good fit with your aspirations, strength and goals. Explore the major career areas we've identified for you in this pathway and their transversal applicability.

Sustainability Strategy & ESG

Professionals in Sustainability Strategy & ESG play key roles such as Sustainable Business Strategy Consultants, guiding companies in formulating visionary strategies. They may also serve at Sustainability Offices, overseeing the transformation of business strategies for multidimensional value creation. These experts are integral to corporate sustainability departments, consulting firms (both general and specialized), and financial institutions.

Sustainable Product Management & Customer Value

Within Sustainable Product Management & Customer Value, individuals take on roles like Sustainable Product Managers and Sustainability Marketing Specialists. They lead efforts to align products with customer values, creating offerings that resonate beyond profit. Opportunities arise in sectors such as consumer goods, retail, technology, and fashion.

Sustainability Analytics & Financing

Within Sustainability Analytics & Financing, individuals may hold positions such as Sustainability Data Analysts or ESG Investment Analysts. They play a crucial role in quantifying progress and attracting investments from sectors such as financial services, investment firms, corporate finance, and sustainability consulting.

Sustainable Operations & Value Chain

Professionals in Sustainable Operations & Value Chain, including Circular Value Chain Managers, drive the transition to sustainable sourcing and operations. They may work as Sustainable Supply Chain Analysts, orchestrating processes that respect natural resources and empower local communities. Opportunities span across manufacturing, logistics, energy, and retail sectors. But this space expands beyond the obvious, involving not only responsible sourcing and operational efficiency but also promoting inclusion and well-being in the workforce through collaboration with Human Resource Management.

Social & Environmental Entrepreneurship

Roles in this area involve business activities that have social impact as Entrepreneurs in Social & Environmental Entrepreneurship establish ventures with significant impact, holding positions like Social Entrepreneurs or Sustainable Tech Innovators. These individuals may be founders of startups addressing challenges in technology, renewable energy, and impact investing, contributing to positive change at the intersection of business and societal needs. developing and implementing solutions to social problems via for-profit or non-profit companies, NGOs, or governmental or multilateral organizations. It’s also about driving positive change by launching startups—or joining scale-ups—whose products or services focus on addressing social issues.

SOME COURSES IN THIS PATHWAY

  • ESG Strategy & Management​
  • ESG Communication, Auditing & Reporting​
  • Sustainable Product Design & Development​
  • Sustainable Operations & Supply Chain​
  • Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship​
  • Sustainable Finance and Impact Investing​
  • Marketing Strategy for Sustainability​
  • Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing

Certificates

IE Certificate on Foundations of Sustainability

With sustainability never having been more important, organizations are realizing that environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns are everyone’s responsibility. And they are placing sustainability at the heart of their business, requiring all their employees to play their part.  With this Certificate, you’ll learn how to incorporate a sustainability point of view across all business activities and functions, and be prepared to tackle the social, economic and environmental challenges of today’s world in any organization.

International Business & Strategic Foresight

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ROLES & JOBS WITHIN THIS PATHWAY​

  • Financial Analyst  ​
  • International Business Strategist ​
  • Chief Economist  ​
  • International Development Consultant ​
  • International Trade Manager ​
  • Government Affairs Director ​
  • Chief Financial Officer  ​
  • Risk Management Analyst
International Business & Strategic Foresight in the international MBA

In a world marked by growing uncertainty, professionals who understand the forces driving the global economy are indispensable. 

Are you a globally minded leader with a drive to understand what’s shaping economic trends? This pathway focuses on the interplay between market forces — from the political to the social, the environmental to the financial. Gaining this big-picture knowledge can give you a significant edge in today’s interconnected and dynamic business landscape. Careers in this pathway are diverse but share a common focus on the macro aspects of business management, strategy and decision-making.  

You can pursue this pathway in the International MBA by choosing the concentration in International Business & Strategic Foresight or by pursuing a Dual Degree in any of the following combinations:




YOUR CAREER IN THIS PATHWAY​

Careers in this pathway are diverse, but share a common focus on the “macro” aspects of doing business. 

The global economy and an increasingly interconnected world introduce many uncertainties and dynamics into business management, strategy and decision-making. If global market trends, economics, policy and regulation, and business foresight sound exciting, then you might consider this career pathway for your next steps. 

In partnership with IE’s School of Global & Public Affairs and Law School, we track opportunities for business graduates interested in the intersection where business meets the economic and non-economic environment. Our mission is to help you make a good choice about whether this pathway might be a good fit with your aspirations, strength and goals. Explore the major career areas we've identified for you in this pathway and their transversal applicability.

Strategic Foresight & Global Analysis

Professionals in this area provide the key input for strategic decisions of the international firm - such as direct investment, supply chain policies, market positioning, and risk management. The ability to translate "big picture" changes into actionable strategies often leads to roles in management consultancies or as in-company advisors to senior management.

Business in Emerging Markets

Professionals specialized in Emerging Markets (EM´s) typically combine analytics and business acumen with a degree of cultural and political sensitivity. A higher degree of volatility and uncertainty will often characterize EM´s, but business opportunities are often equally outsized. Key analytical, operational and advisory roles can be found in medium-to-large sized multinationals, in management consultancies, and in international financial companies.

Business for International Development

Whether private or public, for-profit or nonprofit, a general business skillset is essential for the successful implementation in all areas of this field. This involves knowledge of project management, financial planning, and ensuring consistency with contracts, budgets and with the legislative framework. A common thread of successful players in this field is their ability to build relationships with and between stakeholders.

SOME COURSES IN THIS PATHWAY

  • Business Opportunities in International Operations: How to Manage Risks​
  • Country Economic Analysis​
  • Geopolitics For Business People​
  • Advanced Topics in the World Economy​
  • China: Economy, Technology & Geopolitics​
  • Economics Analysis & Global Strategy​
  • International Dev & Prog. Management​
  • Business Development & Trade

Certificates

IE Certificate on Foundations of Sustainability

With sustainability never having been more important, organizations are realizing that environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns are everyone’s responsibility. And they are placing sustainability at the heart of their business, requiring all their employees to play their part.  With this Certificate, you’ll learn how to incorporate a sustainability point of view across all business activities and functions, and be prepared to tackle the social, economic and environmental challenges of today’s world in any organization.

THE INTERNATIONAL MBA ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEM

Entrepreneurship is a palpable energy on campus. It´s how we see the world, a way of tacking challenges and finding solutions. We give you the mentally, the toolbox, the opportunities, and the community to become lifelong entrepreneur.

Our mission is to empower entrepreneurial professionals to build sustainable value propositions that make a positive impact in the world.

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worldwide & 3rd In europe - top mba programs for entrepreneurshipPoet & Quants
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worldwide & 1st In europe - Best entrepreneurship teachingFinancial times
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SOME INSIGHTS ON ALUMNI after graduation

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65%
changed geographic location after the program
65%
changed geographic location after the program
54%
changed sectors after the program
60%
CHANGED FUNCTIONS AFTER THE PROGRAM
Sectors where they work:
Tecnology
Consulting
Financial Services
FMCG
Industrial
Others
Employment by function
Marketing, Product Management & Sales
Finance
Tech, Engineering & Data
Consulting
Strategy
Operations
Others

Recruiters at IE

These are some of the top recruiters hiring International MBA Alumni:

McKinsey & Company
Celonis
PWC Logo
Hilti
EY logo

YOUR OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WORLD OF WORK

Where will our International MBA take you? Gain exclusive, up-to-date insights and explore the career paths our alumni are taking after graduation to help you plan your next career move.

THE IE TALENT & CAREERS TEAM WILL HELP YOU ALONG YOUR JOURNEY

We want to see you achieve all of your career goals. That’s why the services offered are available from the moment you enroll, throughout the program and even after graduation. Our Pre-Programs aim to support you from the very first moment of your self-discovery process, expedite your labor-market readiness and help you take full advantage of your professional potential. Throughout the program, we offer you impactful advising, learning resources and development tools that will help you manage and reach your professional goals. Our employer relations team works tirelessly to generate recruitment opportunities for our community. So, along with your commitment and hard work, we will support every step of your journey towards the next best you.

Here’s how it works: ​

Advising & Education Services

  • One-on-one career coaching to help you navigate your career discovery process, design a solid career strategy and make sure your personal marketing materials (CV, Cover Letters, and LinkedIn) are ready to shine. ​
  • Functional, sectorial, and geographical advising to provide you with market expertise and support your go-to-market plan. ​
  • A Career Success Course, integrated into the academic journey, to provide you with the right structure and training on all career-related matters. ​
  • Ad-hoc career training: bootcamps, assessment centers, interview preparation both for technical and HR and mock exercises.

Employer Relations

  • We continuously host on-campus and virtual international recruitment opportunities in the shape of career fairs, company presentations, coffee chats, on-campus interviews and workshops. ​
  • Networking opportunities through partnering with our main employers, alumni and IE student clubs. ​

Resources

  • Top-notch and AI-powered premium career resources and tools to help you navigate each step of the application process, from researching to networking, applying to interviewing, it’s powerful support no matter what the hiring process is! ​
  • Lifelong access to our Career Portal

THE INTERNATIONAL MBA’S CAREER SUCCESS PROGRAM

Because career planning is a process of discovery, exploration, commitment and action, our Career Success program equips MBA students with the necessary toolkit and strategies to succeed in an increasingly complex and competitive job market. This curriculum is centered on helping you define and refine your career goals. It will motivate you to get to know yourself better, plan for an effective post-master career and job search, help you develop a strategy to achieve your career goals and prepare you to tackle future challenges.

During the Core Period, Career Success sessions will include a variety of workshops, including Career Track and information sessions led by both the Talent & Careers staff and external experts from a variety of sectors. From here, we will offer a variety of industry and function specific career training courses, as well as specific resources such as mock interviews and job search teams to maximize the effectiveness of your career strategy.

EXPLORE OUR STUDENTS CAREER JOURNEYS

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IF I AM UNSURE OF THE CAREER PATH THAT’S RIGHT FOR ME?

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With so many choices and so much information, choosing a career path can be overwhelming. And it’s totally fine if you still don’t know what you want to do. If you are unsure of which career path is right for you, the International MBA is designed to help you explore your options and make smart decisions. The program includes a Career Discovery Program, which offers a range of workshops, group advising sessions, and other resources to help you learn about the different career pathways and how they align with your goals and skills. Our team will work with you to help you choose a career pathway that is well-matched to your ambitions, strengths, and experience, and will provide you with the tools and support you need to pursue your career goals. Throughout the program, we will help you adjust your plans as your needs and interests evolve.

HOW WILL THE INTERNATIONAL MBA HELP ME IN MY CAREER DISCOVERY JOURNEY?

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The Career Discovery Program is a fundamental component of the International MBA program. It is designed to help you explore the different career pathways and find the one that's right for you. You'll attend workshops that introduce you to different careers and jobs within each pathway, and we'll help you understand how these jobs match your ambitions, strengths, and experience. Even if you’re still confused about what to do next, the program contains self-exploration workshops to help you crystalize your career goals and aspirations.

As you continue on your career discovery journey, you'll have access to group advising sessions and a wealth of tools and resources to help you explore different career pathways. You'll also hear from industry leaders and alumni who can provide valuable insights and advice on the careers that interest you. If you want to find meaning and purpose in your professional life, we offer expertly designed workshops to help you define, refine, and align your purpose with your career goals. Our aim? To help you determine where you're going in your career and make the best choices about your pathway, electives, employability booster modules, and other program options.

Can I do internships during my International MBA?

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Yes, during the Lab period you can choose to do an internship, which will count as credit toward your International MBA. It must last between 7 and 11 weeks and can be anywhere in the world. You will need to seek out this opportunity yourself; however, our IE Talent & Careers team can help you find leads and available positions.

WHAT JOB OPPORTUNITIES COULD I HAVE AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL MBA? 

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The International MBA will help you develop the skills and knowledge to be successful in multiple industries and professional areas. Also, since you can customize half of your program through concentration areas and electives, you can hone exactly the skills needed for your sector of interest.

What career services are available throughout my International MBA?

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The IE Talent & Careers department will help you construct different pillars of your profile, such as your professional strategy, general career education, sector-specific advising, recruiter relations, company visits and job platforms, to develop your career success journey.

How am I going to connect with companies during the program?

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During your program, there will be different company presentations and visits to and from campus, talent fairs (both virtual and on-site), direct recommendations with industry recruiters, master classes, workshops, mock (and real) interviews and more.

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