Ignacio Alonso López – Linares
I am an international consultant and strategist with a background in Business Administration and Finance. I began my career focused on data science and analytics, earning a thesis award from Management Solutions before joining Accenture. There, I specialized in cloud automation and data dashboards, first as an analyst and later as a consultant/Team Lead, helping organizations translate complex information into actionable strategies.
My time at IE School of Science and Technology shifted my perspective; it moved beyond textbooks and rote learning, giving me the will to break things and build something new. During my immersion week at UC Berkeley, I saw firsthand that this 'will to act' is exactly what separates a mere idea from real-world impact. Today at Google, I bridge the gap between technical complexity and a disruptive mindset. I am passionate about moving beyond traditional consulting to build transformative solutions that turn bold ideas into tangible, human-centric realities.
"I came to IE seeking knowledge, but I found much more. I realized that training is nothing; will is everything—the will to act."
What made you choose this program at IE School of Science & Technology?
I already loved technology and the philosophy of the school really resonated.IE allows you to experience a hybrid model, you learn the foundations and theory but on top of it, you apply it, and you apply it in real-world comercial environments. The master allows us to touch a broad set of topics and thus, get up to speed with all “industry standard” technologies out there. On top of it, your class is highly international, and if you are pursuing that, you are in for a treat!
Looking back, what has been your favorite moment or highlight of the program?
Clearly, the Immersion Week at UC Berkeley was the stepping stone. I got the chance to visit friends that were and still are working there, I got the chance to see how start-ups and company employees collaborate and found start-ups, how academia also supports it. It was massively inspiring. I got to visit Yosemite and California for the first time in my life, what an experience!
What were the biggest challenges you faced during the program, and how did IE and the program help you overcome them?
The program sometimes feels exhaustive due to the fast-pace it handles. You will be pushed on what you learn and the time to learn it. You need to be very diligent in your efforts and study time, and practice, practice a lot. I appreciate a lot the freedom that professors give you in class projects, I would suggest students to be as curious and as bold as possible.
In what ways did IE support you during your job search or help you secure your current role?
IE has a great career support service that will give you tips on your CV creation. They also have platforms to help you prepare for upcoming interviews such as Datacamp for technical roles or Casecoach for consulting. They also help you by inviting you to events and asking what you are looking for.Essentially, once invited to the interview you are on your own, but all these resources help you to land your dream job.
How relevant have the skills and tools you learned in the program been to your current job or industry? Can you share a concrete example?
It’s a great question. I would divide it into two points. Firstly, the master allowed me to understand the language that both sales teams and engineers speak. This is a huge advantage over just understanding one universe. This year, I am focussed on automation tools, to help scale business activity. It is a challenge, but a very rewarding task when you see the impact it has across the company. The idea is to ultimately integrate Gemini. Secondly and in my day to day, I think the master allowed me to understand KPIs and data in a very fast way, and to present it in an digestible way to clients. Essentially, you adopt a very logical and structured approach to processes and tasks after it.
How has this program impacted you, both professionally and personally?
Professionally, I have always been very curious and a company like Google promotes that. It was my dream job and I landed it. Without the learnings of the master and the tech stack that it teaches, even if landing it, I would not have been able to be as useful to the team as I am today. Learning skills and staying curious to help others is what moves me. Personally, I have grown a lot - I got to meet people from all over the world, discover a new city and make a ton of friends while having loads of fun. I have learnt a lot about new cultures while making long-lasting friendships. Both experiences are ultimately priceless.