From its foundation, IE University has prided itself on diversity and equality—in our student body, among our staff and across our faculty. Our Master in Finance is no exception, with the outstanding expertise and experience of the female members of the program’s faculty a true driver of its excellence. This quality has long been reflected in the program’s outstanding global rankings. Their successes demonstrate not only that the sector is changing, but that women have long been making their mark at its very sharpest points.
We believe that it’s important for our students to learn from a faculty with a range of experiences and from various backgrounds to get the most out of the program. Playing a vital part in this, the female members of the program’s faculty provide our students with a unique outlook on the finance industry and what it takes to position themselves well in a competitive market.
Let’s meet the role models and mentors from our faculty who bring real-world knowledge to the classroom and are shaping the financial minds of the future.
Adjunct professor of finance and quantitative methods Sara Farooqi has taught a broad range of subjects at IE University for over ten years, with extensive prior experience in investment banking. Having worked with several Fortune 500 companies, the knowledge of the sector that she brings to the classroom is invaluable in providing a flavor of the realities of the finance world to the students in her charge. Just how well she does that is reflected in her multiple awards for outstanding teaching performance at IE University.
“Even if you don’t remain in finance, the frameworks of the Master in Finance should allow for an easy transition to other sectors.” Sara Farooqi
Sara’s faculty colleague Elena Yndurain is a digital transformation and emerging tech specialist. Part of Elena’s teaching focuses on emerging tech like quantum computing, as she’s extremely keen that her students keep right up-to-date, given tech’s importance in every aspect of society.
Elena’s passion is for the practical application of STEM subjects, so she felt very comfortable in the business world, where she gained considerable experience in the tech industry.
Susana Martínez grew up in a very artistic, creative household—perhaps not the sort of background you may expect of a financial expert. But, inspired by the classic movie “Wall Street,” she was nonetheless drawn to finance. Now a highly experienced sector expert with a background in finance that’s as broad as it is deep, she came up against some challenging attitudes in the early years of her career. But, as Susana says, “The group’s learning experience is only ever enhanced by varying points of view.” Not to mention, the industry is changing.
Susana is now imparting the insights and knowledge she gained on the front lines of the industry as part of the Master in Finance faculty.
Gayle Allard, meanwhile, discovered a passion for economics while studying at Johns Hopkins University in her native US. She’s particularly driven to leverage the power of economics for good, whether through research into policy or education; she has set up her own MOOCs. By applying a humanistic approach to financial matters, she believes we can “all become world-changers by making one quiet, ethical decision at a time.”
“I give real-life examples constantly, and I’m always bringing up comparative data, different models and different approaches. Operating at the level of the ivory tower just doesn’t seem intuitive and it’s natural to me to deal with the real world.” Gayle Allard
These women, and their fellow faculty members, are living proof that not only have women already made an indelible mark on an evolving industry, but they’re using their impressive resumes and huge experience at its very top to empower more young women to follow in their footsteps. So if you’re thinking about a career in the sector, check out our Master in Finance.
