“I wanted to go into the tech sector, and the competition is huge, so I had to understand what recruiters value and what makes a candidate stand out,” says Dinis Leal as he reflects on his time at IE Business School. Within weeks of graduating, Dinis landed his dream job as Account Strategist at Google. So clearly something stuck.
Let’s find out how the Master in Digital Marketing set Dinis up for consulting at Google, and how you can use his lessons for your own career progression.
How to get a job consulting at Google?
Dinis, who’s logged into our call from Dublin, says the process began during his studies. “I applied in March, and after a couple of months I got the first interview,” says Dinis. “They asked a lot of situational questions. That’s where I really used what I’d learned at IE—we covered the SMART framework for answering questions. You give the situation, link it to your experience, explain your thought process, describe the impact and finish with what you learned. I used that in every interview.”
Far from restricting him, IE’s framework for good interviewing proved bulletproof. “It’s about being structured, but also human,” says Dinis. “Once I started thinking like that, the conversation just flowed.”
“I could give real examples and show how I work under pressure. And that’s what made me stand out.”
Dinis took full advantage of the job-hunting workshops on offer to students of the Master in Digital Marketing. That means sessions on building your CV, interview workshops and networking events with top recruiters: “I went to every career session IE had. I learned how to structure my CV, how to approach interviews, how to make people understand my value,” he explains. “It helped me understand what the other person on the call is actually looking for.”
What does Dinis do in his role at Google?
Dinis manages a portfolio of clients across Europe as part of Google’s advertising division. “I’m an account strategist,” Dinis explains. “My job is to help clients grow. They’re already investing in Google Ads. My role is to understand their business, identify opportunities and scale their results.”
And Dinis emphasizes that the key to consulting at Google is measurement. “Analytics is the base of everything. If you have failures in measurement, it’s impossible to build a good strategy,” he says. “Each client begins with a review of their data setup—tracking tags, KPIs and conversion points—before Google Ads’ machine learning takes over. The algorithm learns from the data and optimizes automatically. But it all starts with solid measurement.”
His work combines technical analysis with creative storytelling. “Creativity plays a huge part,” Dinis explains. “People react to ads that are clear, visual and have a real value proposition. It’s not just selling something—it’s communicating why you’re different. That’s where you connect.”
How did the Master in Digital Marketing prepare Dinis for his role?
Dinis had worked in communication at Nautilus before undertaking the master’s program. All great experience, but he wanted to understand strategy on a deeper level. “I had no real knowledge about digital marketing,” Dinis says. “That’s what drove me to IE. I wanted to learn how businesses strengthen their brand and online presence.”
Fortunately for Dinis, the Master in Digital Marketing delivered. “We had courses on Salesforce, Google Ads, corporate communication, even economics,” says Dinis.
“It gave me the technical knowledge, but also the mindset. IE didn’t just teach me skills; it changed how I think about business.”
“IE literally put me on the map,” Dinis continues. “I went to every networking event, met people from all over the world, and even connected with people who later helped me in Dublin. That’s how the master works—you get out what you put in.”
How to make the most of your time at IE Business School?
For Dinis, success has come through a mix of preparation, initiative and continuous learning. “IE gave me every single thing I needed—and even things I didn’t know I needed,” he says. “But it’s up to you to take the initiative. The professors, the events, the tools—they’re all there. You just have to use them.”
That mindset carries into his daily work. “Google changes every day, especially with AI,” he says. “But what stays constant is curiosity. You have to keep asking: Who is my audience? What do they need? How can I make this better?”
His advice to future students is simple: “Be proactive. Don’t wait for opportunities—create them. IE gives you the platform, but you build the story.”
Study the Master in Digital Marketing
The digital world doesn’t slow—and neither should you. The Master in Digital Marketing at IE Business School is built for people who think in real time, who see patterns before they trend, and who want to turn data and creativity into influence. You’ll master the platforms shaping the global economy, working at the crossroads of storytelling, analytics, and strategy. This isn’t about learning the tools; it’s about learning to lead through them.
Across ten fast-paced months, you’ll sharpen your edge through hands-on projects, certifications from Google and Salesforce, and immersion experiences in cities like London and Amsterdam. Every step moves you closer to the front line of innovation, where ideas meet execution and results actually matter.
Join IE Business School’s global MARCOM network and surround yourself with people who are rewriting how brands connect with the world. You’ll leave ready to move faster, think sharper, and build strategies that make noise for all the right reasons. The future of marketing is already in motion—this is where you catch up to it.
Benjamin is the editor of Uncover IE. His writing is featured in the LAMDA Verse and Prose Anthology Vol. 19, The Primer and Moonflake Press. Benjamin provided translation for “FalseStuff: La Muerte de las Musas”, winner of Best Theatre Show at the Max Awards 2024.
Benjamin was shortlisted for the Bristol Old Vic Open Sessions 2016 and the Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize 2023.
