01/06/2023
Interested in finding out more about IE Business School’s Global Online MBA? A diverse group of students, past and present, recently took part in a roundtable discussion chaired by Andrés Lattanzio Collins, Global Recruitment Manager at IE University. In response to questions from Andrés and potential students, they provided unique insight into the day-to-day life of a Global Online MBA student.
The Global Online MBA is one of IE Business School’s flagship programs. Delivered over the course of 17, 24 or 30 months, it’s specially tailored for busy professionals who want to master a new skill without putting their careers on hold. The program does this by combining online and face-to-face learning in a flexible blended format.
The Global Online MBA experience
One of the factors which attracts many potential students to the Global Online MBA is the fact that it is available in both an online and a fully blended format that is curated especially for career development. This allows students to combine online study with several residential periods in Madrid.
Prashant Søegaard is a former Global Online MBA student and is now an adjunct professor in the same program. For him, this flexibility, which he describes as “the best of both worlds,” was what attracted him to the program.
The unique experience allowed him to work and travel while studying—he even transitioned to a new company during his time in the program!
Typically, the day-to-day of a Global Online MBA student features online forum discussions and live, interactive video conferences: they enable students to participate from wherever they are in the world. Participants can expect to dedicate between 20 to 30 hours to the program every week, which encompasses the time spent preparing for classes and participating in online forums and group work. Additionally, each residential period includes all-day workshops and regular networking events.
A global community of peers
Another factor that differentiates the Global Online MBA is the opportunity to connect with professionals from around the world, with participants from over 50 countries and a wide range of sectors.
This enriches the program immensely, giving students an ideal opportunity to learn from each other and gain insight into how business is done in different parts of the world.
Alum Bastiaan van Holthe chose the program because he was looking for an international peer group—something which he felt was lacking at several other institutions. “I felt the IE Business School class profile was very international,” he explains, “not just European, but a really global program.”
Balancing study, life and work
Juggling work and study can prove challenging, especially when your classmates are in different time zones. But Hiroyuki (Hugh) Matsushita found that communicating with both his manager in the US and his classmates in Madrid was easier than he anticipated due to the “collaborative culture” of IE Business School.
For Christian Ayuste, the hybrid nature of the program enabled him to spend precious time with his family. Current student Courtney Thomas advises dedicating at least two hours every day to study. “Don’t skip any of the Saturday classes!” she adds.
More than just a qualification
Global Online MBA alumni report that they have gained more than a qualification—they’ve forged valuable connections with high-level peers across the world. Ioana Manea, currently managing innovation activities in an IT startup, valued the level of interaction with classmates, noting that she was struck by how helpful everyone was. She now lists some of the people she met during the program among her best friends.
The interactive nature of the program, along with its emphasis on practical learning through case studies, also means that students can immediately apply the skills they have acquired directly in the workplace.
Christian found the courses in startup creation and corporate entrepreneurship in particular “really exciting” and is already using this knowledge in the real world of work.
Making it work for you
So what advice would past and current students give to potential candidates for the Global Online MBA? “Be true to yourself, be confident in what you’ve achieved and have fun!” says Hugh. Meanwhile, Prashant quotes one of his professors in the program: “Work, work, work. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!”He adds, “The beauty of this program is diversity. Make the most of it.
