Isabel Ordovás

Isabel Ordovás spent her formative years living, studying and growing up in Madrid and the US. Currently in her fourth year, she chose the Dual Degree in Business Administration + Data & Business Analytics to pursue her passion for marketing, social media, programming and data analytics. Isabel wanted to enhance her competencies in an international environment and IE University’s diverse, multicultural campus was her first choice.

Because of her well-traveled background, she’s always been fascinated by new places and cultures—an interest she recently got to explore thoroughly through an exchange semester abroad. She saw this as a unique opportunity to not only grow both personally and professionally, but to also step outside her comfort zone and go farther than she ever has before. So she chose the IÉSEG School of Management in Paris as the base for her next international adventure and an experience she hoped would broaden her worldview.

Isabel opted into IE University’s Undergraduate Exchange Student Program, organized and overseen by the International Mobility Office, for a number of reasons. She wanted to develop a greater sense of independence, specifically becoming more self-sufficient in preparation for professional life. Also, eager to become more adaptable to new situations, Isabel was determined to expand her global perspective by immersing herself in a completely new culture.

According to Isabel, she received a lot of support throughout the process of preparing to join her host institution in Paris. With IE University’s guidance, she was able to choose relevant courses that aligned with her overall goals and career plans for the future. What’s more, a personal exchange advisor was consistently on hand to help offer appropriate support in case she faced any challenges while abroad. 

Paris proved to be much more than Isabel hoped for. “You basically land in an unfamiliar environment, far from your family and friends, and this is one of the aspects that impacted my personality a lot,” she explains. Specifically, she’s realized that the experience taught her to become much more confident and open-minded, comfortable with going after what she wants. Also, as she notes, “You can explore other areas by taking courses that might not be offered at IE University, enhancing your academic experience.”

But, while she appreciates her learnings during this exchange semester, Isabel longed for the chance to see IE Tower and the university’s campus in Segovia again. “I missed the facilities and academic system we have at IE University,” she says.

Isabel believes that all students can benefit from this unique exchange program, especially since they can select institutions that best meet their individual needs and ambitions. Indeed, IE University has partnerships with over 200 leading universities in 50 countries that are well-positioned all over the world—offering limitless opportunities to find the perfect fit. “Students should be brave and take on opportunities like this,” she says, adding, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience where they have the chance to learn about themselves while exploring new places and making new friends from all over the world.”