Jimena López-Navarro
Spanish and Peruvian by birth, I grew up in the historic city of Brussels. So far, I can speak English, French and Spanish fluently; I’m currently learning Russian in my free time. After growing up in an international educational system, I wanted to continue the trend at an international university. So I moved to Madrid to join IE University, hoping to transform my interest in both law and numbers into an international career.
"As a Spaniard that had never lived in Spain, I finally had the opportunity to live in Madrid!"
A multidisciplinary powerhouse
Initially, Jimena López-Navarro wanted to study in the UK. After all, she had grown up in the EU and British education systems and was familiar with all it entails. But she ultimately was looking for more of an international experience. And, “as a Spaniard that never lived in Spain,” Jimena wanted the chance to finally experience what Madrid had to offer—so IE University was the perfect fit.
Jimena has always been interested in law, acknowledging that it is the “foundation of society.” For her, the dynamic, constantly evolving nature of the sector is a plus, as it makes for a very versatile career. Similarly, her love for numbers drove Jimena to study business and sharpen her competency in finance and economics. Her combined passions led her to pursue the Dual Degree in Business Administration + Laws, and the unique mix of business and legal knowledge is turning this ambitious fifth-year student into a multidisciplinary powerhouse.
Jimena believes that the comprehensive knowledge and expertise she is building through her dual degree is the key to her professional success: “I have discovered that I chose a very complete degree in every way.” The practical mindset she has adopted while at IE University and the program’s learning approach that focuses on building critical thinking skills continue to give Jimena a distinct competitive edge in the fast-moving world of business and legal practice.
But, she isn’t all about studying; Jimena has quite an active life outside the classroom. You might find her cooking or baking—especially sweets and desserts—or even decorating cakes. A fan of traveling, Jimena’s favorite destination is the Atacama Desert in Chile. This summer, the top book on her reading list was Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. She also spends her free time visiting art exhibitions—if you’re ever in Madrid, Jimena recommends the temporary exhibitions at the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum.
As she gets closer to her graduation date, Jimena has been making plans for her future. She’s already started accumulating hands-on professional experiences through internships at several top Spanish law firms including Broseta Abogados, Cuatrecasas and Uría Menéndez. Throughout her placements, Jimena’s focus has been spread across Commercial Law, Litigation and Arbitration, and EU and Competition Law.
These opportunities allowed her to not only learn from practical experience, but also work with industry-leading professionals. Additionally, she had the chance to explore which areas of law she wants to pursue professionally. Jimena recognizes the role the IE Talent & Careers team played in the process. Through their efforts, she connected with many leading law firms at the Law Talent Forum while receiving expert career guidance and advice tailor-made for her through the Career Development Program.
So, what’s after graduation? Jimena plans on becoming a practicing lawyer in both Spain and the US, hoping to pass the bar so that she can launch her multijurisdictional career. And while she is still exploring her options, Jimena believes her future lies somewhere in the international sphere, perhaps working in EU Law, international criminal law and public international law. Whatever the case, she is determined to take life one moment at a time while working towards a dynamic, global career.
