In the fall, IESE students typically participate in various career treks where they travel to international locations to gain more in-depth knowledge about different sectors and network with executives from leading organizations. This year was no exception, with multiple treks taking place all across Europe and the Middle East. In this post, we feature some of the treks – Energy, Consulting, Healthcare, DACH Club – and share the perspectives of some of the student participants and organizers.
Energy Trek in the Netherlands, Daniel Puentes Revelle (MBA 25)
We had an incredible experience at the IESE Energy Trek in the Netherlands!
We explored the vast landscape of the energy industry, with visits to both industry giants and innovative startups. From TotalEnergies to Sunrock, the spectrum of approaches to the energy transition was nothing short of inspiring.
We learnt a lot from our visit to Total Energies
Eneco showcased the intricacies of trading and venture capital in the energy sector, while SBM Offshore unveiled their ground breaking projects in traditional FPSO and cutting-edge green hydrogen transport. Special kudos to Veolia for their game-changing Iron Power Combustion projects. Plug Power had us captivated with their solutions for green hydrogen production across all scales. TotalEnergies provided a profound insight into their renewables strategy and the offshore wind tendering process, and Schneider Electric shared their vision for optimizing energy consumption through innovative software.
Sunrock, on a mission to become the leading industrial rooftop solar panel installer in the EU, and SkyNRG, illuminating the path to zero-emission flights with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), left us in awe of the transformative power of renewable energy.
Despite diverse approaches, common threads emerged: the urgency to enhance the grid, the need for accelerating efforts to meet carbon emission targets, and the staggering potential of the renewable energy market.
A massive shoutout to the IESE Energy Club for orchestrating these enlightening three days, and immense gratitude to all the companies for sharing their time and invaluable insights.
[Adapted and re-posted from Linkedin]Exploring Top-tier Consulting in Dubai: A Networking Experience, Marc Rodriguez (MBA 25)
I had the incredible opportunity to be part of the Dubai Consulting Trek organized by the Consulting Club, delving into the heart of the consulting world in the Middle East.
Visiting a stellar lineup of top-tier consulting firms including FTI Delta, Strategy& Middle East, McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Kearney Middle East and Africa, Bain & Company, Roland Berger, Oliver Wyman, Arthur D. Little and Accenture was an enriching experience. Exploring their operations, understanding their methodologies, and engaging with the brilliant minds shaping strategies was truly eye-opening.
This trek wasn’t just about firm visits; it was a gateway to understand the vast opportunities in the Middle East and engage with consultants shaping the region’s landscape. IESE orchestrated events connecting us with local alumni, enriching our understanding of this dynamic market.
We had many engaging discussions with top consulting firms in Dubai
A heartfelt thanks to Noel Quiaoit, Raghad Gomaa, Marc Badia and Alberto Amorós Rodríguez-Fraile for organizing this incredibly insightful trip.
[Adapted and re-posted from Linkedin]IESE Healthcare Club’s Inspiring trek to Zurich, Ricardo Ceravalls Rabassa (MBA 24) on behalf of the Healthcare Club
Last week was a landmark moment for the IESE Healthcare Club as we ventured to Zurich for an immersive experience with some of the healthcare industry’s titans: Baxter International Inc., Takeda, Novartis (at their Basel headquarters), and ZS Associates.
Networking with Industry Leaders
Our journey was filled with unique opportunities to network with top-tier managers and professionals. These interactions allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of the diverse cultures and philosophies that drive these leading companies.
A Glimpse into the World of Healthcare Excellence
Each visit provided us with a window into the world of healthcare innovation and excellence. We explored the core values and strategies that propel these organizations to the forefront of healthcare.
Learning about the latest healthcare trends from Takeda
Empowering our Club Members
This trip wasn’t just about learning; it was about opening doors. Our members explored numerous opportunities for internships and full-time roles, gaining insights that go beyond the classroom.
Gratitude and Anticipation
We’re incredibly thankful to the organizers Mónica Serra Baucells, Aimée Biondo Verdini, Carlos Villarroya Sanz and the companies that welcomed us and enriched our understanding of the healthcare sector. This experience has not only broadened our horizons but also reinforced our commitment to healthcare excellence.
Cross-Industries Trek in Munich, Gabriele Wiederkehr (MBA 24)
What an incredible experience it was leading the organization of the DACH Club Cross-Industries Trek 2023 in Munich this past week!
In just three days, 25 MBA & EMBA Students had the privilege to engage with founders, partners, managers across 10 remarkable companies spanning various industries, including tech, mobility, startups, consulting, venture capital and private equity namely – Google, AWS, 10xfounders, Equistone, BCG, Hitachi Ventures, Flix, Bits&Pretzels, Earlybird and Allianz.
One highlight was visiting the IESE Munich campus and being welcomed by Michael Winkler and Luis Gonzaga García Ruibal-Amor. We hosted several companies there on the first day before embarking on visits to the companies´ offices on the second and third day.
This was our first time visiting the Google campus in Munich, where we had an office tour and a Q&A with their HR managers.
Next, it was interesting to hear about the internship experience from our current student Thomas Hagenlocher (MBA 24) working at Earlybird and our alumni Tobias Graf (MBA 23) working at Hitachi Ventures.
At AWS, we were welcomed by a current IESE EMBA, Andrei Karpov, who organized a visit through AWS´s innovation center as well as a round table with his colleagues.
At Allianz, Philippa La Rosee (MBA 23) hosted our visit and we were welcomed by Anant Gupta (MBA 22) and Dmitry Voronin (MBA 18). They invited their colleagues to talk about topics such as AI, Process Mining and Sustainability with us.
Finally, we heard about Flix´s next milestones and success story from their current Vice President Finance Lutz Nagel (EMBA 21).
We were warmly welcomed by 10xfounders, and our participants enjoyed this visit the most!
According to the post-event survey, Flix and 10xfounders were the company interactions that the participants enjoyed the most!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone we met for graciously hosting and welcoming us. Your openness and willingness to share insights during our discussions were incredibly valuable in providing clarity and understanding about your respective fields.
I want to extend special thanks to the IESE Munich team for your unwavering support and warm welcome on Wednesday. The reception exceeded our expectations, and we look forward to returning soon.
A shout-out to the IESE DACH Business Club team – Vitaly, Theresa, Emeline, Laura, Manuel, Arturo, Johannes and Benjamin from CDC – for your outstanding efforts in making this event a success.
Lastly, a big thank you to all the participants for your enthusiasm and engagement throughout all visits. Here’s to the success of the Cross-Industries Trek 2023 and the many more fruitful collaborations to come!
We look forward to bringing more IESE students back to Munich next year!
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Fantastic read on career trekking across Europe and the Middle East! The experiences shared are incredibly inspiring and provide valuable insights for anyone considering a global career move. The tips and real-life examples are particularly useful for navigating diverse job markets. Thanks for sharing this engaging and informative post!