{"id":4997,"date":"2025-07-23T10:30:35","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T09:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/mba\/?p=4997"},"modified":"2025-07-23T10:30:35","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T09:30:35","slug":"dear-incoming-class-of-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/mba\/dear-incoming-class-of-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"Dear Incoming Class of 2027…"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear Incoming Class of 2027,<\/strong><\/h4>\n

First of all, take a moment to let this sink in. You did it! You earned your place at IESE, one of the world\u2019s best business schools. This is no small feat, and you should feel genuinely proud of everything you\u2019ve accomplished to get here.<\/p>\n

Before the whirlwind begins, celebrate yourself for a minute. You deserve it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Over the next two years, you\u2019re going to experience something unlike anything you\u2019ve ever done. It will be intense, rewarding, exhausting, and transformative, sometimes all in the same week. As you get ready to start this journey, we wanted to welcome you and share here a few things we wish someone had told us before we started.<\/p>\n

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/a>IESE is the perfect place to try the things you never thought you could do. Join that club you\u2019d normally skip. Attend all dinners and events hosted by the Geo Clubs, dance at Multiculti, explore Barcelona\u2019s hidden corners, taste Catalan food, and learn a few words of Spanish, or a lot. The more you open yourself up to new experiences, the richer your journey will be.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It can feel tempting to stick to what you already know, but the magic often happens when you take a step into the unknown.<\/p>\n

Go to the events that sound intimidating. Introduce yourself to people you wouldn\u2019t naturally approach. Try new activities even if you feel like you won\u2019t be good at them. This is a place where you get to start fresh, so experiment and see what happens.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You\u2019ll never have another time in your life quite like this, with so many cultures and perspectives surrounding you every single day. Say \u201cyes\u201d more often. You might be surprised by what you discover about yourself and the people around you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Career Opportunities: Have a Plan, But Stay Open<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If you\u2019re coming in with a clear career goal, that\u2019s fantastic. Stay focused. But if you don\u2019t, or if your plans change (and many of ours did), that\u2019s also completely fine.<\/p>\n

Use every resource around you: the Career Development Center, your classmates, alumni, professors, and the countless networking opportunities you\u2019ll find in unexpected places.<\/strong> Talk to second-years and ask them about their stories. You\u2019ll realize quickly that everyone\u2019s path is different, and there is no single \u201cright way\u201d to build your career here.<\/p>\n

Explore industries you\u2019ve never considered. Attend company presentations even if you\u2019re unsure they fit your profile. And if something doesn\u2019t work out the way you hoped, turn the page and move forward. This place is full of doors you didn\u2019t even know existed, so go knock on them!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Remember that your career is a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient with yourself. Trust the process (you\u2019ll end up tattooing this phrase by the end of the MBA). You might discover passions you hadn\u2019t imagined before you arrived.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is an Academic Challenge and a Personal One<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/a>Everyone talks about the workload and the cases, but fewer people prepare you for how much personal growth happens here. You\u2019ll be pushed in ways you can\u2019t predict: your resilience, your confidence, your sense of self, everything will evolve.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There will be moments when you feel stretched beyond what you thought you could handle, and that\u2019s normal. Be kind to yourself in those times.<\/strong> Talk to your friends, ask for help, take breaks, and remember you don\u2019t have to prove anything to anyone. Everyone struggles, even if they don\u2019t always say it out loud.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Take care of your mental health. Rest when you need to.<\/strong> Find rituals that ground you, whether it\u2019s exercise, meditation, journaling, or simply a walk in the city. These two years are a marathon, not a sprint. The pressure can feel overwhelming, and it\u2019s okay to feel like you don\u2019t have it all together. None of us did.<\/p>\n

This experience will teach you not just about business, but about who you are, what you value, and what kind of leader and person you want to become.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

People, People, People<\/strong><\/h4>\n

It\u2019s tempting to stick with the first small group of friends you find, and you\u2019ll probably meet some of your closest people early on. But don\u2019t stop there. Everyone came here with something to teach you, and everyone came here to grow and become a better version of themselves.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Make the effort to get to know your classmates beyond your section or your own region. You will be constantly amazed by the stories, cultures, and perspectives around you. These are the people who will inspire you, challenge you, and support you in ways you never expected.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The connections you build will become one of the most valuable parts of this experience. Years from now, you\u2019ll look back and realize that your best memories weren\u2019t just about the classes or the trips, they were about the friendships you made. Staying in your comfort zone can feel easy, but don\u2019t let it keep you from meeting incredible people.<\/p>\n

Be genuinely curious about others. Listen to their journeys. Cheer them on. Let them cheer you on too. Show up for each other.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Quality In, Quality Out<\/strong><\/p>\n

At IESE, you\u2019ll hear it over and over: what you put in is what you get out.<\/strong> And it\u2019s true. If you show up prepared, if you\u2019re proactive, if you push yourself to engage fully, you\u2019ll leave here transformed.<\/p>\n

This is the time to challenge yourself to be better every day. Participate in class discussions, even when you struggle to raise up your hand. Volunteer for projects that feel ambitious. Offer to help classmates who might be struggling. Share your experience, and learn from theirs.<\/p>\n

The more effort, curiosity, and heart you bring into this experience, the more it will give back to you.<\/strong> This is a unique chance to grow into the person you want to become, both professionally and personally. Show up, work hard, and embrace the ride.<\/p>\n

Remember, this is your time to let go of the old and step boldly into the new. You have everything you need to make the most of it.<\/p>\n

Finally, enjoy it! Take photos. Laugh a lot. Reflect often. These two years will fly by faster than you think, and you\u2019ll look back and realize just how much you\u2019ve grown.<\/p>\n

Welcome to the adventure of a lifetime. You\u2019ve earned your spot here, and we can\u2019t wait to see everything you\u2019ll accomplish.<\/strong><\/p>\n

With all our love and encouragement,<\/strong><\/em>
\nCarolina Guerrero<\/a> & Macarena Arce<\/a>, <\/strong><\/em>Co-Presidents of the IESE Class of 2025<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pursue your dream MBA! Take these next steps today:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n