{"id":5258,"date":"2026-07-27T07:57:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T06:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/mba\/?p=5258"},"modified":"2026-07-27T07:57:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T06:57:00","slug":"exploring-the-intersection-of-sustainability-and-ai-in-my-internship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/mba\/exploring-the-intersection-of-sustainability-and-ai-in-my-internship\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring the Intersection of Sustainability and AI in my Internship"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the main reasons I chose IESE was its strong commitment to sustainability. From my application essays to my interviews, sustainability was a central part of the story I wanted to build during my MBA. I wasn’t simply looking for electives or credentials. I wanted opportunities that would help me understand how sustainability is implemented in practice and how businesses can create meaningful impact.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As I approached my second year, I knew I wanted to pursue an internship in sustainability. Being in Europe felt like a unique opportunity. The EU has become a global leader in sustainability, particularly through its regulatory frameworks and efforts to advance the ESG agenda. I wanted hands-on experience that would allow me to learn from that environment and deepen my understanding of how organizations integrate sustainability into their operations.<\/p>\n

The search, however, was not always straightforward.<\/p>\n

Like many international students, I faced challenges around visa sponsorship, language requirements, and highly specific job descriptions. I explored opportunities through IESE Career Forums, applying to both corporates and startups with sustainability-focused roles. There were moments when the process felt discouraging, but I remained committed to finding an opportunity aligned with my goals.<\/p>\n

That opportunity eventually came through IESE’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership (ISL).<\/strong><\/p>\n

Taking a Chance<\/h4>\n

I first came across the opportunity through our online job board. I was already familiar with ISL from my research before joining IESE and had always hoped to become involved.<\/p>\n

Initially, I hesitated to apply. The position indicated a preference for Spanish speakers, and at the time I was still learning the language through IESE’s BSP program. But after months of applications, I decided it was worth taking a chance.<\/p>\n

As it turned out, several aspects of my background aligned closely with the role. My previous experience in sustainability consulting, particularly in sustainability reporting, proved relevant. My exposure to real estate and infrastructure also connected naturally to the hospitality industry. Even my undergraduate degree in computer engineering, which I hadn’t expected to draw on during my MBA, became an advantage.<\/p>\n

The interview process was both challenging and enjoyable. At one point, I was asked to describe Barcelona in Spanish as a quick test of whether I could manage basic communication during the internship. Despite my limited fluency, the conversation went well, and about a week later I received the offer.<\/p>\n

Building an AI Solution for Sustainability Reporting<\/h4>\n

My internship focused on a project with Barcel\u00f3 Hotel Group that sat at the intersection of sustainability, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first few weeks involved immersing myself in the company’s sustainability reporting framework. This meant reviewing extensive internal documentation, much of it in Spanish, and understanding how sustainability data was collected, managed, and reported across the organization.<\/p>\n

Working alongside both the Barcel\u00f3 team and sustainability consultancy Transcendent, we explored how AI could support sustainability reporting processes and improve the efficiency of data collection and analysis.<\/p>\n

Our work began by identifying parts of the existing impact framework that could be piloted within Spanish hotels before eventually scaling more broadly. This required us to:<\/p>\n