Home City and Country: Johannesburg, South Africa
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Google (Mountain View, California), Global Process Manager
How has studying business in Spain enriched your learning experience? I’ve really enjoyed learning alongside classmates from all over the world. When I was choosing a business school, I was deciding between programs in the US and Europe. IESE’s cohort diversity became the main selling point for me. I wanted to be in an environment where I could learn from people with completely different life experiences while also sharing my own perspective.
Being at IESE I also had the privilege of learning through the case method which has afforded me many opportunities to express those viewpoints through an academic lens. This experience has made learning both intellectually and personally enriching.
What has been the toughest transition to living in Spain so far? What have you done to overcome this difficulty? I think I underestimated how hard it would be to live in a country where I couldn’t communicate in the local language. There were many times where I felt panicked if I didn’t have my phone as a translator.
Over time, I’ve pushed myself to learn and adapt. Thankfully IESE offers Spanish language classes alongside the MBA program which I’ve taken full advantage of. My confidence has improved over time.
What school service has been the most helpful in transitioning to living in Spain? How has it helped you adapt? Beyond the Spanish language learning service, student clubs have been instrumental in helping me feel more integrated. Being around people with similar values, interests, or backgrounds has made me feel less lonely during moments of homesickness or adjustment.
Through the Startup and Entrepreneurship Club, I explored business ideas and met my current cofounders for our startup, Loop and Loom, a tech-enabled fashion repair company. The IESE Africa Business Club has also been valuable in connecting me with African alumni and exploring employment opportunities across Europe.
What has been the most interesting cultural nuance of people living in Spain? Why has this struck you? Something that has truly struck me about living in Spain is people’s incredible ability to savour life. Coming from San Francisco, where everything moves quickly, the slower pace felt astonishing at first.
People take time to enjoy the small things. You see families gathered in public squares and children playing while parents sit nearby having coffee. Barcelona is a vibrant city that reflects the warmth and kindness of the Catalan people.
Are you seeking a Visa to work in Spain after graduation? If so, what obstacles have you faced and how did you overcome them? Yes. I would love to work and live in Spain. One of the main challenges is finding companies that operate primarily in English, as many roles require Spanish fluency.
I would also like to find opportunities that differ from my past experience in Finance. My goal is to build and scale ventures that bridge technology, entrepreneurship, and community impact.
What have you done to make it easier to make friends with people from outside your home country at business school? Joining clubs is one of the easiest ways to integrate into the community. Whether it’s the gym, running club, or climbing, shared activities make it easier to build friendships.
I also participated in IESE’s Summer Entrepreneurship Experience, a program designed to help students launch businesses in Barcelona. It pushed me to overcome my fear of speaking “broken Spanish” because the success of our startup depended on it. During the 10-week experience, I spoke to many locals in the tailoring industry, some of whom I still keep in touch with today and consider friends.
What piece of advice would you give to an international student looking to study in a Spanish graduate business program? Be open to stepping outside your comfort zone. My perspective, as a South African, is that I’m already making a big leap by pausing my career to pursue further education abroad, so I might as well take every opportunity to grow.
Doing my MBA at IESE has been one of the best decisions of my life. When I reflect on who I was at the start of the program, I feel proud of how much I’ve challenged myself. Anything worthwhile requires us to push beyond fear and rise to meet our potential and I’ve been able to do that here.
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