Meet IE Business School’s MBA Class Of 2019

Juan Pablo Arizaleta

IE Business School

“A curious and pragmatic person who puts people first.”

Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have a hard time distinguishing some colors, but that hasn’t been a real problem for me so far.

Undergraduate School and Major: Finance and Accounting from Universidad Anahuac

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: HSBC Asset Management – Credit Analyst

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I started as a trainee and worked my way to be promoted twice in my first 3 years, reaching a senior role within my local department and being able to mentor junior analysts.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? They are all highly motivated and intelligent. The energy in the classroom is like nothing I’ve seen before.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? IE is synonymous to Entrepreneurship. After working several years for a global company, I wanted to explore different options, such as entrepreneurship. From the moment I started applying to IE, I could tell this was a different kind of school and they would help me kickstart my creativity.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Public Speaking Club. That is one skill I think is very important for an MBA graduate and I would like to improve at it.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I’m 32 years old. For me, it was as much of a personal decision as it was a professional one. I needed a different experience, to zoom out and see what else is out there.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I have never met a single person who has regretted doing his or her MBA.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Imperial College, Cambridge, and Oxford

How did you determine your fit at various schools? Preparation was key. I started researching schools and doing short-lists two years in advance. I wanted a one-year program with the right mix of reputation, content, networking opportunities, and location. For that, I used rankings (and the methodology behind them), school’s websites, Linked-in, and reaching out to alumni.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I became a CFA Charterholder at the age of 26, one of the most respected credentials in the global financial industry. It was a great reward after countless hours of study and personal sacrifices during three years. The satisfaction of successfully completing a project I had put so much time and effort into was enormous. This experience exposed me to the world of financial markets and allowed me to gain skills I used to start a career in that sector.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I am still considering different options. Whether it is getting involved with a start-up or joining an established company, IE has a great program for students like me who want to use this year to decide.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I would like to be involved in both corporate and entrepreneurial activities. I don’t think building a career in a company and having your own business are mutually exclusive. Some of the sectors I would like to explore are fintech or clean energy.