Antonio Lucena López

IE Business School

Hometown: Málaga, Spain

“Passion seeker and supplier, in business and in life.“

Fun Fact About Yourself: Despite all my best efforts, I’m one of the few Andalusian guys who does not know how to tell jokes.

Undergraduate School and Major: Universidad de Navarra (UNAV), Double Degree in Law and Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: OrthoApnea Medical Appliances, Managing Director

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In a short period of time, I have been able to quickly adapt to new positions in very different sectors. I went from being a tax lawyer to a corporate finance consultant to managing a well-established medical device company in less than three years.

Taking drastic career decisions at certain points in one’s life can be complicated. It felt both risky and challenging to leave what seemed to be an optimal career path (from an economic or reputational perspective), just because I knew it was “not my thing” in order to try a position in a completely different field. The risk lies in foregoing the opportunity to directly capitalize on previous learning and experience in order to ascend in the “professional journeys” set out by companies; facing conflicts with family and friends, colleagues and mentors because they might not understand or agree with the decision to change;  and even being perceived as “professionally unstable” in potential future interviews, etc.

I am proud of having been able to gather the courage to follow my instincts at crucial moments. I have proven to myself that, despite living in a play safe culture in which mistakes are vilified, I am comfortable with the fact that I might make them. When that happens, I can pivot, and continue on and develop and perform well.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Determination. All my colleagues show impressive determination, staying focused, and resolute in pursuit of their goals.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The entrepreneurship focus. IE walks the talk, and that is what alumni tell you when you ask for feedback. One of IE’s core values is Entrepreneurship and the MBA program is a great example of how IE puts it into practice.

I chose IE Business School for the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the experience of a real entrepreneurial venture through the Startup and Venture Labs. This was essential for me. I really appreciate the possibility of freely deciding what value to create, even with all the risk that comes with starting your own venture. Entrepreneurship is different from other professional categories – the possibilities are endless and, for me, that is the beauty of it.

IE Business School calls itself “An “MBA out of the ordinary.” How has IE’s curriculum and activities been out of the ordinary from what you expected or what you experienced in other educational institutions? I am impressed by the wide variety of elective courses offered. Each student is able to fully tailor their experience according to their interests and needs, maximizing the value obtained.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? What are the differences between a great leader and a great manager?

What do you see yourself doing in ten years? In today’s world, if planning five years ahead is a nightmare, 10 years ahead is a chimera. But, if I must… I envision myself at a professional position that allows me to create as much value as possible for others without forgetting about “me” and those close to me.

Everybody knows that life is full of ups-and-downs. A sustainable and successful career requires a balance between personal and professional life, and it’s important to define and develop your personal “pillars” in order to maintain sanity – and this requires consistency, willingness, and effort. Good leaders “work on themselves” as hard as they work for others.

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