Justo Gómez Palmés      

IESE Business School, University of Navarra

“Argentinean business developer, songwriter and fly-fisher, passionate about learning and exploring new paths through creativity.”

Hometown: San Isidro, Buenos Aires

Fun Fact About Yourself:  At the age of six, I sold my used toys to younger cousins at very competitive prices. Business ended when my father found my inexplicable savings inside an After Eight box.

Undergraduate School and Major: CEMA University, Bachelor in Business Administration.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Itaú BBA, Corporate Relationship Manager.

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? The case method helps develop critical thinking and decision making habits. I believe these habits are fundamental to becoming a better and high-performing manager that can quickly adapt to change. In addition, the case method provides tools to analyze and build different panoramic views of complex business situations, and helps establish a solid base to decide and take action.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the school’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I will be travelling with my wife and one-year old daughter, so the fact that IESE has a very active and strong community of families and partners makes me feel really comfortable. After several conversations with IESE Alumni, I know for a fact that the school is very successful in integrating families to the MBA life.

What club or activity excites you most at this school? Latam Business Club. I think it’s a great way to connect with other students and explore different business possibilities throughout the region. Latin America is very turbulent, but still full of opportunities.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Releasing my first solo music album and presenting it at The Picadero Theater, a renowned venue of Buenos Aires City. After a promotional campaign, including video productions, and intense months of rehearsals, that night at Picadero I faced a crowd of 500 people that had come all the way to see me perform. It took me the first two songs to beat the nerves. After that, it was pure glory. Together with my band, we gave an amazing show and managed to send across an inspiring message, which became my own life motto: No goal is unreachable when your focus is clear and you are driven by perseverance.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? My ambition to build an international career and my desire to open my mind to the world.

What other MBA programs did you apply to?  HEC Paris

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? Why not consider an Executive MBA?  I was surprised with that question. I didn’t see it coming at that stage of the application process. The interviewer commented about EMBA alternatives that could possibly fit my work situation at that time. As I stated my reasons for pursuing a full-time MBA, the interviewer helped me organize my ideas and complemented my thoughts with additional information that strengthened my arguments.

How did you determine your fit at various schools?  First, I made a short-list prioritizing location. I was sure I wanted to make my MBA in Europe, so I pre-selected four universities. Then, I researched the culture of each school by contacting several alumni, participated in virtual classes, and attended school events held in my city. After a virtual open day held by IESE, I was very impressed by the quality of its faculty and that definitely tipped the scale. Also, the assessment day IESE held in São Paulo was crucial. I confirmed my decision after spending two amazing days surrounded by people who made me feel part of a very supportive community.

What was your defining moment and how did it prepare you for business school? My experience as an entrepreneur and musician was a turning point in my life. In 2013, I took the plunge and spent almost 4 years fully dedicated, performing as an artist and developing my own music production agency start-up.

This valuable time brought me great successes, like performing in well-known theaters, being nominated in prestigious contests and producing music for renowned brands. But there were downs that forged my character. As I learned how to deal with frustration, I understood the importance of moving forward and being courageous.

What is your favorite company and what could business students learn from them? Bertelsmann Group. It’s a company that stands for creativity and entrepreneurship. It holds the flag of digital transformation within the media industry, and it constantly moves forward towards new directions, diversifying its investment portfolio.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE MBA CLASS OF 2022 AT IESE BUSINESS SCHOOL

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