Marco Goffi

IESE Business School at the University of Navarra

“Tech enthusiast, avid traveler, self-taught cook, curious learner. Passionate about doing well by doing good.”

Hometown: Bergamo, Italy

Fun Fact About Yourself: I used to compete in orienteering races on the weekends during high school

Undergraduate School and Major: Bocconi University (Milan, Italy) – BSc in International Economics and Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: SheerID, EMEA Product Manager

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? The case method has been an incredibly valuable way for me to learn and grow as a manager. It has exposed me to a wide range of real-life business scenarios and challenges, some of which I have already encountered, and others that I will likely come across in the future.

For the scenarios that I have already experienced, it has been incredibly helpful as it allowed me to reflect on my past decisions and evaluate them under a different lens. It also gave me the opportunity to share my insights and experiences with my peers, contributing to their development. For the scenarios that I haven’t encountered yet, it’s been equally valuable as it has allowed me to prepare and make sure to avoid any costly mistakes, while also learning from my classmates who have gone through them already. Additionally, working through the cases has helped me develop my communication skills, which are essential for any manager.

What has been your favorite part of Barcelona so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA? So far, my favorite part of Barcelona has been Passeig de Gracia. It’s one of the main roads in the city and connects the north and south through Plaça Catalunya and La Rambla. It’s a wonderful place to walk around and admire the beautiful Gaudi buildings, as well as shops and bars of all kinds. Another area I love is Parc de la Ciutadella, even though it gets quite crowded on the weekends. The city is a great place to earn an MBA and the locals are very friendly and always open to a chat. This also gives you the opportunity to learn one of the most spoken languages in the world, although the city is also extremely international. Moreover, Barcelona is increasingly becoming an important business hub, especially with the growing startup ecosystem and the constant attention to innovation and research.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of the IESE Business School MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I picked IESE Business School for a couple of reasons, mainly because of its vision and its emphasis on entrepreneurship. What really stood out to me, and still does, is the school’s focus on making a difference. This can be seen in many ways, such as their “Doing Good Doing Well” conference, the incorporation of the 17 UN sustainable development goals in every class, and the emphasis on sustainability in the curriculum.

Another reason I chose IESE is because Barcelona is a great place for entrepreneurship and the school is at the center of this community. The S&E (Startup & Entrepreneurship) Club is very active and the entrepreneurship department is always available to help you develop your ideas and make connections. Plus, you can always get feedback from your classmates. Both factors were crucial to me, as I have aspirations of becoming an entrepreneur in the long-term and I align with the principle of “Doing well by doing good” in my career vision. I thought no other school could offer me the same. On top of that, I have to say the weather of Barcelona played a part after a few years in London…

The IESE MBA is known for heavy reading and rigorous academics. Has the program lived up to its reputation? What advice would you give to first-years to help them thrive in the early months of the program? It has definitely lived up to the reputation! As a first-year student, managing your time and energy effectively is crucial to succeeding in the program. Balancing academics, networking, social activities, and personal life can be challenging, but it’s important to prioritize your responsibilities and make sure you’re allocating enough time to each area. Define as soon as possible what’s important to you, both for your MBA and your future career, and stick with that. The academics are intense and the classes are fast-paced, so it’s important to stay on top of your work to keep up. Also, assignments represent a considerable portion of the program, so make sure you plan ahead and take advantage of the resources available, like professors or your team. And don’t forget to reward yourself and celebrate your accomplishments along the way!

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at IESE? The first few weeks of the IESE MBA program have been amazing and the activities organized by the school have been a great way to get to know my classmates and explore the city. I’ve found some of the courses, like Decision Analysis and Leadership, to be really interesting. However, the one I’ve enjoyed the most so far is Marketing. Specifically, the section on Pricing was extremely engaging. We had the chance to work with our teams on a pricing simulation for a car rental company, which allowed us to see firsthand how the market and competitors would respond to our decisions. It was challenging, but it was definitely one of the most enjoyable parts of the program so far.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One of the biggest accomplishments in my career was during my time as EMEA Product Manager in SheerID. Shortly after I joined, I began researching and testing a new feature to assess its potential for the product I was managing. After gathering insights, I recognized the feature’s potential and made it a priority to ensure it was implemented quickly. A few weeks later, the feature was implemented and quickly became the main feature of the product, resulting in a 100% increase in the main team KPI and savings of over $1 million in costs, which ultimately improved the company’s gross margin. As a result, I was also nominated by my colleagues and awarded one of the titles of “Employee of the Year”!

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: My biggest accomplishment so far has definitely been getting nominated as a First Year Director of the Private Equity and Venture Capital Club as well as of the Startup & Entrepreneurship Club. This was a great honor for me and an opportunity to put these passions into action. On top of allowing me to connect with like-minded students and learning from their experiences, this has and will allow me to collaborate in organizing events and activities that bring together students, alumni, and industry professionals providing me with invaluable networking opportunities.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into the IESE MBA program? Here are my two cents:

Have a clear path: Know why you want to do an MBA and what you would like to do after. While this seems quite obvious, it’s extremely important to reflect on this before your application. It will simplify your life when you start the program as well as show your motivation to the committee.

Be yourself: Each one of us is unique, and demonstrating how unique you are is key to be successful in your application. What makes you special? How would you contribute with your points of view to the development of your peers?

Be enthusiastic: Show your enthusiasm for the school and for pursuing an MBA. I’m sure you have it, just make you convey it!

Get to know the school: Visit the campus if you can as it will give you a first-hand experience on what it would mean to be a student here.

DON’T MISS: MEET IESE BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2024