Oscar Bravo

IESE Business School at the University of Navarra

“I am a very curious and pragmatic person who enjoys constantly learning about new things.”

Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico

Fun Fact About Yourself: As a toddler my first word ever was “Goal”. I’ve loved playing and watching soccer since then.

Undergraduate School and Major: Monterrey Institute of Technology – Industrial Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Mastercard – Associate Managing Consultant

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? I believe it is one of the best ways to learn since you are constantly putting yourself in the shoes of CEOs, executives, and entrepreneurs facing real management situations. The case method trains you to structure, analyze, and solve real complex problems through a holistic approach. At the same time, it allows you to practice how to communicate your decisions and actions and their implications to the rest of the company (in this case, your classroom). Finally, the group discussion at the end of the case is the cherry on top, since you can learn from the rest of your international classmates about different alternatives on how to solve the exact same situation. There are no correct answers, which makes the case method a very enriching learning experience.

What has been your favorite part of Barcelona so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA? My favorite part of Barcelona has been without a doubt the beach (“La Barceloneta”). I usually go there to relax, sunbath for a bit, play some volleyball, and enjoy the majestic view of the sea. Barcelona is one of the best cities to earn an MBA as it has all the things you could ask for: amazing people (local and international), excellent food, great culture, sporting events, breathtaking landscapes, and lots of fun things to do.

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? Aside from the location and the multicultural and international class, one of the main reasons I chose IESE for my MBA program was because of the values and principles of the school. I feel IESE’s mission of developing leaders who will have a positive long-lasting impact on their communities (people, firms, society) really resonates with my personal view of life; it is aligned with what I want to achieve as a business leader in my country in the future.

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? The IESE MBA stands out for being a very demanding program, especially in the first term when you can feel a bit overwhelmed by all the heavy reading and the constant group team assignments. However, with practice, you start adapting and learning how to tackle the cases and assignments in a more efficient way. My advice to first years is to not overthink the cases. Solve the cases strategically. You don’t need to solve absolutely everything about it, you just need to identify the main problems and priorities and find supporting evidence throughout the case to back up your approach.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at IESE? The course I have enjoyed the most so far at IESE is one called “Decision Analysis.” I really liked it because it covers not only the technical knowledge required to evaluate a business decision (financial statements, project valuation, cash flows, etc.) but also all the psychological knowledge behind it (cognitive biases, human behavior, etc.) that is equally important but sometimes not even considered or omitted.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in my career so far has been being promoted as an Associate Manager. Here, I was able to challenge myself and lead small consulting teams across different geographies and deliver high-quality projects for clients in multiple industries such as banking, fintech, retail, and CPG.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: I believe my biggest accomplishment so far during the MBA has been having the opportunity to help several classmates in my program who were struggling in a specific course or a job application process where I had previous knowledge, insight, or experience. Being available for others when you can help is something that IESE promotes as it builds an open and collaborative community. I feel proud I could do my share during this first term, and I look forward to continuing to do so.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into the IESE MBA program? Enjoy the process: don’t overthink and stress about it. The more you enjoy the process, the more natural and authentic your application will be. Tell your story in a compelling way and make sure it is aligned (be specific) with your professional and personal view but also with that of IESE.

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