Raghad Gomaa

IESE Business School at the University of Navarra

“I love to challenge the norm and do things that have never been done before.”

Hometown: Cairo, Egypt

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was once featured on a billboard in Dubai!

Undergraduate School and Major: American University of Sharjah | Business Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Boston Consulting Group, Recruiting Specialist

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? I find the case method to be excellent. It provides context that goes beyond theories and allows us to examine different business situations that we will encounter as future managers. It’s the perfect hands-on learning we can get, which is also fun. I never knew I could learn about torrones (the most famous Christmas dessert in Spain), and new countries and other unexpected topics through doing a case!

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 about Barcelona has been the nature! I love the outdoors and the city has mountains, beaches and incredible architecture that never gets boring. Although it was my first time in Barcelona, I immediately felt at home, the hospitality and the incredible diversity in the city make it a brilliant place to study and live.

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? One of the biggest reasons why I chose IESE was the strong academics that the school offers. I love to learn, and really wanted a program that would challenge me to explore a variety of new topics in a short period. It has only been 4 months, but I feel like I have much more knowledge than I would have been able to receive anywhere else.

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 program is definitely challenging. I recall hearing about how rigorous the first year is from alumni and during my application process, but you don’t realize the magnitude of it until you start. It’s like jumping in cold water. I remember being very overwhelmed for the first few weeks, where I had to adjust to going back to school, moving to a new country, choosing a career track, joining clubs, attending events, reading cases and contributing to my team and during class. However, without this intensity, I don’t think I would have been able to enjoy such a steep learning curve. My advice to first years is to not stress (that’s easier said than done, but trust me on it), everything will fall into place, and remember, you can’t have it all, so set your priorities straight. Just trust the process and jump in the water. It will pay off.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at IESE? Diwali is my favorite event at IESE so far. It was very interesting to really be immersed in the Indian culture and celebrate with our classmates. Everyone dressed up, ate some yummy Indian food, and enjoyed incredible performances and music to celebrate the occasion!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in my career was the impact I left on young talent through different programs for undergraduate students in the Middle East. It is hard to put into words the size of this impact, which sometimes changes young students’ lives!

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: My biggest accomplishment was to challenge myself with quantitative courses like Accounting and Decision Analysis, which was completely out of my comfort zone!

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into the IESE MBA program? Be yourself! I know it sounds simple, but it works. Don’t try to exaggerate your stories or essays. You will for sure have a reason to stand out and incredible accomplishments, so try to be introspective and avoid trying to be something you are not.

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