Will Collier

ESADE Business School

“Social butterfly that flutters place to place trying to experience the world.”

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Fun fact about yourself: As a kid, I did karate and ballet, which means I was very limber

Undergraduate School and Degree: Liberty University, Bachelor of Science in Journalism

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Capital One – Principal Associate, Client Success

Where did you intern during the summer of 2022? McDonald’s, Chicago, Illinois

Where will you be working after graduation? McDonald’s, Global Marketing Manager

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

 * VP of Events: As the Vice President (VP) of Events I was responsible for managing the planning and execution of community events determined to be led by the executive board. The VP roles manage the relationship with any related partners and suppliers for community events, work collaboratively with the Collaborative Spirit Ambassadors, and manage the overall calendar of student events, and development of ad-hoc school-wide events, as needed.

* Winner of the Class-Voted Engagement Award, who is given to the students who spend the most time, effort, and energy towards improving the experience of their fellow classmates. Put simply, this award honours the students who have done the most to make ESADE a better place.

 Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school?

Academic: Passing Financial Accounting. Lacking a financial background, I proudly consider myself a ‘poet’ in this realm, celebrating this accomplishment.

Extracurricular: Serving as the VP of Events for such a culturally diverse cohort was an enriching and unique opportunity. It allowed me to intimately learn about almost every classmate from events like Diwali, Brazilian Carnival, and the ESADE Ski Trip.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? It was persuading Walmart to utilize a new marketing channel to get better penetration with their digitally enrolled segment. I was able to identify an opportunity within the 10 million Walmart credit card users, with about 66% being digitally enrolled. I reviewed current marketing performance then packaged this information in an easily digestible way and delivered it first to my leadership before working to persuade our Walmart partners.

Getting into one of the most prestigious business schools in the world is another achievement that makes me proud. That’s because, only a few generations ago, my great grandparents were considered the legal property of others. Decades later, I will graduate the first in my family with a Master’s.

In addition, during the height of COVID, being laid off left me shaken to my core wondering if my skills and talents measured up to those around me. Comparing yourself to others is counterproductive but often inevitable. Sometimes external factors are the needed catalyst to give yourself the reassurance that you can play with the big boys and girls.

Why did you choose this business school? I was first exposed to the Esade MBA community as a tourist before I had begun to imagine moving to Barcelona for school was even possible. As I met more people from the 2023 cohort, it was evident that these were my kind of people. They were kindred spirits gathered from cultures, countries, and continents across the world. After two months of what was supposed to be a three-week trip, I left with the sole goal to become a part of the Esade community.  Esade was the only business school I applied to and was accepted into, so it feels like it has worked out so far.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Professor Lola Martinez is a well-known anchor and reporter, with 24 years of experience. Being excellent at your profession doesn’t automatically translate into having the ability to identify what others lack, communicate those deficiencies effectively, and coach through improvement. Lola excelled in all aspects.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course coincides with one of my pre-MBA goals to improve as a leader. A crucial aspect of being a strong leader is being a great communicator. Advanced Communications was the class that helped refine my techniques and build habits through practical real-world exercises. I am completely prepared for any and all interviews regarding oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Picking a single event is impossible. So many moments are permanently etched in my memory. As a cohort, MBAT in Paris unified us in a way I never could have imagined. Winning a hard-fought bronze medal rope-pull battle in the mud, competing against HEC Paris on their home turf in the basketball championship, and being robbed a top finish in the dance competition all solidified us as an Esade Family. As the VP of Events for my cohort, the event that took the most out of me was the Esade Ski Trip to Andorra. There is a special type of joy that comes from successfully taking 105 of your classmates skiing, leaving, and returning them home with zero injuries. Finally, celebrating and sharing in the wide array of cultures that make up our cohort at Gastrofest event must be mentioned as well.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I would learn Spanish. I made the most of my time here taking in culture by trying new foods, traveling across Europe, and making friends from across the world, but somehow Spanish slipped through the crack. Knowing a second language has a wealth of benefits and I don’t think I will get another perfect opportunity such as living in Spain so I do have some regrets about not being more intentional about practicing the language during my time here.

What is the biggest myth about your school? Legend has it, students love Fundamentals of Markets so much that they’ve tattooed the equation “MR=MC” to etch it into their mind and body for all of eternity.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? The true beauty of Barcelona is that it can dually be unapologetically Spanish, while an openness that allows it to cater to a multitude of taste and interest with authenticity giving a spectrum of people a home.

What is one thing you did during the application process that gave you an edge at the school you chose? Be me. I can’t really do accounting but I get people and people get me.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

Start my own Non-Profit to support women in the middle east.

After a few more years of work, I want to get my Ph.D. and transit to education.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I admired Ines Monteiro for how deeply she cared for people. The passion, empathy, and poise she displayed addressing the challenges of society and within our cohort is something to mimic as we become leaders.

What made Will such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“Will is an extraordinary individual and an outstanding representative of the Esade MBA. My acquaintance with Will occurred during his tenure as the Vice President of Events in the MBA Student Association (MBASA) and through our shared participation in the corporate strategy class, in which I was the lecturer. In both capacities, it is easy to overlook his capabilities due to his amiable and laid-back demeanor. Even among the challenges of a demanding MBA program, filled with assignments, deadlines, and career-related events, Will consistently maintained a positive mood. His infectious enthusiasm had a profoundly positive impact on the entire class and cohort.

However, beneath Will’s affable exterior lies a determined and ambitious individual. He established clear academic and professional goals, all of which he not only met but exceeded. Despite his non-business background, Will effortlessly mastered his coursework. His focused collaboration with the career team resulted in securing an internship early on, and unsurprisingly, he swiftly received a job offer.

It is crucial to emphasize Will’s role as the VP of Events in MBASA. In this capacity, Will significantly influenced the MBA experience for his peers, investing numerous hours and days organizing and coordinating events. While executing these responsibilities with his characteristic ease and smile, he also demonstrated determination, hard work, and exceptional project management skills. His contributions did not go unnoticed, as evidenced by his nomination for the MBASA engagement award.

At Esade, we uphold the belief that one can excel professionally while embodying friendliness and collaboration — the essence of “Be good, do good.” Will exemplifies this spirit remarkably.”

Jan Hohberger
Associate Dean, MBA Full-Time

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2024