Sergi Rivera Morcillo

IESE Business School

“I am a determined leader and problem-solver, passionate about the sea, boats and sailing.”

Hometown: Barcelona, Spain

Fun fact about yourself: During my engineering degree, I was part of the Spanish National Sailing Team, competing for a spot in the Olympic Games. At some point, I had to choose between fully dedicating myself to training or pursuing my engineering studies.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Polytechnic University of Catalonia – MSc in Naval and Offshore Engineering, MSc in Yacht Technology and Design, BSc in Naval Engineering and Technology

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Quer Professional Boats – Shipyard for new fast boat construction – Production Coordinator, Procurement & Tendering Manager

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? Astilleros de Santander, ALIMIA Group – Shipyard for repair & conversion of commercial boats – I began my internship as a Ship Manager. After one month, I caught the attention of the CTO due to my desire to learn, my ability to ask the right questions, and my dedication to working until the end of the day. He asked me to assist him with a project aimed at improving the preventive maintenance of the Panama Canal miter gates. In this role, I reported directly to the General Manager of the Group and participated in negotiations with key suppliers for the tender.

Where will you be working after graduation? After graduation, I plan to continue working on Whale Dock, the company I co-founded during my second year of the MBA program. We are developing an innovative ship-lifting platform for vessels weighing from 1,000 tonnes onwards. At the same time, I was in the fortunate position to receive job offers from multiple interesting companies ranging from the Panama Canal to international shipyards, which provide me with a safe alternative.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Winner of the Turtle Tank Pitch Competition
• Mentor of several First Years & students of the Entrepreneurship Club
• I co-organized the 3-day Ski IESE trip, where we brought over 500 MBA students to an international ski destination
• Finalist in Entrepreneurship New Ventures course

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? During the MBA program, I successfully wrote and applied for my own European Patent with minimal external support. I also faced the challenge of navigating bureaucracy to apply and be awarded for a European subsidy, which ultimately allowed me to start my own company. After securing the patent, some companies became interested in the invention, so we built a 1-meter-long reduced-scale prototype as a co-tutor for a student’s Final Degree Project at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.

The process was far from easy. There were sleepless nights spent on refining the design, dealing with technical issues and hard administrative deadlines. However, I was determined to bring this ambitious idea to life. In parallel to this, I was managing my MBA workload. Currently, our team consists of five people: one business mentor, one commercial agent, two tech researchers working on the software, and myself. Together, we are working on applying for a more demanding European subsidy to build a 20-ton lifting pre-commercial prototype, which will be used by a shipyard for lifting and dry-docking boats. The process remains challenging, but every milestone reached is a victory. This project has not only tested my technical and entrepreneurial abilities but has also taught me the importance of persistence, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come and excited for what’s to come.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? When I started working at Quer’s shipyard, we built two boats annually, ranging from 10 to 16 meters in length. I began exploring markets and public tenders. After some attempts, we won our first tender for Rural Agents, the first patrol boat Quer ever built. The following year, we won contracts to supply three patrol boats for the Catalan police, a fishery surveillance boat, a scientific research boat, and private tenders for pilot boats. As our sales grew, we were able to compete for higher-budget tenders. I discovered a tender to supply an 18-meters length boat for the General Secretariat of Fisheries. Initially, the General Manager was hesitant, concerned that the company couldn’t handle such a large project alongside the construction of the other boats. I highlighted the long-term benefits of securing this project, such as increased visibility, expanded capabilities, and a strong presence in the patrol boat market. I proposed to hire additional workers and rent an industrial warehouse to manage the increased workload effectively. After some discussion, he ultimately agreed, and we ended up building the largest boat in the company’s history. In the three years that I worked at Quer’s shipyard, the company’s income increased fourfold. I’m really proud of this experience which taught me the importance of exploring new markets, staying focused on my goals, and seizing the right opportunities.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose IESE because of its strong sense of community. Before enrolling, I visited the campus, where two first-year students shared their experiences—not only about academics and the great professors, but also about the culture of collaboration fostered by the school’s clubs and activities. I immediately felt the willingness of everyone to help one another, making IESE a very comfortable place to be, almost like home. Now, after two years, I see myself as part of this community, always ready to support people and recommending IESE as a truly worthwhile experience.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course during the program was Entrepreneurship: New Ventures. We were a class of 52 people, and on the first day, we had to present our own projects. My project was a heavy-duty ship-lifting platform with a lifting capacity of over 3,000 tons. The first challenge was convincing three classmates, who had little knowledge about boats, to join me on this project for the next four months. During the course, we pivoted from needing €30 million to just €300,000 to create a marketable prototype capable of lifting boats up to 12 meters. Out of 13 teams, only three were selected to present in front of six investors, and our ship-lifting project was one of them. This experience was not only an incredible opportunity to gain insights from diverse perspectives, but it also became the foundation for my real-life company. The lessons and skills learned from this course directly translated into the creation of my startup and the successful filing of a European patent for the ship-lifting technology.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite tradition at IESE has been the “Breakfast with the Dean”. It offered a personal opportunity to connect with the Dean, learn about his journey, and engage in an environment where everyone felt equal, regardless of background. This tradition reflects IESE’s commitment to fostering personal connections and making top executives accessible to students. This approach extends beyond the breakfast, as IESE consistently connects us with high-level leaders. Whether through lunches with global CEOs, top-tier speakers, or real venture capitalists in the VCIC, we regularly interact with influential professionals. Even in the Executive Simulation, our performance is evaluated by shareholders of leading companies. I am grateful for IESE’s tradition of treating each student as an individual and facilitating meaningful interactions with executives at the highest level.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? If there’s one thing I would do differently in my MBA experience, it would be participating in even more social events. In my first year, I was deeply focused on developing my invention and securing my patent, so I spent a significant amount of time meeting with professors and mentors to gather insights for my business. Balancing social events with meetings, academic workload, and project responsibilities was a constant challenge. However, I was also very engaged in the MBA community, participating actively in both academic and social events. Still, looking back, I wish I had taken even more opportunities to connect and build deeper relationships outside of the classroom.

What is the biggest myth about your school? “Trust the process” was the most repeated phrase during the introduction week, and it stuck with me. It has been invaluable during intense workloads, teaching me to prioritize and stay focused — just like when I had to choose between pursuing a professional career as an athlete or as a naval engineer. IESE challenges you to define your North Star, but along the way, the flood of opportunities can make you lose sight of it. At some point, I considered paths in consulting, finance, and corporate leadership. Eventually, I returned to my project and truly understood “Trust the process.” IESE provides all the tools to succeed, but real success comes from surrounding yourself with inspiring people, and the case method at IESE allows us to learn from them on a daily basis while pushing your own mental boundaries. Trusting IESE’s learning process is key to reaching our own North Star.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? When I was interviewed for the full-time MBA program at IESE and asked why Barcelona, I answered: ‘The beautiful beaches, the great food and weather, and most importantly, because I am in the process of starting my company.’ My network, collaborators, and people I work with are all based here, making Barcelona the ideal location for both my personal and professional growth.

What movie or television show (e.g. The Big Short, The Founder, Mad Men, House of Lies) best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? Margin Call does a great job of reflecting the realities of business, particularly in high-stakes environments where decisions have massive consequences. What I found most striking is how it portrays the ethical dilemmas, power dynamics, and cold rationality of business at the highest levels. One key takeaway for me is how information asymmetry and timing define winners and losers. The ones who recognize the risk first and act decisively gain an edge, even if their choices are ruthless. This applies beyond finance—whether in startups, negotiations, or competitive markets, being the first to see a shift and take action is a major advantage. Another lesson is how leadership in business often means making unpopular decisions. In the film, the CEO doesn’t hesitate to offload bad assets, knowing the fallout will be brutal. It’s a reminder that in real business, success isn’t just about great ideas—it’s about execution, risk management, and sometimes, damage control.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? At IESE, AI has been integrated into the programs in many ways. One has been through tools that support entrepreneurship. An example is the Lean Startup Launchpad Mentor, an AI-powered advisor that identifies key inflection points, generate innovative ideas, refine the value propositions based on customer interviews, and design experiments to validate business hypotheses. Another tool is the IESE Research Co-Pilot, a structured assistant that guides researchers and innovation teams in defining business challenges, identifying key research areas, selecting appropriate methods, engaging with relevant stakeholders, and creating a structured research plan. AI helps me generate ideas and define starting points by suggesting critical questions that I need to validate with real customers and stakeholders. I’ve learned that understanding the entire ecosystem where you want to add value is essential. It provides value to the customer, starting with understanding the needs of stakeholders and how I can offer value to them, as this directly impacts the value proposition for the customer. Lastly, there are also specialized courses that are part of the curriculum at IESE like GenAI, a course I have started this week and which I am already thrilled about.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? The MBA classmate I admire the most is Louis Oigbochie. The MBA journey brings together people from diverse backgrounds, and this was evident right from the beginning. During the first photo session at IESE, I met Louis. Our introduction was straightforward—”Why are you here?” I asked. His response? “To make money.” Somehow, we ended up in the same class.

Coming from a shipping engineering background, I often presented ideas, and unlike the usual supportive but vague feedback—”Great job!”—Louis was refreshingly direct. He believed in my potential but not necessarily in my project. Instead of empty praise, he would call after presentations and share honest feedback. His constructive criticism became the foundation of our friendship.

But behind his pragmatic exterior was someone carrying unanswered questions, just like many of us. On the day of our corporate finance test, I was rather curious how he finished the test before the exam papers were completely handed out. Only after a long phone conversation did he explain—he had received a call no one ever wishes to get. His father was dying, diagnosed with cancer, so he had to take the next possible flight home.

A couple of days after returning to Barcelona, in the middle of his internship, another call came. His father had passed away. Alone in a new country, navigating a different culture, burdened with grief, I expected him to break down, take some time off to grieve and recover. But somehow, he didn’t. He resumed work, wrote his exams, completed his internship, competed—and won—the Roland Berger Case Competition, and earned a spot in a highly competitive exchange program. Through it all, he still managed to show up with a smile.

During a heart-to-heart conversation, his quiet strength amazed me. It was then he revealed that he had lost not just his father, but his grandmother as well—both in the span of a month. Many around us carry unimaginable burdens, but what sets him apart is not just resilience—it’s his ability to keep going, his unwavering love for family, and his commitment to supporting others even while navigating his own pain.

The real positive margin in the MBA journey isn’t just the classroom knowledge we gain, but the friendships we build. And through him, I learned that no matter how fierce the storm, you should remain calm, hold on, and even try to smile. For this, I truly admire him.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Promoting the transformation of the naval sector with proven and tested technology to automate processes and mentoring future generations for a positive impact in society.

What made Sergi Rivera such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“As an Accounting professor and Associate Dean for the MBA program at IESE Business School, I have had the privilege of observing Sergi’s academic performance, entrepreneurial drive, and collaborative spirit, all of which make him an invaluable member of the Class of 2025.

First and foremost, Sergi’s commitment to his studies is remarkable. Over the past two years, he has maintained a perfect record of attendance and punctuality to class! Sergi understood that in a program heavily based on the case methodology, preparation and participation in class is crucial, not only for the sake of your own learning experience, but also for the learning experience of your fellow classmates. In the second year, Sergi has undertaken a challenging elective course load above the number of credits required. His dedication not only speaks to his work ethic but also sets a positive example for his MBA class.

Moreover, Sergi’s entrepreneurial spirit truly distinguishes him. He demonstrated his innovative mindset by winning the Turtle Tank Pitch competition, organized by the Entrepreneurship Club—an impressive feat recognizing creative business solutions. Sergi is also the driving force behind the Whale Dock, a boat lift project he is launching. This project builds on his experience as a Naval Engineer and his learnings in the MBA. Under his leadership, the Whale Dock team has already secured a €15,000 grant from Puertos del Estado (i.e. the Spanish Port Authority), applied for a European patent in 2024, and is currently seeking an additional €300,000 in funding. His vision, tenacity, and willingness to take calculated risks exemplify the qualities of a forward-thinking entrepreneur.

Another testament to Sergi’s value within our community is his active support of other students. When I asked him to reach out to an MBA candidate who is also a Naval Engineer, Sergi not only encouraged the candidate to consider our program for 2027 but also provided valuable guidance and reassurance. This generosity and collaborative spirit highlight Sergi’s commitment to fostering a strong and supportive environment at IESE. He consistently goes above and beyond to contribute positively to his peers’ success and the overall student body.

In short, Sergi has been an outstanding asset to the Class of 2025. He combines academic excellence, a true passion for entrepreneurship, and a sincere dedication to helping those around him. His contributions have enriched the learning experience for his classmates and have embodied the core values of IESE Business School. I have every confidence that Sergi will continue to excel and make a significant impact in whichever venture he pursues.”

Professor Marc Badia
Deputy Dean
IESE Business School

 

“From the very beginning, Sergi stood out in the Entrepreneurship course. He proactively reached out to me and several other professors, eager to discuss his venture, always with an unmistakable spark in his eyes whenever he talked about his project. His passion for entrepreneurship was evident, and throughout the course, he demonstrated remarkable growth, refining both his ideas and his approach to problem-solving.

Sergi’s MBA journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Over these two years, he has been fully immersed in countless initiatives, maintaining 100% attendance and punctuality, taking on an ambitious course load of 7 credits per term plus EXSIM, and actively pushing his entrepreneurial ambitions forward. His dedication and drive were further validated when he won the Turtle Tank Pitch Competition, presented a European patent, and secured a €15,000 grant from Puertos del Estado to launch his company.

Currently, Sergi and his five-person team are engaged in a pre-commercial program and applying for a €300,000 grant to build a 20-ton boat lift—a testament to how far he has come in turning ideas into tangible impact. His ability to balance these demanding projects while excelling academically is a reflection of his exceptional time management, perseverance, and intellectual agility.

Throughout the Entrepreneurship course, Sergi consistently showcased a strong analytical mindset, blending strategic thinking with a hands-on, execution-oriented approach. Whether discussing industries he was already familiar with or exploring completely new business models, he approached each case with curiosity, determination, and adaptability.

Beyond his own academic excellence, Sergi was a highly engaged and collaborative classmate. He actively contributed to team discussions, offered constructive feedback, and supported his peers with insights that reflected both his entrepreneurial mindset and his ability to inspire those around him.

His performance in the course not only reflects his strong business acumen but also his ability to transform passion into structured, actionable strategies. Sergi’s journey at IESE has been one of continuous learning and refinement, and he himself acknowledges that none of his achievements would have been possible without everything he learned here and the incredible support of those around him.

Sergi’s story is a clear example of what it means to be an entrepreneur—not just in theory, but in practice. His relentless drive, intellectual versatility, and unwavering commitment to his venture make him a standout participant in the Entrepreneurship program and a promising entrepreneur for the future.”

Mathieu Carenzo
Senior Lecturer of Entrepreneurship
IESE Business School

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