Vivek Yadav

IE Business School

“I am curious and a quick thinker, I enjoy reading about philosophy and solving problems.”

Hometown: Hardoi, Lucknow (India)

Fun fact about yourself:  I have sailed across the world on cargo ships, witnessing some of the most breathtaking sunrises at sea.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Indian Maritime University, Chennai

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? I was a specialist in CX and Service Optimization for Stakefish. The company is a leading validator service provider for Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchains that offers non-custodial staking services so that cryptocurrency holders can participate in network security and earn rewards without relinquishing control of their assets.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? I was working full-time at Stakefish before beginning the IE Business School.

Where will you be working after graduation? I discovered consulting after starting business school and quickly found it both fascinating and intellectually stimulating. While the field is competitive and challenging, I am eager to pursue a career in consulting post-graduation.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: As a member of the IE Consulting Club, I lead weekly case study sessions, helping fellow students sharpen their problem-solving skills. So far, I’ve conducted multiple sessions with an average attendance of 15 students each. I truly enjoy the experience, as it allows me to connect, collaborate, and network with new students while refining my own strategic thinking.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? One of the achievements I’m most proud of during my MBA is receiving honors in our public speaking class. I have always enjoyed public speaking, and this course helped me refine my skills further. As a result, for our final project, my work group entrusted me with handling the most challenging questions during our presentation. It was a rewarding experience that reinforced my ability to think on my feet and communicate effectively under pressure.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One of the achievements I’m most proud of in my career is building and leading teams at CoinDCX, a blockchain startup in India that became a unicorn in 2022. As the company scaled rapidly, our service team grew from 60 to 250 people, and we were handling 8,000+ customer queries daily. I took on the challenge of redesigning the entire service structure and ticketing system, working closely with product, marketing, and growth teams to make the whole process more efficient. It was an intense but incredibly rewarding experience solving complex problems and seeing my team grow along the way.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose IE Business School because of its strong focus on entrepreneurship and innovation. Coming from a fast-paced startup environment, I wanted a program that wasn’t just about theories but encouraged hands-on learning, creative problem-solving, and a global perspective. What stood out to me was IE’s entrepreneurial mindset—an environment where people take risks, experiment, and push boundaries. In addition to that, the incredibly diverse cohort and the opportunity to learn from people with completely different backgrounds made it feel like the right place for me.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? It’s probably no surprise after my last response, but my favorite MBA course has been Business Strategy. The reason is simple—it resonates deeply with my personality. I thrive in dynamic environments, where situations shift and where I have to constantly adapt and rethink my approach. What I love about strategy is that it’s never static. There’s no single ‘right’ answer, and that uncertainty keeps me engaged. Through this course, I realized that I genuinely enjoy breaking down complex problems, questioning assumptions, and crafting solutions that evolve with the landscape. Business strategy isn’t just a subject I studied—it’s something I’ve come to love.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? One of the things I appreciate about my business school is how diverse and globally connected it is. Beyond the usual professional clubs for consulting or fintech, there are also cultural clubs representing different nationalities, like the India Club and Korea Club. These clubs host events where we get to experience different traditions, try authentic food, and learn more about each country. What makes these events even better is that they create real opportunities for us to connect with people from different backgrounds, hear new perspectives, and build a truly global network. Whether it’s a discussion about business in different markets or just sharing a meal, these experiences help us step outside our own cultures and engage with the world in a meaningful way. It’s things like this that make our MBA truly international, not just on paper but in the way we experience it every day.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Looking back on my MBA experience so far, one thing I would do differently is make a more conscious effort to connect with people right from the start. Having worked remotely since COVID-19, my social interactions had naturally decreased, and it took me some time to fully engage and build relationships. In hindsight, I’ve realized how incredibly knowledgeable and diverse my peers are, each bringing unique experiences and perspectives from different industries. Simply having conversations with them has been a great learning experience, and if I could do it again, I’d make networking and forming connections a priority from day one. That being said, I’m glad I still have more time in the program, and I plan to make the most of it. I’ve joined the Consulting Club, where I help students practice case interviews, and I’ve also started connecting with the new batch that joined in January. It’s been an incredible journey so far, and I have no doubt the rest of the MBA is going to be just as exciting and rewarding.

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? During our Term 1 Finance course, Professor Damián Rubianes recommended that we watch The Big Short to better understand financial markets. I loved the movie—not just because it explains complex financial concepts like mortgage-backed securities and credit default swaps in an engaging way, but also because it sheds light on how markets operate. It’s not just numbers and models; it’s psychology, incentives, and, sometimes, blind optimism. What really stuck with me was how the people who predicted the 2008 financial crisis weren’t the ones following the crowd. They were the ones who questioned conventional wisdom, dug deeper, and had the conviction to act on what they believed—even when everyone else thought they were crazy. That’s such a powerful lesson, not just in finance but in business and leadership in general.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? In Term 1, one of our courses focused on AI and its applications in business, where we explored multiple AI platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Midjourney, and Claude. This hands-on approach helped us understand how AI can enhance decision-making, automate tasks, and generate insights across various industries. Beyond just learning how to use AI, IE Business School ensures we think critically about its impact. We also took a course on Critical Thinking, which challenged us to question how AI is shaping our world and to develop mental models for thinking independently. This balance—between leveraging AI and maintaining strong critical reasoning—has been invaluable.

One of the standout aspects of IE’s commitment to AI is its partnership with OpenAI, which provides us with free access to AI tools. I use ChatGPT to break down complex concepts, especially when I’m encountering them for the first time. Whether it’s simplifying financial models, brainstorming strategies, or summarizing case studies, AI has been a valuable learning companion

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? The MBA classmate I most admire is Ignacio Scherschener Galeano. Not only is he a great classmate, but he was also my work group partner in Term 1, so we spent a lot of time tackling projects together. What I admire most about Ignacio is his ability to think rationally and stay composed, even when we were under pressure. I remember during a strategy simulation, while the rest of us were still debating different approaches, Ignacio was the first to figure out a winning strategy that our group ended up using. He just has this sharp, structured way of thinking that makes a huge difference in problem-solving. But what makes working with him even better is his sense of humor. No matter how intense things got, he always found a way to lighten the mood. He’s the kind of person who makes group work both productive and fun, and I’ve enjoyed learning alongside him.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? The top two things on my professional bucket list are becoming a strategy consultant and exploring sales roles in the tech industry. I’ve always been someone who loves solving problems and building relationships, which is why strategy consulting feels like such a natural fit for me. The idea of working with different clients, tackling complex challenges, and helping shape big decisions is something I find exciting. At the same time, I’m also keeping an open mind about sales roles in tech, especially given my fintech background. I love the fast-paced nature of the industry and the opportunity to work closely with clients while driving business growth. Regardless of which path I take, I want to be in a role where I can play to my strengths, keep learning, and make a real impact.

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

“As a standout member of IE’s MBA Class, Vivek embodies the qualities of leadership, collaboration, and innovation that define the very best of our program.

Vivek was my student in the Strategy course during the first term of his MBA program at IE. From day one, he was one of the most active students in class. Whether leading classroom discussions with insightful analysis, mentoring peers through complex group projects, or spearheading initiatives that bring students together, he consistently engaged and supported others. His ability to synthesize diverse perspectives and challenge conventional thinking elevated conversations both in and out of the classroom. His intellectual curiosity is contagious, inspiring his classmates to dig deeper, ask better questions, and strive for excellence.

What truly sets Vivek apart is his ability to lead with both intelligence and heart. He possesses a rare combination of strategic thinking and deep empathy, making him not only an exceptional business leader but also a trusted friend and confidant to his peers. Whether helping a classmate prepare for an important interview or lending a listening ear during challenging times, his support is unwavering.

As Vivek prepares to embark on the next chapter of his career, I have no doubt that he will continue to make an indelible impact in the business world. His passion, integrity, and relentless pursuit of excellence make him an ideal candidate for Poets & Quants’ Best and Brightest MBAs.”

Professor Luis Diestre
IE University

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