Sierra Nicole Reece

IE Business School

“Confident, curious, creative, ambitious and deeply caring, aspiring professor and single, rich auntie.”

Hometown: Raised in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, USA, cultivated in Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Fun fact about yourself: I slept through an earthquake once in Mexico City.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Georgia State University, Bachelors of Business Administration – Hospitality Administration

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Radical Monarchs, Programs and Communications Coordinator. Radical Monarchs is a youth organization dedicated to empowering girls and gender-expansive youth of color through activist-based learning, social justice education, and leadership development. The group fosters intersectionality and community engagement to cultivate the next generation of changemakers.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? I worked at Radical Monarchs until my start of the 15-month MBA at IE Business School in September 2024.

Where will you be working after graduation? N/A

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: IE North America Scholarship Recipient, Co-President of the IE North America Club, Community Engagement Representative, Coach for MBA Tournament IE Women’s Indoor Volleyball Team, IE Exchange Buddy

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Probably getting an honors mark in Operations Management, it was such a surprise. I had fully quit that class in the beginning of our first term. I saw the numbers and equations and, as person who isn’t mathematically savvy, my brain checked out. But when we got to the final exam, the content was mostly related to people management techniques and theory, so I did well. It was a good reminder to not count myself out too quickly, and that sometimes just being myself is more than enough.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I’m really proud of my time working as a teacher and in youth development. While I don’t necessarily want to go back to education in that capacity, it set the foundations for who I am as a person and a professional and helped to clarify my goals and values when it comes to work. I love working with kids because it’s humbling and enlightening. Kids are so wise in their own way because life hasn’t taught them to see the world with limits just yet the way adults do.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose IE Business School for a number of reasons, but a big one was the international student body. I grew up in the American education system, and we are taught more or less that the United States is the center of the universe – and that has never sat well with me. I knew that my growth as a leader would be enhanced by the ability to learn in an environment where different nationalities and perspectives are present every day. I was correct in that assumption.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Benjamin Barber. Ben taught our Business, Government and Sustainability course. I found his teaching style very engaging. Ben is so intelligent and down to earth, and uses humor very creatively to get his point across. I admire his ability to guide a conversation, facilitate discussions, and make everyone feel welcome to share their viewpoints. I always looked forward to it. I also really loved the discussions around non-market issues that impact businesses.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Public Speaking and Storytelling. I wish we had twice as many of that course. I love to talk so I was in my element in that class. Public Speaking comes naturally to me, but having an opportunity to really refine my skills and improve my Storytelling ability felt like I was healing a part of my soul. All of the most compelling business leaders in my opinion are incredible storytellers and I hope to one day reach their level, with more practice of course.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Sleep more, meditate more, set better boundaries around studying. Early on it’s very easy to get caught up the “overwhelm” of it all. Not wanting to miss out on social events and making sure I was adequately prepared for class, I wish I had said “no” more often and prioritized my own peace. I learned after our first term that I can still do well in my classes without staying up until 2 or 3 AM to read cases, and that it’s okay to miss a dinner, or a party, or a trip. The “FOMO” will always be there: you’ll just learn to deal with it better. Knowing this, I think have done a much better job at setting boundaries this term, and I am a better student and person because of it.

What is the biggest myth about your school? “IE is the rich kid school.” While this isn’t entirely untrue, many of my classmates come from high income families, this can’t be assumed for the entire student population. There are lots of students who come from a range of different class levels who had to fund their way here through either scholarships, loans, or donations – myself included. I’ve worked two jobs throughout almost the entirety of my 20’s to make ends meet. Last year, I worked my full-time job remotely and nannied 5 days a week in the afternoons in order to be able to afford the costs associated with getting my visa. I spent 10-12 hours a week searching and applying for scholarships. Sometimes, I have to miss out on a nice dinner or a weekend trip because I’m on a tight budget. I know I hold a certain degree of privilege to be able to even attend IE Business School. I’m grateful for the sacrifices made by my parents, grandparents and so on for me to have the opportunities I do have, but getting myself here financially was no easy task.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Madrid is a lot of fun. While it’s most well known for being a party town (which I do partake in like any student would), I mostly like how easy it is for me to see my friends. In Atlanta, if I wanted to hang out with anyone, it required multiple days in advance planning and sitting in Atlanta traffic. Here, I can just easily walk to their house whenever I want on limited notice. I love that I feel more connected to my community here because I can walk or use the metro.

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? Insecure isn’t necessarily a “business” show, but I think it reflects the business landscape for a lot of young creatives, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. In the later seasons of the show, Issa the main character, navigates the challenges of trying to put together a community festival. She faces the challenges that lots of young business owners can relate to like budget, funding, location, building a team you can trust, and trying to build a business from scratch while also trying to be a normal functioning adult. I think it’s a show that authentically reflects the reality of business because most business owners aren’t people MBA’s or with massive access to capital and influence, it’s your neighbors and friends trying to positively contribute to the community.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? We use it for much; AI is such a great resource. We have had a number of courses discussing the use of different AI platforms like Perplexity, Consensus, Google Notebook LM, and ChatGPT. We’ve talked about how to develop a good prompt, AI ethics and the consequences of real-world applications. I think the biggest take away I’ve received is that generative AI is a great compliment, but can’t be relied on as a full replacement. A human element will always be necessary for AI to reach its full use potential.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Caroline Westberg. There are so many things to admire about Caro I could write a dissertation on it. Caro is such a force for good. Caro is warm, welcoming, inquisitive, and ambitious. Caro’s positive energetic output fills up every space they inhabit. Caro is deeply committed to issues beyond business like sustainability, trans and LGBTQ rights and justice, and women’s rights. Caro is also so wise. I remember any time I went to them for guidance or advice in term 1, I was almost always moved to tears by their words. For me, Caro’s presence is so grounding and comforting, and it’s been a pleasure to be their friend and colleague. I want to see them be great so badly.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? In the short term, I would really love to be working in a marketing or branding role at an education technology company or social enterprise. I would also like to stay abroad; I think leaving the US was a huge step in my personal and professional growth. Long-term, I would like to possibly pursue a PhD and become a professor at a top university. I love facilitating and being in an academic environment. I believe education is my most valuable contribution to society and the next generation.

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

“I met Sierra as a student in my entrepreneurship class. She was an excellent addition to the class both from a social and academic dimension. From the academic dimension, she was one of the top scorers in the class, particularly helpful in her class participation and interactions. Socially, she brought a breadth of fresh air to the class. In a time when the American elections where front-and-center in everyone´s mind, she was extremely helpful in helping her international classmates decode the implications of the electoral process.

Sierra has a number of very interesting characteristics. She is self-assertive, without being overbearing. In a class of 50 with students from more than 20 countries she was able to stand out both socially and academically, one of the key nexuses between students in the classroom. She is also willing to tackle tricky issues. The original choice of her group project turned out to have significant limitations in terms of how to approach it. One of her group members had pushed for that project, but in terms of getting it implemented, the project had significant issues. She was able to help turn the project around into a wonderful learning experience, with implications not only for the project itself but also for the city and public policy. It was a very interesting growth experience, and I am really sure that it created a significant amount of learning for her and colleagues.”

Julio De Castro
Chair Professor in Entrepreneurship and Head of PhD Program
IE Business School

“Sierra has been an outstanding student in my Leading People and Teams course in the IMBA program, excelling in strategic thinking, proactive leadership, and exceptional communication skills. With a strong background in marketing and education, she has demonstrated a natural ability to inspire and mobilize her classmates. Her role as Co-President of the IE North America Club reflects her commitment to community building and fostering strategic relationships—key skills in modern leadership. Additionally, her experience in the social and education sectors provides her with a unique perspective on talent management and team motivation in challenging contexts.

Beyond her technical expertise, Sierra possesses a collaborative and empathetic leadership style that makes her highly effective in team settings. She actively contributes to classroom discussions with thoughtful insights, connecting theoretical concepts to real-world applications. Her great communication skills allow her to engage seamlessly in diverse teams. Her curiosity, adaptability, and strong ethical values make her a role model for her peers, reinforcing her great performance in this course.”

Cuqui Cabanas
Professor and Associate Dean
IE Business School

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2025

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