Alfonso Martinez

IMD Business School, Lausanne

“I find energy connecting with people and bringing value and a smile in our interactions.”

Hometown: Guadalajara, Mexico

Fun Fact About Yourself: I auditioned (unsuccessfully) for a reality show. I learned my future is not in singing!

Undergraduate School and Major: Universidad de Guadalajara – Industrial Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: IKEA, Store Deputy Sales Manager

What has been the best part of being in a small class with this group of classmates? Winning the Best Cheering Award at the MBAT (MBA Tournament hosted by HEC) captured the camaraderie that defines our class. In a small cohort, you truly get to know your classmates, their stories, and their aspirations. Now, a bit past the halfway mark of the program, something special happens: your peers start referring you to opportunities and people aligned with your goals. We become each other’s sparring partners.

Aside from classmates, what part of IMD’s MBA programming led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? For me, a differentiating factor is the Leadership Stream. It offers a unique opportunity to deeply reflect on yourself, to understand who you are, capitalize on your strengths, and know your weaknesses by name. It allows you to experiment and grow in what is likely the safest environment you’ll ever experience.

IMD is known for academic rigor. What is one strategy you used that would help  a future IMD MBA better adapt to the workload early on? I tried to get the assignments out of the way as soon as possible. I also prioritized school duties and family time (spouse and daughter) over social time or sports; one cannot do everything. But it is important to adapt quickly; every day brings new challenges or opportunities, and not everything can be planned perfectly.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I love bringing people together to make things happen. One of my favorite projects was launching a monthly installment plan for customers buying furniture. I led it from RFP design to rollout, coordinating with marketing, legal, finance, sales, and our financial partner. It made home furnishing more accessible and showed me the power of cross-functional collaboration.

Describe your biggest accomplishment at IMD so far: IMD’s motto, “Challenging what is, inspiring what could be,” truly resonates with me. My biggest accomplishment so far has been consistently pushing myself far beyond my comfort zone. Whether it’s taking on the fund manager role in a venture capital simulation, pitching a business idea for the Venture Award, or co-leading the FMCG, CPG, Luxury & Retail Club, each experience has stretched me in new ways. All of this has happened within a caring yet daring culture, without a doubt the most dynamic, challenging, and inspiring environment I’ve ever been a part. At IMD, weeks of learning feel like months of growth.

Where is your favorite hang-out in Lausanne? Why do you (and your classmates) gravitate there? The on-campus Bignami cafeteria is an exciting place to connect with classmates, professors, and visiting executives coming for training on campus. One of my favorite moments was meeting Professor Peter Vogel, just after I had finished reading his book. That unexpected encounter led us to organize a session on family business with the MBA class.

What has been your best memory at IMD thus far? The month-long Future Lab in Singapore was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, not only to immerse myself in the country’s business and culture, but also to share a wide range of experiences with the cohort. From discovering the tastiest local foods to having meaningful conversations and pushing our limits in the fitness circuits organized by classmate Georg Vind & Co., it was a month of connection and growth. Living together for an entire month had a powerful cumulative effect, deepening bonds and laying the foundation for lifelong friendships.

DON’T MISS: MEET IMD BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2025

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