Roberta Ahlers

Esade Business School

Home City and Country: Berlin, Germany

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Rud Pedersen Public Affairs / Associate Manager

How has studying business in Spain enriched your learning experience? Coming from the cold, grey winters of Berlin, the warmth and sunlight in Spain immediately had a positive impact on my overall well-being. This environment makes it easier to stay open, curious, and engaged, both inside and outside the classroom.

Beyond the climate, Barcelona itself is an extraordinary place to study. It is a vibrant, international city where innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity are visible everywhere. Being immersed in such a dynamic setting constantly provides real-world context to what we discuss in class, from global business challenges to leadership and cultural complexity.

While the MBA cohort is highly international, the city mirrors this diversity, exposing us daily to different languages, perspectives, and ways of working. This has sharpened my cultural awareness and made classroom discussions richer, as learning continues well beyond lectures and group work. On a personal level, studying in Spain also supports my goal of finally mastering Spanish, hopefully connecting me further with the local culture.

What has been the toughest transition to living in Spain so far? What have you done to overcome this difficulty? The toughest transition has been adjusting to a different pace and rhythm of daily life, especially around time management, schedules, and expectations. Coming from a very structured, result-driven work environment, getting used to a university day took some time. I started planning my week differently, changed my routine, and built in buffers. I’ve also set up study groups with friends which are especially great for brainstorming on case work and having a sounding board for career planning.

What school service has been the most helpful in transitioning to living in Spain? How has it helped you adapt? Programme management has been great in helping us with all questions big and small. Particularly in the first weeks, International Student Advisor was also very valuable with practical guides on housing, registration, local logistics, and administrative processes.

What has been the most interesting cultural nuance of people living in Spain? Why has this struck you? Barcelona is such a young a vibrant city with new and innovative businesses. There are students and young professionals everywhere. Still, you’re immersed in history and culture walking past Gaudi houses when you’re just strolling down the street, or enjoying La Merce festival.

Are you seeking a Visa to work in Spain after graduation? If so, what obstacles have you faced and how did you overcome them? Luckily, I have a European passport, but this whole experience has made me incredibly thankful for the freedom to move around and work anywhere within the EU.

What have you done to make it easier to make friends with people from outside your home country at business school? Making friends from other countries and cultures is very easy at Esade – and one of the reasons, I joined the programme. We’re students form over 45 different countries and the university makes sure that all the work groups, the seating in class, and activity teams are international. So simply showing up is a great start. I’ve also joined student clubs (LATAM Club, Asia Club) to emerge myself in other cultures. We have a great community of people who are all keen to share their countries’ history, cuisine, and customs. Just to name two examples, we celebrated Diwali as a cohort and the Peruvian crew is organising a ceviche/pisco sour evening.

What piece of advice would you give to an international student looking to study in a Spanish graduate business program? My advice would be to embrace the experience fully, rather than treating Spain as just a backdrop to your studies – language, food, and social customs are an essential part of the learning experience. Use your free time to explore the city, the country and the continent. Spain has so much history and culture just waiting to be explored. Be patient with differences in pace, communication style, and bureaucracy, as adaptability is a valuable skill. Make the most of the diversity in the classroom, because your classmates are among your greatest academic and professional assets and by far the most important part of your MBA journey.

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