Alexandra Jones-Kuo

IESE Business School

“Curious and adventurous. I’m passionate about making a positive impact and improving global health solutions through technology.”

Hometown: Geneva, Switzerland

Fun Fact About Yourself: Born in Canada to American-Chinese parents, I grew up and went to school in Switzerland. I lived and worked in Taiwan for four years before starting the MBA. I hope the rest of my career will reflect my global background!

Undergraduate School and Major: HEC Lausanne, Management major.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Business Development Manager, PranaQ.

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? The case method reflects real-world situations with ambiguity, limited information, time pressure, and competing perspectives. The case method structure forces you to form a point of view before class, then either defend it rigorously or change your mind when your classmates present better arguments. Both are essential leadership skills: knowing when to stand firm and when to adapt.

What has been your favorite part of Barcelona so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA? Barcelona is a great city to live in. It is accessible, safe, and architecturally stunning. The city hosts constant cultural events, street festivals, and a vibrant food and wine scene. And what better way to get to know your MBA classmates than by exploring this amazing city together?

Beyond culture and cuisine, Barcelona is also a hub for the international startup and innovation community, with frequent conferences, speaker sessions, and global events that attract entrepreneurs and investors from around the world.

Its location makes exploration effortless. In just six months, my classmates and I have gone to the beach, the Costa Brava, skiing in Andorra, and on career treks to major European cities – experiences that have strengthened the IESE community far beyond the classroom.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the one key part of the IESE Business School MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? IESE’s commitment to diversity within the case method was decisive for me. Classroom discussions show how the same facts can lead to entirely different (and equally valid!) conclusions depending on culture, personality, and experience. This diversity of thought is what makes IESE intellectually demanding, deeply memorable, and uniquely rewarding.

The IESE MBA is known for heavy reading and rigorous academics. Has the program lived up to its reputation? What advice would you give to first-years to help them thrive in the early months of the program? The IESE MBA has absolutely lived up to its reputation. I expected heavy academics, but underestimated the intensity of everything outside the classroom. The first term was especially intense, combining recruiting, networking, and social integration on top of demanding coursework.

My advice is to be very intentional in how you manage your time and what you prioritize. Events will overlap. Priorities will compete. You will not have enough time to do everything, so think clearly on what you want from this MBA and make (difficult) decisions accordingly.

Finally, write things down. I got this advice from a second-year student at the beginning of my MBA and it was incredibly valuable. Time moves fast and there is always so much going on. Keeping a short daily journal of what you’ve learned – inside or outside class – helps turn an intense and fast-paced environment into real growth.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at IESE? My favorite course so far has been Marketing with Claire Linares. Every class we dove into a real-world business case, analyzing relevant numbers and discussing solutions and next steps. The course left me with a better understanding of the process behind major strategy decisions, and I particularly enjoyed the wide range of companies and industries we worked on.

As for clubs, I’ve deeply enjoyed my involvement in the Women in Business and DACH clubs, where I hold first-year director roles. Both clubs have been a great way to meet like-minded classmates and students I otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to spend so much time with (second-year students, for example, or students in other sections). Additionally, it has been a great way to engage with industry speakers and better understand market trends and career paths.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Building a product from the ground up and seeing its tangible impact on users’ health. Knowing that my work improved both quality of life and health outcomes has been the most meaningful achievement of my career so far.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: I’m really proud that I’m successfully balancing rigorous academics, club leadership roles, student council responsibilities, and recruiting while building relationships with my classmates. IESE’s intensity has forced me to manage my time with clarity and intention, and I’m proud of the community I’ve built in the process.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? Midway through winter break, I was messaging friends scattered across the world and realized I had built friendships that would outlast our time in Barcelona. That moment made the intensity of the MBA feel entirely worth it.

DON’T MISS: MEET IESE BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2027

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