Allan Moraes de Oliveira

IESE Business School

“I’m someone who is constantly juggling between being the best for myself and for others.”

Hometown: Paulinia, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Fun Fact About Yourself: I used to live with 12 people in a student house during my undergraduate years. Today, most of my best friends are from that house.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Economics major.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Pre-Summer Associate, Bain & Company.

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? I believe that what makes the case method so attractive is that there is rarely a single right answer. In the end, you are learning from your own research, from the professor, from your classmates, and from your own experience.

This reflects how you will face problems in real life: most difficult challenges are solved using multiple perspectives and ideas.

What has been your favorite part of Barcelona so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA? First, it is living in a city where everything you need is within walking distance, yet it’s not huge or overwhelming.

Second, living so close to the sea. I’ve never had that experience before, and it’s something I always wanted to have in my life.Third, the weather in Barcelona is incredible. It doesn’t get too cold, and there is plenty of sunshine.

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? Without a doubt, the case method. I had a strong feeling that this approach would be the best way for me to learn how to tackle complex problems in my career, and my experience has completely confirmed that intuition.

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? It absolutely lives up to its reputation. On average, we discuss three cases every day, which means you need to read and prepare them both individually and with your team before class. Beyond class time, you can expect to spend between two and four hours on case preparation daily.My first piece of advice is to be empathetic with yourself. You’re going through a completely new experience: in a new place, with new people, and new challenges to solve. Second, trust your team. Rely on them to help you work through difficult cases or to discuss parts you don’t fully understand. Third, try to anticipate what will drive the main class discussions. Not everything in a case is equally important; developing the ability to focus on the key issues is an essential skill you will build during the program.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at IESE? The first-term class Leadership. This was the first time someone provided a structured way to address leadership challenges, both being a leader and dealing with leaders. Usually, no one wants to discuss these issues because they’re seen as “not business-related,” and people assume you must figure them out on your own.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in my career was building a team and seeing them grow both as professionals and as individuals; I still speak regularly with some of them today.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: Honestly, my biggest accomplishment as an MBA student is not academic but personal. I’ve taken the time to look inward, confront the areas I want to improve, and actively work on them. This period of self-reflection and growth feels especially important at this stage of my life.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? My best memory was bringing my team of nine people from different countries, backgrounds, and cultures to eat Brazilian food. It felt like showing them a new world, just as they do for me every day.

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