Anamaria Olaru

IESE Business School

“Passionate about people, community, connection, and creating moments that matter.”

Hometown: Constanța, Romania

Fun Fact About Yourself: I ran the Médoc Marathon, the world’s longest race, through châteaux and endless wine stations.

Undergraduate School and Major: Bayes Business School (City University of London), Business Studies with Industrial Placement major.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Digital FX Sales, Citi (London, UK)

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? Each case puts you into the shoes of a different sort of manager, operating in an industry and function that you might know little about. The best part is that you get to learn from classmates who are familiar with the topic and who encourage you to challenge your perspectives. The discussion often takes a turn that I would have not anticipated, showing with real examples how global managers operate.

What has been your favorite part of Barcelona so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA? In my eyes, Barcelona is one of the most amazing cities in the world. From a professional perspective, it attracts an ambitious crowd and many entrepreneurs. There are countless events happening every month in the city that can help you spark ideas, connect, and learn from the community. I also love the fact that Barcelona is a very sporty city. On the weekends, the area around the beach is full of people running, playing beach volleyball, doing calisthenics or dancing – regardless of the season. In the winter, the slopes are only a few hours and as an avid skier I get to take advantage of this.

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? I believe IESE has a unique value proposition, focusing on developing well-rounded, global leaders empowered to take ethical decisions. This attracts a cohort of students who have diverse post MBA aspirations, including responsible businesses, impact investing, family enterprises, and entrepreneurship.

Working daily on cases with colleagues with such different backgrounds has been vital for me. This exposure forces me to solve problems through a global lens, ensuring my decision-making is shaped by perspectives that prioritize long-term impact. I chose IESE because its programming doesn’t just teach global business; it requires you to live it and place yourself in different scenarios. Aside from the academics, this is also shown through the commitment of students to clubs and initiatives, organizing experiences, and volunteering their time to enhance everyone’s learning experience.

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? One piece of advice I would give to those at the start of their MBA journey is to be intentional about their actions and have in mind the fact that each student comes here with a completely different goal. There will be times where coursework will feel challenging and times where job applications will have to be the priority. Make sure you share your goals and your workload with the team and trust them. Each student is placed in a group that will work together for the first year of the MBA and I am lucky to have a supportive team (we are 9 in total from literally every corner of the world) that works very well together, helping each other thrive. We achieved this by communicating and investing time at the beginning of the term to find a common path. Our team bonding helped massively in dealing with the rigor of the program and empowered us to succeed academically.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at IESE? The Business Spanish Program (BSP) has been an amazing addition to the daily classes. It is an incredible opportunity to connect with fellow students and gain the confidence needed to speak Spanish in my daily life. The program starts with a two-week immersion in August before the MBA officially begins. It’s the first time you meet many of your fellow classmates and it was funny how I got to know some of the people that became my friends first “in Spanish” before meeting them again later “in English.”

The BSP then continues through the school year, and you learn how to have real business conversations in Spanish. My goal is to complete the program and be able to take electives in Spanish in the second year to earn a bilingual degree.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest career accomplishment has been completing a two-year project at BlackRock that strengthened client relationships and directly supported revenue growth. I partnered closely with client relationship managers, portfolio teams, and external clients to understand their needs and align stakeholders around a shared vision. I acted as a central point of contact between clients and internal technology teams, managing expectations and ensuring delivery against commercial timelines, which concluded in a successful delivery and recognition from the client. I think the magnitude of the project compared to my junior level in the company at that point in time made it a significant milestone in my career journey to date.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: I am very proud of how I managed to balance the various sides of the MBA while helping build a strong sense of community. I serve on the Student Council and am actively involved in several clubs, such as Healthcare, Tech, and Energy. Here, I get the chance to learn about latest industry trends and connect with like-minded students. Within my section, I have organized many of our social and bonding events, which has been especially meaningful to me, as creating spaces where people feel welcome and connected is something I care deeply about. Alongside this, I have pushed myself to try new things like salsa lessons and touch rugby training, enjoying the chance to learn new skills and meet classmates in different settings.

Throughout my career, I have always advocated for women and had leadership positions in these networks. I am happy to continue contributing to this mission while at IESE by serving as a first-year director of the Women in Business Club, helping organize the flagship conference and connecting with the Future Female Leaders Awardees (FFLA).

What I am most proud of is not a single role, but the ability to manage these commitments with energy and consistency, while staying academically engaged and positive.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? At the beginning of the school year, many “barrios” (neighborhoods) host celebrations that consist of live music and cultural activities. It was at one of these events that I looked around me and realized that I was surrounded by new friends from all over the world. It was a simple moment, but it made me feel incredibly grateful and it captured the essence of the MBA experience.

© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.