Josh Clements

IESE Business School

“Happy-go-lucky, with a clear vision of where I am heading.”

Hometown: Malta

Fun Fact About Yourself: Jimmy Kimmel roasted me in front of millions after I appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live! Pedestrian Question.”

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Virginia, Economics major.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Associate, Jordan Associates.

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? The case method demands total immersion into a problem. Yet no matter how thoroughly you prepare the case, you’re bound to uncover a new perspective from a classmate, and that’s what makes it so attractive! As a manager, covering such a wide breadth of cases helps you position yourself more effectively under uncertainty.

What has been your favorite part of Barcelona so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA? Barcelona has undoubtedly exceeded my expectations; its football pitches, padel courts, fantastic restaurants, bike lanes, nightclubs, beaches, and proximity to mountains makes it a brilliant place to live — particularly for studying an MBA. Having lived in New York City and London, and grown up in Malta, it’s the perfect combination of urban and Mediterranean.

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 wanted an extremely international class and an intense case study-driven program. So far, it has checked both boxes, although I wouldn’t mind if it were slightly less intense!

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 has. It can be overwhelming and a lot to take in, so much so that during IESE orientation you’re constantly told by faculty to trust the process. Yet my advice would be to be as proactive as possible – say yes to events and meet new people – while not compromising on things that are important to you. For me, that’s sleep, exercise, and personal routines. And time flies here, you’re pulled in every direction, so try to keep a small journal to remember it all in the years to come!

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at IESE? Financial Accounting with Martin Jacobs had the unnerving effect of making me enjoy accounting. I’m on the soccer team, which plays twice a week, and a first-year director in the Sport, Media, and Entertainment Club. And what I’ve most enjoyed is my section, Sao Paulo, which makes every day so much better than it should be.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I worked on a minority investment into an Indian Premier League cricket team for Jordan Associates. We were a team of four people and had exclusivity for five months. We spoke to nearly every sports fund and investor both sides of the Atlantic. Though we couldn’t close it in the end, I learned so much.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: My team and I not cancelling any of our standing 8:3 0am meetings in the first term (ostensibly to discuss cases).

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? Peggy Gou at the Parc del Fòrum or the career trek to Amsterdam to visit companies there.

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