Yifei Guo

IESE Business School

“Energy strategist and Tibetan culture advocate learning to lead an inclusive, human-centered energy transition.”

Hometown: Tibet and Beijing, China

Fun Fact About Yourself: I taught myself Japanese at a professional level (JLPT N1) simply to enjoy the Attack on Titan weekly update without the need for translations.

Undergraduate School and Major: Marietta College, Petroleum Engineering major.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Senior Consultant, S&P Global Energy.

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? The case method mirrors the “risky drills” of the energy industry, defined by making high-stakes decisions with incomplete data. It transforms theory into strategy by forcing you to defend your perspective while navigating the diverse, often conflicting, views of a global classroom. For me, it’s about learning to balance profit with social impact in every boardroom decision.

What has been your favorite part of Barcelona so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA?  What I love most about Barcelona is how it seamlessly integrates its cultural past with a modern economy. This duality makes it an exceptional place for an MBA; it provides a “human touch” that balances the rigorous business discussions in an MBA classroom. Living here reminds me every day that business leadership is a tool for social impact. It’s a city that keeps me grounded in my mission: become a leader who doesn’t just manage capital but serves people and uplifts communities.

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 people-focused ethos and mission-driven leadership. Coming from a family of pioneering Tibetan women – including my grandmother, the first female Tibetan vice-provincial official, and my mother, who earned her PhD in Tibetan Studies in her 40s – I was raised to view leadership as a tool to uplift communities. IESE’s focus on the human impact of business aligns perfectly with my goal to ensure the energy transition is inclusive and equitable.

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 certainly lived up to its reputation of intensity, but I view this as a test of “resilience through preparation.” My advice is to trust the collective strength of your team. Just as a hybrid energy system is more resilient than a single source, your team’s diverse backgrounds will help you navigate the academic workload far more effectively than going it alone.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at IESE? My favorite experience was the Oslo Energy Trek organized by our energy club last October. We visited a diverse spectrum of organizations, from energy major Equinor and Norges Bank Investment Management (the Norwegian Oil Fund) to Bain & Company’s energy team to several innovative green-tech startups. Having IESE’s platform to engage in high-level strategic dialogues with European energy experts and leaders was an invaluable opportunity.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: At S&P Global Energy, I spearheaded a pioneering project to map carbon emission clusters across China to identify viable CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage) hubs. By engineering a plant-level emission estimation model and conducting sink-source matching, I provided the strategic roadmap for a global client to enter China’s carbon market. This analysis identified 30 high-potential strategic partners and transformed technical engineering data into an actionable investment strategy. This project was a defining moment for me, proving that data-driven decarbonization strategies are the key to balancing energy security with a sustainable future.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: Serving as the first-year Director of the IESE Energy Club, my biggest accomplishment so far is to organize the 13th IESE Global Energy Day. My role involved securing industry leaders as speakers, managing a multi-channel marketing strategy, and curating a high-level networking social for students and alumni. This was a deeply rewarding milestone, as it provided a platform for our community to engage directly with the leaders of the energy transition. Beyond the logistics, I am proud to have fostered a space where diverse voices, from engineers to investors, could collaborate on solving global energy challenges.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? My best memory was a post-exam potluck with friends. IESE is a place where you truly learn the meaning of “work hard, play hard.” IESE people are always “on the way,” whether it is to a rigorous case discussion, a high-stakes interview, or a late-night celebration. There is an undeniable momentum here. There is a collective enthusiasm to experience, communicate, and evolve together that turns every challenge into a shared memory of growth.

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