Alvaro Ruiz Emparanza

IE Business School Global MBA

“Entrepreneurial engineer passionate about innovation, family, meaningful relationships, endurance sports, and new challenges.”

Age: 33

Hometown: Legazpi, Gipuzkoa, Spain

Fun fact about yourself: I moved to Germany for my master’s degree assuming most classes would be in English. On the first day, I realized everything was in German, a language I barely spoke. I survived by making friends quickly and inviting classmates to dinners and Spanish parties, while they helped me with coursework and projects in return. Two years later, I graduated with honors and left Germany fluent in the language.

Undergraduate School and Degree

University of the Basque Country — Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering

Fachhochschule Münster — Master of Science in Civil Engineering

University of Miami — PhD in Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

IE Business School — Global MBA

Where are you currently working? Founder & CEO, Ecotori LLC, Miami, Florida

What achievements are you most proud of in your professional career? Starting Ecotori during one of the most uncertain periods of my life and career. I was working for a manufacturing company in the U.S. as the Director of Engineering when the investors unexpectedly pulled out and the company shut down almost overnight. As an international professional on a visa, I suddenly had a 60-day grace period to figure out my next step while facing significant uncertainty both professionally and personally.

Instead of returning home or pursuing another traditional role, I decided to build my own consulting company focused on sustainable construction and advanced materials while also continuing research at the University of Miami. Building Ecotori from scratch during that period taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of betting on yourself even when there is no clear path forward.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? There were three main reasons. First, IE’s online MBA was consistently ranked among the best in the world and had the innovative, international mindset I was looking for. Second, the hybrid structure allowed me to continue building my company in Miami without stepping away professionally. Third – and probably the most personal and important reason – it was the opportunity to experience the program alongside my brother, who lives in Thailand. Every few months, the face-to-face periods gave us an excuse to reunite in Spain with our family despite living on different continents.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? The face-to-face periods were my favorite part of the program. After months of interacting online every Saturday, finally meeting classmates in person created a completely different dynamic. We were able to build genuine friendships, learn from people from very different industries and cultures, and share experiences beyond the classroom. Some of my best memories from the MBA are the conversations, dinners, and trips we organized together during those weeks. For me, enjoying the process and building meaningful relationships is an important part of both business and life.

How did your online MBA experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? I have had very different academic experiences across countries. My undergraduate studies in Spain were highly theoretical and concept-driven. My master’s degree in Germany was much more practical and hands-on, which helped me apply many of the concepts I had previously learned. Later, my PhD in the United States became deeply research-oriented and exploratory. Looking back, it was a great combination of theory, practice, and research.

The online MBA added something different: flexibility and global exposure. It allowed me to continue working full-time while interacting with professionals from many industries and countries. At the same time, despite loving the face-to-face periods, I sometimes missed the daily interaction that naturally happens in traditional classroom environments.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Do it because you genuinely want the experience and believe it will help you grow, not just for the title or the three letters (M+B+A). An online MBA requires discipline, consistency, and personal motivation because nobody is behind you every day making sure you keep up. If you truly engage with the program, the people, and the process, the value you get from it can be enormous. If not, it can easily become an expensive checkbox.

How has your online MBA education helped you in your current job? As an entrepreneur, the MBA helped me better understand how all the pillars of a company connect with one another. Before the program, my mindset was much more technical and engineering-oriented. The MBA pushed me to simultaneously think about strategy, finance, operations, marketing, organizational structure, and long-term growth. It also gave me the flexibility to continue building my company in Miami while conducting research at the University of Miami and immediately applying what I was learning in real business decisions.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? As the founder of my own company, there was no formal promotion. However, completing the MBA strengthened my credibility with clients and helped me position the company differently in the market, which ultimately allowed me to increase both responsibilities and consulting fees.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential or executive MBA program? Initially, I explored several MBA programs in the United States, including executive programs from top universities. However, I did not want to leave Miami because I was simultaneously growing my company and continuing my research work. I also wanted a program with a truly international mindset rather than a purely local network.

IE offered the best combination of flexibility, global exposure, academic reputation, and personal fit. Its hybrid structure allowed me to continue building my professional career while still having meaningful face-to-face experiences throughout the program.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? One thing IE did very well was acknowledging early how important AI would become across industries and integrating it into multiple courses and electives. Beyond simply introducing tools, the program focused on how AI can support decision-making, operations, communication, and strategy in a practical and ethical way.

Personally, one of my biggest takeaways was understanding that AI is an incredible accelerator for analysis, synthesis, and productivity, but that judgment, responsibility, and human relationships remain critical, especially in industries like engineering where decisions can have real-world consequences.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: Approximately 20 hours per week on average, with some periods significantly higher depending on projects and exams.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My long-term goal is to continue growing my consulting company while potentially pursuing other entrepreneurial ventures in the future. Beyond professional success, I want to build a life with enough independence and flexibility to prioritize family, health, travel, and personal fulfillment alongside work. I am ambitious professionally, but I also strongly believe that work should support life, not completely consume it.

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