Alessia Sofia Cueva Alva

ESADE Business School

“Purpose-driven leader passionate about inclusion, community-building, and creating social impact through business.”

Hometown: Piura, Perú

Fun fact about yourself: I have a strong artistic side: singing, painting, and makeup, as a way to reflect and recharge. But I don’t openly share it.

Undergraduate School and Degree: BSc in Business Administration and Accounting, Universidad del Pacífico (Peru); Exchange program of one semester at Universidad Pública de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Falabella Peru – Product Manager E-commerce

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025? I’m doing an internship right now – Norrsken – Impact Ecosystem – Barcelona, Spain

Where will you be working after graduation? To Be Decided – with a strong interest in social impact, sustainability, and purpose-driven organizations

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Leader of the Graduation Committee and Esade’s Ambassador of the organization MBA Women Perú. In these roles, I focused on fostering inclusion, psychological safety, and a strong sense of community across a highly diverse MBA class. In recognition of this impact, Esade nominated me for the Forté Foundation’s Edie Hunt Inspiration Award and I received the Esade Engagement Award by my classmates.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? What I am most proud of is having helped create and sustain a safe, inclusive space where classmates felt heard, respected, and valued. Additionally, I proposed and actively contributed to the design and implementation of the Intercultural Awareness course, an initiative that became a tangible expression of Esade’s values and a lasting contribution to the program.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Rather than a single title or promotion, I am most proud of my personal and professional growth. Across my career, I consistently stepped into roles that required learning quickly, navigating ambiguity, and collaborating across teams, experiences that shaped my leadership style and strengthened my confidence in driving impact through people.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Esade because I immediately felt it was a community that would support my growth not only as a professional, but as a person. Its strong commitment to social impact, values-driven leadership, and humanistic education made me confident that this was the place where I could begin shaping my long-term purpose.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Professor Rita Mota (Managing Ethics & Social Responsibility and Racial Injustice). Her courses challenged me deeply on a personal level, encouraging empathy, self-awareness, and the courage to question long-held assumptions, lessons that will guide me far beyond the classroom. She inspired and helped me in many ways.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Racial Injustice. This course expanded my understanding of society, empathy, and systemic inequality. It helped me grow as a human being, teaching me to approach others with deeper respect, curiosity, and compassion.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Two stand out. Gastrofest, which celebrates cultural diversity through food and music, and Family Day, which brings our families into the MBA experience. Both reflect Esade’s emphasis on community, inclusion, and shared humanity.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I would worry less about doing everything perfectly and instead prioritize being fully present; reflecting more, saying no when needed, and deepening the relationships that truly shaped my MBA experience.

What was the most impactful case study you had in business school and what was the biggest lesson you learned from it? One of the most impactful case studies I analyzed in class was in the Brand Strategy class and it was about the brand transformation of Dove and Axe. These cases showed how both brands had to fundamentally rethink their narratives, moving away from messaging that objectified or stereotyped women toward campaigns centered on authenticity, respect, and empowerment. The biggest lesson for me was that brand strategy is not just about positioning or sales, but about responsibility. Brands shape culture, and leaders must be intentional about the values they amplify through their messaging.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Barcelona offers the perfect balance: international, vibrant, close to nature, and deeply cultural. Living here fulfilled a long-held dream and provided an inspiring backdrop for personal and professional growth.

What business leader do you admire most? I have been fortunate to grow up surrounded by examples of leadership within my own family. Both of my parents are entrepreneurs who started with very little and, through perseverance, resilience, and hard work, built what they have today while always prioritizing values and family. I also deeply admire my siblings, who now hold leadership roles in their respective fields and consistently lead with integrity, responsibility, and empathy. These examples shaped my understanding of leadership long before business school.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Esade introduced AI as a practical tool to enhance productivity and structure thinking. While initially skeptical, I learned how AI can simplify tasks, clarify ideas, and improve communication when used thoughtfully and responsibly.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Carissa Almendarez – I most admire Carissa for her quiet yet deeply impactful leadership. Throughout the MBA, she consistently showed up for others, especially during challenging moments, leading with calm, empathy, and integrity. She has a natural ability to support and uplift those around her, often without seeking visibility or recognition. Her generosity, reliability, and commitment to our community strengthened our sense of belonging and reminded me that true leadership is defined by how we care for others.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Contribute to public policy or civic initiatives in Peru to help improve social and institutional outcomes.

2. Teach or mentor students—at university or earlier stages—on topics related to social impact, ethics, and community-building.

What made Alessia Cueva such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?

“Alessia Cueva Alva has been an extraordinary addition to the Class of 2026, bringing a blend of purpose-driven leadership, emotional intelligence, and a genuine commitment to social impact that elevated the Esade MBA community.

What sets Alessia apart is her authenticity. Despite arriving with solid professional experience, she consistently demonstrated humility and a sincere willingness to learn and grow. Early in the MBA, she shared with me her long-term mission to create opportunities for women and children in need in Peru a vision that has guided her choices and strengthened her sense of purpose throughout the program.

In her role as Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Alessia made a tangible and lasting contribution. She played a key role in co-creating the Intercultural Awareness course alongside academic leadership, reinforcing Esade’s commitment to inclusion and psychological safety. This initiative will continue benefiting future classes, reflecting her ability to transform insight into institutional impact. At the same time, she championed the emotional well-being of her peers, building safe spaces for women and fostering community, support, and confidence during demanding academic and personal moments.

Alessia’s leadership style is grounded in empathy, responsibility, and consistency. She serves without seeking visibility, and yet her influence is unmistakable. Her nominations for both the Forté Foundation Edie Hunt Inspiration Award and the Esade Engagement Award are testament to the respect and admiration she earned from the institution and her classmates.

Her professionalism also shows in the way she approached her career development. She sought roles aligned with her values and demonstrated maturity and ownership in navigating uncertainty, always returning to her commitment to purpose-driven work.

In every sense, Alessia embodies the qualities we aspire to cultivate at Esade: integrity, inclusivity, global awareness, and a desire to generate positive change. Her presence enriched our MBA community, and her impact—both structural and personal will outlast her time here.

Alessia is, without a doubt, one of the most inspiring members of her class, and I am confident that she will continue creating meaningful impact in every environment she joins.”

Diana Sarmiento Lemus
Associate Director at Esade Careers (Healthcare, Energy, Agrobusiness & Conglomerates)

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