Erin McShea

IE Business School

“Eldest daughter and cat mom who loves building new things and bringing people together.”

Hometown: Originally Washington, DC; now living in Madrid, Spain

Fun fact about yourself: I am an avid musical theater fan – I have seen over 50 live productions!

Undergraduate School and Degree: College of Willian & Mary, Bachelor of Science in Biology and French & Francophone Studies (2014)

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Senior Manager, Strategy & Operations at Toast

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025? N/A – Not an option with my program

Where will you be working after graduation? To be decided!

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Best Student (ranked first in cohort based on overall GPA at the conclusion of the program)
• Winner of 2025 Tech Lab competition sponsored by Amazon Web Services
• Dean’s List (top 10% of cohort overall)
• Blue Torch Award (top 10% of cohort after first 2 terms)
• Invited to join Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of my team winning the IE Tech Lab Challenge this past fall. We were charged with designing an AWS tech-enabled solution to help Ecoembes, a leading player in the recycling value chain in Spain, adapt to ever-changing sustainability regulations. We worked closely with their team over five weeks to understand their key pain points. From there, we  designed an approach that would allow them to decrease the operational burden of collecting and validation packaging data, increase collaboration between upstream players in the value chain, and ultimately enable better future-readiness for both Ecoembes and their customers. Our winning solution, a federated data model supported by an ecosystem of AI agents and a new front-end customer portal, is now in early stages of implementation by Ecoembes with assistance from AWS.

A more personal achievement was winning the Best Student Award at our graduation ceremony. This award is granted to the student with the highest overall GPA out of the entire cohort. As someone who had never taken a business course before starting my program last year, this honor was especially meaningful as it was a reflection of all the many hours of studying and learning I had invested in all of my courses.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? In a previous role, I was responsible for overseeing a suite of data analytics products that helped colleges and universities support their student success goals. In this capacity, I led a multi-year project to rebuild the analytics infrastructure for our oldest products, including three historical analytics dashboards and a predictive model. The existing set-up and maintenance processes for these products were time and labor-intensive and prone to errors, eroding customer trust and putting undue burden on internal teams.

Our solution migrated the historical database to a new system and completely rebuilt the dashboards in a new tool. As leader of this initiative, I worked with many stakeholders and representatives from teams across the company, including Data Science, Engineering, Implementation Support, Product Management, Customer Success, Sales, and Account Management. At its conclusion, we were ultimately able to reduce the support and implementation time spent by internal teams by 80% and increase product utilization by 25%. This achievement was meaningful not only for its business impact, but also because of the time it took to gain the buy-in from leadership to start the project. I had been told many times that these challenges were too difficult to solve and that this work was not a top priority. Therefore, getting the final ‘go-ahead’ to move forward was a testament to my efforts in building a strong business case and convincing key stakeholders of its value.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose IE Business School for the diversity of its student body and the truly global perspective that comes with it. My cohort represents 42 nationalities, and that level of diversity fundamentally shaped my MBA experience. In every class, group project, and discussion, I was exposed to different ways of thinking and how people approach risk, leadership, communication, and decision-making across cultures. It challenged my assumptions and forced me to become more adaptable, empathetic, and thoughtful in how I collaborate with others. For me, this was the most important aspect of an MBA. Business today is inherently global, and the ability to work effectively across cultures is critical to being an effective leader. IE did not just teach that concept, but it truly immersed me in it every day. That experience has been invaluable in shaping how I approach teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership moving forward.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor was Juan Pablo Jimeno Moreno, who taught Financial Markets. Coming into the program with no prior finance experience, I initially found the subject intimidating. However, he created an environment that made learning both accessible and genuinely enjoyable. What stood out most was his teaching style – he brought humor and energy into the classroom, while also fostering a space where students felt comfortable asking questions. He consistently emphasized that thoughtful questions mattered more than having the “right” answer, which encouraged deeper engagement and curiosity.

Moreover, his background as a highly accomplished professional made the course feel even more relevant. Knowing that he had real-world experience at a high level made the material feel practical, rather than purely theoretical. He was able to connect concepts to how they actually play out in markets, which made the learning more tangible and meaningful. This combination had a lasting impact on me. It not only helped me build confidence in a subject I once found challenging, but also reshaped how I think about learning more broadly. The best learning environments are those where people feel safe to explore, question, and grow, and Juan Pablo exemplified that every day in class.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course was a Human Preferences and Behavior class I took during my electives period. This course was part of the marketing department curriculum and focused on understanding consumer behaviors and thought patterns to predict how they might act in given situations. It was an interesting blend of behavioral psychology, anthropology economics, sociology, marketing, and product design.

Given my interest in product management, I found this course particularly relevant as I think about how I might build products in the future – the best products are often the most customer-centric products, and this course emphasized the importance of truly understanding the underlying needs, motivations, and biases of your customers as a means to influence behavior. Given my focus in strategy and business transformation, it was the first marketing course I was able to take outside of my first term, and it pushed me to think about how different elements of business are often truly multi-disciplinary – each area influences the other, and a holistic understanding of all types of subjects is critical for business leaders to make informed decisions.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite IE MBA event is the Venture Day. This day is the perfect encapsulation of the entrepreneurial spirit that IE instills in its students and represents the culmination of months of hard work by budding student-founders. What stood out most to me was not just the breadth of ideas presented, but the depth of thought behind them – each team demonstrated a strong understanding of niche markets, emerging trends, and real-world problems. It was incredibly inspiring to see my peers move from concept to execution, translating ideas into tangible, scalable solutions.

More broadly, Venture Day reflects IE’s emphasis on action-oriented learning and innovation. It is not just about discussing business concepts in the classroom, but about building, testing, and bringing ideas to life. I have no doubt that many of the ventures I saw will continue to grow beyond the program, and it was motivating to be part of an environment where that level of ambition and creativity is the norm.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? If I could do one thing differently, I would have taken more risks earlier in my MBA program, particularly by putting myself in uncomfortable, high-visibility situations like public speaking and leadership roles. When I started the program, I had been out of school for over 10 years and had never taken a business course before. As a result, despite having over a decade of work experience, I found myself hesitant to raise my hand in class. In the past, I have often been cautious about speaking up unless I feel 100% confident that I have the right answer or that my perspective will be well received. But over time, I realized that true learning is not about having all the answers – it is about engaging in the process, testing your thinking, and learning through dialogue.

Once I started leaning into opportunities that stretched me, leading discussions, presenting to large groups, and actively seeking feedback, I saw a change in both my confidence and effectiveness. I also began to recognize that this mindset should extend beyond speaking up to how I gave feedback. Early on, I often avoided difficult conversations to prevent friction within teams, sometimes taking on more work myself instead of addressing imbalances directly. Over time, I learned that thoughtful, candid feedback is essential for strong team performance and mutual growth. If I had embraced that mindset earlier, I would have accelerated not only my learning, but also my ability to contribute meaningfully to that of others.

What was the most impactful case study you had in business school and what was the biggest lesson you learned from it? The most impactful case study for me was “DBS: Purpose-Driven Transformation” from my Business Transformation course. What resonated most was how intentionally the transformation was operationalized. It was not just a compelling vision, but it was truly embedded into how the organization functioned from the bottom to the top. Between the balanced scorecard to the data-driven operating model, every part of the business was aligned to reinforce the strategy and drive accountability.

I also felt like this case was a great example of the expression “culture eats strategy for breakfast”. Rather than replacing talent, DBS invested in upskilling employees and creating an environment where experimentation and learning were encouraged. That approach of bringing people along instead of leaving them behind felt both practical and human and laid the foundation for a strong culture that would allow DBS to withstand any future changes.

The biggest lesson I took away from this case is that transformation succeeds when strategy, systems, and culture move together. It reinforced my belief that strong operators do not just define direction, but they also build the mechanisms that make change real and sustainable across an organization.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Spain is known for its fantastic weather and incredible food, but what I love most about Madrid is its energy and its people – there is a rhythm to the city that makes everyday life feel intentional and vibrant. Whether it was long dinners that turned into hours of conversation, walking through neighborhoods like Malasaña or Salamanca, or spending time in parks like El Retiro, the city naturally encouraged connection. Moreover, the culture in Spain places a real emphasis on enjoying life and being present.

An MBA program is incredibly rigorous – hours of classes each week, dozens of pages of cases to read, and multiple presentations to prepare – and it can be easy to let schoolwork become all-consuming. Being in Madrid was a constant reminder of the “why” behind the work. It reinforced that success is not just about professional achievement, but about building a life that is rich in relationships, experiences, and meaning. That perspective has stayed with me, and it is something I hope to carry forward as I build my career.

What business leader do you admire most? The business leader I admire most is Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder and CEO of Bumble. What stands out to me is her resilience; after being pushed out of Tinder, she chose to build something of her own, turning a difficult experience into the foundation for a company with a clear and differentiated mission.

However, she did not just create another dating app – she built a platform designed to give women more agency, embedding that mission directly into the product and how it operates. That alignment between values and execution is something I find especially compelling. Her story is a reminder that setbacks can be catalysts for meaningful change. I admire how she channeled that experience into building a company that not only succeeds commercially but also creates a more empowering experience for its users.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? My business school integrated AI most effectively by embedding it directly into coursework rather than treating it as a standalone topic. True, we did have a dedicated course to “AI and Productivity” to introduce us to the tools and discuss the ethical considerations around its use across classes. At the same time, AI use was often encouraged to assist with analyzing cases, generating hypotheses, and brainstorming solutions. This use case – using AI as a thought partner, not a shortcut – helped accelerate early-stage thinking, surface blind spots, and explore multiple strategic angles quickly.

However, it also reinforced the importance of individual judgment and creativity. The quality of the output depended heavily on how well I framed the problem and interpreted the results, and the highest-quality deliverables were those which had a distinctly human element – and it was often very obvious when a group presented a proposal that had overly relied on AI tools. As a result, the biggest insight I gained is that AI does not replace critical thinking – it amplifies it, or its lack thereof. Those who can figure out how to use AI tools to showcase their own structured thinking, domain knowledge, and creativity will have a significant advantage in how they operate and make decisions.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? The classmate I most admire is my friend, Maria Margarita Vera. Margarita is one of the kindest people I have ever met. Nicknamed the “te amo tornado” by our section, she has a unique ability to make anyone feel seen, heard, and valued. Her energy is infectious – her smile and warmth can genuinely turn around someone’s day. What makes her especially impactful is how she builds connections across cultures and backgrounds. In a cohort as diverse as ours, she brings people together in a way that feels effortless and genuine. At the same time, she is incredibly intelligent and hardworking, consistently showing up prepared and thoughtful in every setting.

In her example, Margarita has reshaped how I think about leadership. She demonstrates that creating a positive, inclusive environment is not separate from performance but rather what enables truly high-performing teams.

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

The two items at the top of my professional bucket list are to lead an organization that makes a meaningful impact and to mentor and support the next generation of women leaders.

Rather than being tied to a specific title, my long-term goal is to be in a position where I can shape strategy, build strong teams, and drive work that creates real value at a company that is fundamentally mission-driven – whether that is through improving how organizations operate or contributing to solutions that positively impact people’s lives.

Equally important to me is the opportunity to mentor other women as they navigate their careers. Throughout my own journey, I have personally benefitted from strong female mentors and seen how powerful it is to have support, encouragement, and honest guidance. I want to be that person for others – helping them build confidence, take risks, and step into leadership roles themselves.

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

“I have had the pleasure of working with Erin across three courses and a Lab (IMBA TechLab), and she consistently stood out as one of the most brilliant students. She combines great learning interest, desire to test the applicability of knowledge, strong capabilities and a serious work ethic with something quite unique: humility and genuine curiosity. Her questions were always sharp and thoughtful, pushing discussions forward and raising the level of the whole group. Not only as professor, but especially as TechLab academic coordinator and mentor, I realized she is also a fantastic teammate: reliable, collaborative, and focused on getting things done well. She finished consistently at the top of the class in all my courses, and her team went on to win the TechLab, which says a lot about both her individual performance and her ability to contribute to high-performing teams. I would gladly work with her again and recommend her without hesitation.”

Casimiro Juanes
Professor, IE Business School

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