ESADE Alumni Zurich Chapter

– Why did you decide to take on the challenge of being president of the Chapter? What does this experience offer you?

Upon my arrival in Zurich, I had the opportunity to organize an event for the Chapter. Events which I enjoyed organizing and enabled me to meet wonderful people with whom I still have a relationship to this day. With time, I received a call from the ESADE Alumni director offering me the opportunity to preside over the Chapter: an opportunity that I decided to grab with both hands.  Since then I have enjoyed leading a well-qualified team with great human qualities which is eager to meet new challenges.

– What do you think the alumni who come to the Chapter look for?

I think that they essentially look for two things: academic/professional development through the different conferences and events that we organize on a regular basis. And, above all, personal and professional networking.

– What international experience do you have?

During my professional experience in Spain, I maintained sporadic international relations, both in consultancy and business development. On a personal level, my parents always tried to ensure that we were in contact with people from other cultures in order to enrich our minds. Both through family trips and constant contact with friends of different origins. While studying for my degree this led me to participate in AIESEC, the International Youth University Association. There we were in contact with students from more than 100 countries. I have now been living for about five years in Zurich, an extremely cosmopolitan city. I can say that the majority of our friends are not of Hispanic origin.

– What is your life like in Zurich at the present time? What professional opportunities does this city offer?

Zurich offers a broad labour market. Due to the economic/political stability of the country, a large number of multinationals and NGOs are present in Zurich. It is also a city with a high level of innovation. For this reason, many start-ups have their offices here.

– How do you think the ESADE Alumni Network can help alumni in their professional and personal development abroad?

Professionally with conferences and academic/professional development. And personally, through contact with other alumni in the region.

– What advice would you give to alumni who are thinking of working abroad?

All cities have their peculiarities that make them special. Being aware of these quirks makes a big difference when it comes to adapting to the place and its culture. Having people we can rely on when we arrive makes things much easier and, therefore, more enriching. I think it is a smart move to take advantage of the network of international chapters and alumni in the area.

– What does ESADE mean to you?

ESADE is a world-class business school. This quality is due, among others, to three basic pillars: highly-trained and motivated teaching staffs who are connected with the business world and constantly update their academic; admissions staffs capable of bringing together diverse professional profiles with common concerns and objectives. The exponential enrichment of academic training due to the diversity of the students. And this takes us logically to the third pillar: the classmates, who eventually become alumni.