In Their Shoes

Alessandro Franco is originally from Italy but has also lived in London and Dubai. He came to IE
University to earn his Dual Degree in Business Administration & Laws at the Segovia campus;
its cozy atmosphere and close-knit community offer a refreshing change of pace.

Despite its small size, Alessandro loves Segovia’s wealth of historical sites surrounded by
stunning natural landscapes. The campus itself is ensconced in an 800-year-old monastery and
this space welcomes students of all backgrounds and cultures. Because of this, he feels ready
to integrate into whatever environment his future career will involve.

For his dual degree, Alessandro sought disciplines that would be rich enough to offer lifelong
learning and engagement—business and law fit the bill perfectly. He’s also a fan of the arts and
is especially passionate about the role of music in his life. Currently, he serves as the vice
president of the university’s Theater Club.

Looking to the future, Alessandro intends to focus more on the Law side of things and combine
this with his passion for theater. Listen to the podcast as he shares more about his experience
at IE University and what its diverse environment will mean for his future career.

Teresa Olombrada grew up in Brussels, just steps away from the main institutions of the
European Union. And after living and studying in that environment, she grew enchanted with the
idea of becoming a diplomat.

For her, IE University’s main points of appeal were the chance to pursue the dual degree she
wanted, as well as the opportunity to come back to Segovia and find her roots. Teresa says she
chose the program because it strikes the right balance between the study of comparative law
and international relations, allowing students to trace the foundations of countries’ policymaking
and politics back to their individual approaches to law.

Through her internship with the IE University Athletics department, Teresa undertook a project
to promote sports participation among young girls and women in Segovia. She notes that the
transition between the classroom and the professional world is a smooth one because of the
university’s expert faculty and practical, collaborative approach to learning.

In the podcast, Teresa explains why her philosophy has always been to say yes to every
opportunity—from studying abroad in Istanbul to leading the university’s women’s soccer team
as captain—and why it’s made her who she is today.

Isa Rosberg, a student of the Bachelor in Philosophy, Politics, Law & Economics, was eager to
gain new experiences after growing up in a small Swedish town. She was attracted to IE
University because of the interdisciplinary flexibility offered by its degree programs. Isa says that
she particularly appreciates the complementary nature of the program’s courses.

The close-knit community of the Segovia campus meant that Isa could always find someone to
share a conversation with when she needed a break from studying. Now in Madrid, she finds
the Liquid Learning approach used in her classes highly efficient and enjoys the flexibility it
affords to attend classes even from afar.

The internationality of IE University has made Isa feel right at home, who is open to a career
that will take her anywhere so long as her work is in harmony with her values. She is particularly
interested in technological innovation and policymaking, identifying cyber law as a possible
bridge between the two. Also passionate about analog film photography, Isa enjoys the act of
developing film and remembering the moments she’s lived through.

Tune in to the podcast, where she shares her views on life as a student now.

Abdul Salam has long fostered dreams of entrepreneurship in the finance sector and knows that
the Dual Degree in Business Administration + Data & Business Analytics is the road to getting
there. His sustained interest in data forms a key foundation for future success, given the
growing importance of data and technology in the finance industry.

In his third year, Abdul took on an internship with IE University’s marketing department because
he believes that knowing how to communicate an idea can be just as important as the idea
itself. He is currently completing an internship with software company Celonis, working in
customer success management.

In this podcast, Abdul talks about why he chose IE University, citing its unparalleled networking
opportunities, robust international community and innovative dual degree options. All of this
means that students grow both personally and professionally throughout their time here.

Aside from academics, Abdul explains how he became involved in student government and rose
up the ranks to his current role as student government president. In his free time, he likes to
read, go for a jog or spend some time in the garden. Check out the podcast to hear him tell his
story.

After spending her whole life in Turkey, Derin Kurultak decided it was time for a change. So she
packed her bags and headed to IE University to pursue the Dual Degree in Business
Administration and Data & Business Analytics.

Leaving her home city for the tight-knit Segovia community has been an overwhelmingly
positive experience for Derin—but that wasn’t her only reason for coming here. The dual degree
option meant that she could gain more knowledge and practical experience, graduating as a
more well-rounded candidate for job opportunities.

Derin finds that the different and complementary aspects of her dual degree are stimulating,
with tasks that appeal to both her desire for creativity as well as her more logical side. What’s
more, the diverse student body means that everyday interactions can become opportunities to
learn and exchange ideas.

Alongside her studies, Derin is eager to strengthen access to professional opportunities for
women. To this end, she is a coordinator for the IE Women in Business Club and president of
the IE Girl Up Club. When she needs an escape, Derin turns to playing the piano. Curious to
hear more about Derin’s experience? Listen to the podcast now!

Marta Garcia has always loved math, so the Bachelor in Computer Science & Artificial
Intelligence was the natural choice for her very structured and logical mind.

The most appealing aspect of the program was the freedom students have to develop their
ideas into projects—even startups—and the support IE University offers each step of the way.
Marta is a member of the IE Technology and Innovation Club, organizing events and liaising
with companies for collaborations. She is also part of the women’s basketball team.

There is always something new every day at the university, from discovering a new culture to
making new friends. Marta recalls her experience completing the Econ Datalab as a chance to
gain firsthand exposure to a field that interests her as well as to develop new skills that will
serve her later in her professional career. Now, she is an intern at Accenture, creating solutions
for insurance companies.

For Marta, attending IE University has meant being able to engage with all aspects of her
interests—nourishing her mind as well as opening doors for professional fulfillment. Listen to the
podcast as Marta shares her story.

Atlanta-born Justin Morgan is pursuing the Bachelor in International Relations. His reasons for choosing the program align very much with IE University’s own values: he was looking for diversity.

The program itself includes everything Justin is interested in. A fusion of culture, political science and philosophy, he describes it as a perfect fit. But to Justin, the wider experience of university life was just as important to him as the academic offering.

In this podcast, Justin tells us how the difference between the IE University experience and life in a typical American university was a major draw for him. Wanting to study with, and learn from, people with very different viewpoints to his own, he tells us he has found a whole new community in Segovia and taken himself out of what he calls the American “bubble.”

Hear him describe his delight in the enhanced educational experience that such diversity offers, his appreciation for the age and beauty of the Segovia campus, his interest in the wider community and the relationships he has formed with classmates and tutors alike.

A native of the United States with Italian and Venezuelan heritage, Federica Caso has lived in some very different places around the world and has assimilated into many different cultures.

Federica was drawn to art and architecture from a young age. While her parents were both lawyers, her family loved art, and it rubbed off on her. Artistic from the start, as a child she created structures from any materials she could find and was fascinated by the plans her grandfather, an architect, showed her. The possibilities in those plans, and the process of them transforming into our living spaces, hooked her.

It’s fitting, then, that Federica is studying the Bachelor in Design. In this podcast, she explains that she was looking for the most diverse university possible, with the broadest offering. She explains how the business insights that are part of the IE University mindset are not common in art programs, and the diverse fields addressed by the program made it stand out when she researched where to study.

Beyzanur Inal knows what it means to have to move away to find peace, stability and a new home. Fleeing political turbulence in her native Turkey and later Senegal, she has made a home in Spain and is studying the Dual Degree in Business Administration and Laws.

Given her background, it’s no surprise that Beyzanur chose the program, as she longs to contribute to a fairer and more peaceful world. She believes she can make a positive impact on society while simultaneously opening new doors for her professional development. Aware of the impact business has on life and society, she chose both IE University and her program as it met both criteria.

In this episode, Beyzanur explains how a full scholarship from the IE Foundation is enabling her to fulfill her academic ambitions and giving her the freedom to make a positive impact even while she studies. A volunteer with both Casa Turca and the UNHCR refugee agency, she’s already carving out her own path, putting the leadership skills she’s learning into practice to help others.