Where are they now: ESEI Alumni success stories
At ESEI, we love catching up with old students and finding out what they’ve been up to since graduating.
Today we spoke to Thomas, Nanihi and Lif. They filled us in on what they are doing now and offer some top advice for current and future students.
Thomas le Hardy – Masters in Digital Entrepreneurship (2014)
Thomas has certainly been busy since graduating in 2014. He’s now head of media partnerships at Headway, a digital marketing company with 19 offices around the world. He was the first employee in their new Barcelona office which focuses 100% on mobile user acquisition. He’s currently works on bringing in new new media publishers and signing premium partnerships with apps, sites and media companies.
How did ESEI help you reach where you are now?
I think the environment at ESEI helped me reach where I am now. The school is super international and you have the opportunity to learn from different cultures. We did a lot of of group work, which forces you to collaborate with others, agreeing or disagreeing on ideas but at the same time working as one for the best outcome. It also trains you to pitch in public. I also liked the session we had outside of the school, working on a real project and meeting industry professionals (including the teachers).
What would you say to someone thinking of doing a degree at ESEI?
That it is a good place to learn if you are ready to invest time and effort. If you decide to join a business school like ESEI, you need to join for the right reasons, to come with an idea of what you want to get out of the courses.
In my time, we were encouraged to come up with some project ideas and work on them within different modules. It is great if you want to directly link what you are learning with what you want to do. The schedule at ESEI can also allow you to work on the side or find an internship in Barcelona, which they are also help you with.
What advice do you have for current students?
It will sound like the usual, but I can tell you that it is more than true. Life is full of opportunities but it’s up to you to take them. If you miss one, it’s fine, the next one is around the corner, learn from the failure and you will be successful next time. If you are passionate about something, read about it everyday, stay tuned, join groups and follow people on social networks. Everything is moving so fast that you need to stay up to date.
Did you take part in any extracurricular activities while you were studying?
I have done different internships and I couldn’t recommend them enough. I didn’t really know what to do when I started studying but it allowed me to test different industries and finally get closer to what I do now. Other than that I think that any extra activity will bring you something. Travel opens your mind, helps you rejuvenate and allows you to work in an international environment. Sport helps you focus, be goal oriented and competitive.
What was the best thing about studying in Barcelona?
The city is really international, you can do a lot of things outside of work/school, you have the beach, mountains, costa brava, a lot of museums, sports, bars, restaurants and a little detail that makes the difference in my opinion, is that you can move very easily, nothing is far and you can just walk or take the bike to get anywhere.
Nanihi Tchanfa – Master in Marketing and Communication (2016)
After seven years of travelling the world (including a year studying at ESEI) Nanihi has returned to island life, in Tahiti. She currently works as the product and marketing coordinator at Moana Voyages, an online travel agency covering all of French Polynesia. On a typical day Nanihi spends her time finding new partnerships, managing contracts with resorts and other service providers and creating promotional materials for the various markets worldwide.
How did ESEI help you reach where you are now?
Although I have a background in Arts & Literature, I’ve always been attracted to the business world. Somehow, Marketing and Communication seemed like the ideal place for me to start. Since graduating from ESEI in 2016, I have managed to combine things that were always important to me – my passion for travel and foreign languages and my desire to take on exciting projects that are not only fun for me but also important economically for my country. And I’d like to think that this is just the beginning.
What would you say to someone thinking of doing a degree at ESEI?
Go for it ! The fact that ESEI is a small international school makes it a very pleasant environment to learn in.
What advice do you have for current students?
Take advantage of the beautiful city that you are currently studying in, it has so much to offer. And as the saying goes, “hold the vision, trust the process”. This sums it all up. With determination, the pieces of the puzzle will fit together at some point and it’s a great feeling.
Did you take part in any extracurricular activities while you were studying?
I was working in a startup in Barcelona which allowed me to apply everything I was learning and I attended some networking events and guest talks. Overall it was all very inspiring.
What was the most challenging thing during your time at ESEI and how did the staff help you?
The most challenging part of this degree was that I didn’t have a background in Business… quite the opposite you could say. As I mentioned, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts & Literature from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Obviously I was a bit anxious about the transition. But the staff were very supportive from day one. Literally. During my very first phone interview to apply, we had some very encouraging exchanges. The entire team at ESEI were great and I have to give a special mention to the academic manager. Whether it was during or outside of his classes, he was always incredibly helpful and encouraging, which is so important.
What was the best thing about studying in Barcelona?
Barcelona is an amazing and lively city, full of cheerful people from all around the world who are just so thrilled to be there. I think it’s an ideal atmosphere to blossom in.
Lif Larusdottir – Master in Marketing and Communication (2016)
Lif is another busy bee! Other than working as a marketing project manager at a large trash management and environmental consulting company in Iceland, she has also just started her own website, Framinn. This new platform, which she created with a friend, aims to encourage and empower women in business by providing useful resources, articles and other information for aspiring business women.
How did ESEI help you reach where you are now?
The master’s degree gave me the essential tools and framework, that helped me grow in the field of marketing. The courses were relevant and helped me focus on which area of the marketing spectrum I wanted to specialise in.
What would you say to someone thinking of doing a degree at ESEI?
If you are looking for a friendly and personal university, with great programmes and relevant teachers – then go for it!
What advice do you have for current students?
I would say, due to the fact that the school is quite small, it is much more personal and you can really interact with the teachers and your fellow students. This is the key in building long term relationships networks of skilfull people that are only ever one phone call away.
Did you take part in any extracurricular activities while you were studying?
Yes I went to a large conference called B-TRAVEL, which was very inspiring and interesting to see how companies in the travel industry are using different marketing techniques to advertise their services.
What was the best thing about studying in Barcelona?
To get the opportunity to live in this amazing environment and in my favorite city. There is always something going on in Barcelona, it does not matter if you are interested in food, art, sports ect., the city will easily serve your needs.
Thanks for speaking to us guys! Good luck in the future and don’t forget to come back and visit us next time you are in Barcelona!
