IMBA Alumna Sara Beneroso
Sara, what were you doing before the IMBA and what were your main reasons for going for it?
Before starting the MBA, I was working in a CRM agency in Shanghai managing luxury client accounts. After two years, I knew I was ready to switch to the brand side, but the lack of a formal business education was a big drawback for me as a candidate. I decided to pursue a MBA because after having consulted with luxury brands C-level managers, I discovered it would offer me an accelerated path into my career goal: to become a Global CRM Manager for a luxury brand.
What did you do during the IMBA, such as exchanges, venture lab, internships, or student clubs, etc. ?
During the MBA I got involved in two clubs – Emerging Markets, and Luxury – and became the co-president for both. I chose these two not only because they were perfectly aligned with my post-MBA career goals, but also because I am passionate about them. I also decided to take an exchange in ESSEC Business School in Paris because I would be able to follow luxury-specific courses within their Luxury MBA program, the best of its kind in the world.
Sara, please define the IMBA program and experience briefly!
The IMBA program is a one-in-the-world experience, both personal and professionally. For a full year you work on your own under constant pressure to build your soft and hard skills, while at the same time undergoing the most intensive teamwork learning process ever.
What are you doing at the moment?
As the current International CRM Manager for Chloe in Paris, I have not only found exactly what I prepared myself for when I chose to do the IMBA program, but I am also living my own personal career dream.
How did the IMBA contribute to your career development?
The IMBA helped me to get ready for this new role from both, soft and hard skills, angles. In the soft area, the biggest contribution has been the ability to manage challenging cross-cultural team situations under time-pressure. On the hard skill area, being able to justify my marketing decisions from a financial point of view is just one of the many examples.
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