1. Why did you choose the IBEI Master’s in International Relations?

As I lawyer I was already passionate about human rights, public international law and international politics. IBEI’s Master in International Relations offered me the specialization I was looking for, in a multilingual format.

2. What is your experience at IBEI?

It was a very intensive learning experience. One year of full time Master made IBEI being your home, spending many hours learning and working there and building strong relationships with both classmates and professors.

3. Describe your career path since graduating from the IBEI // What is your professional experience (your current position, your main functions)?

Through an IBEI job anouncement I started working as project assistant at the Association of Organisations of Mediterranean Businesswomen (AFAEMME), a Federation of businesswomen associations which develops and implements international projects to support women entrepreneurs and businesswomen in the Mediterranean region. I was later promoted to project manager and was mainly in charge of European and international projects, business missions, research and fundraising. At a certain point I started combining this full-time job with some specific assignments as lawyer and finally also with a position of pro-bono lawyer for the Barcelona Bar Association (ICAB). Later I also became a mentor for women entrepreneur mentors and I started volunteering as a mentor for young entrepreneurs myself (currently for MesDona and the UPF Yuzz programme). In April 2016, while still working at AFAEMME, I founded a community interest company in the UK which works in the field of women’s economic empowerment. And this month I’m launching another business: a CSR consultancy firm.

4. How did the master programme prepare you for the work you're doing now?

Besides improving my English quite a lot, the Master helped me to be very strong at partnering with people and organisations from very different sectors, building bridges and connecting those. Students all had very diverse backgrounds but we had to come up with solutions: it was actually the proof of the concept of diversity as driver for better and more innovative solutions.

5. Is this more or less what you pictured yourself doing after the master programme?

Yes, I’m quite happy with my professional growth after graduating at IBEI.

6. What advice would you give to current students who want to follow this career path? / Some advice to future IBEI students?

Be aware of your skills and talents & feel confident about your added value. The international relations sector is very competitive and at the end you have to specialize on something, although your range of interests might be very broad (but then you will also realize that everything is somehow connected). And work a lot on your personal brand. Be active. Don’t be afraid of trying. Don’t be afraid of failing.

7. What do you miss most about the IBEI?

The IBEI community. My “classmates-family” which is now spread all over the world.