Realize your potential.
FLORIN LANZ
PROGRAM: IMBA
GRADUATION YEAR: 2014
CURRENT LOCATION: ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
ABOUT FLORIN:
Passionate about entrepreneurship and impact, Florin Lanz is an Executive Director at elea, an organization that exists to fight absolute poverty with entrepreneurial means, capitalizing on the benefits and opportunities of globalization.
He combines 10 years of international management consulting with the experience of having built several ventures from scratch. He holds a B.A. in International Affairs from the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and received his MBA from IE Business School in Madrid.
Florin lives in Zurich with his wife and two kids. If he is not on a football pitch or watching a game from the stands, he loves spending time in the mountains, primarily hiking and snowboarding.
Q&A WITH FLORIN
Define your experience in the IMBA in one word.
Inspiring.
What were some of the main challenges that you encountered on your way? How did your master program and IE help you through these challenges?
I believe that making the right decision in the right way at the right point in time has been and still is a major challenge for me.
My time at IE has helped me to understand what’s important in life and has helped me to obtain the boldness needed to take the right decision no matter what the consequences are.
How did your experience at IE prepare you for your professional career? In what ways do you think the program changed your life professionally and personally?
The MBA has widened my horizon and my perspective on life. It has provided me with the opportunity to further expand my cross-functional work experience and my ability to collaborate across a diverse set of people from different cultures and backgrounds.
What was networking like in the program?
I would not really consider it networking but rather making friends for life.
What was your favorite memory from your time at IE?
There are actually too many to pick only one, my top three are:
- Hanging out in a desert near Jeddah during the short exchange week on Islamic Finance in Saudi Arabia
- Celebrating our graduation together with my section, our families, and the entire intake
- Warming up for the Atleti games in La Latina before strolling down to the Vicente Calderon
If someone was considering going to IE, what would you tell them?
Do it.
Why did you choose to study this program at IE?
Because of its diversity, its entrepreneurial component, and because of the people.
What is one thing you wished you knew, when you were a student? What advice would you give to students who are about to begin the program?
It’s a unique experience so enjoy every single minute to the fullest.
Tell us about the IE alumni community and the impact they have had in your life and/or career. Why do you think it’s important to engage with the IE alumni community?
The alumni community keeps the IE spirit alive, it allows you to stay in touch with friends from around the globe, and stay connected to your alma mater, and it provides you with the opportunity to give back.
As one of the first contributors towards the Illuminated Bricks campaign, how does it feel?
I think this is a fantastic initiative and I feel honored to be a part of it.
What made you decided to give your first gift?
My donation is a small contribution to providing someone with the opportunity to study at IE and experience the IE spirit.
In your opinion, why is it important to give back? Why does this cause matter to you?
Talent is ubiquitous, opportunity is not. This cause matters to me because it can make a small, but important difference in someone’s life.
What can we do within our IE Community to create an impact and support education?
Everyone can chip in by sharing our experiences, perspectives, and learnings with people who are thinking about joining a program at IE. And we can actively participate in and engage with the global Alumni community to keep the IE spirit alive.
What would you tell someone who was thinking about contributing?
If you are in the fortunate position to be able to give back, then give back and help in creating an opportunity for a new student.
If you had a billboard you could display to the entire world, what you would put on it?
Realize your potential.