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maximilius491
Joined: 01 May 2023
Last visit: 12 Dec 2025
Posts: 18
Given Kudos: 53
Location: Canada
Schools: Said '27 (A) IESE '27 (A) Judge '26 (II)
GMAT Focus 1: 645 Q86 V82 DI78 
GPA: 3.2
19 Nov 2024, 06:08
Kudos
Bookmarks
Career Aspirations/Background
Upon graduation, I aim to work in the energy industry or a business/strategy development role, with a particular focus on Scandinavian countries and DACH as a secondary priority.
My background involves working with industrial energy clients in Canada, so I don’t anticipate a massive career change. Additionally, my EU citizenship will simplify the process by eliminating the need for a work visa.
Ive been accepted to both schools (no scholarship)
Schools Global Presence
Oxford: Oxford offers a globally recognizable name, which I feel could open career opportunities in various countries. I feel this is the main strength of school and makes the decision of choosing a school so difficult
IESE: From my understanding, IESE has an underrated presence in DACH countries, but I’m unsure if this translates to Scandinavia. I also know that IESE’s alumni network is heavily skewed toward consulting, which is not my target industry.
Program focus
Oxford: Oxford has strong focus on sustainability aligns with my career and personal goals, but I worry that the school overemphasizes sustainability.
IESE: Where IESE stands out in my opinion is in its emphasis on ethics, which is strongly reflected in the students and alumni I’ve spoken to. I’m not sure if this is due to IESE’s selection process or the values taught at the school, but my opinion may be heavily skewed as it is based on a sample size of only six individuals.
Program Duration
Oxford: I feel that Oxford’s, might feel too rushed to develop meaningful relationships and might be difficult to find a job after graduation.
IESE: A two-year program with an internship, like IESE’s, seems better suited for building strong connections and establishing career opportunities in Europe.
Alumni Network
I’m also quite curious about the alumni network. IESE has about 60,000 MBA alumni globally, while Oxford has 27,000 MBA alumni and 300,000 undergraduate alumni. Does having access to the Oxford undergraduate alumni network have a similar effect as the MBA alumni network?
Decision
If I were planning to pursue consulting, IESE would be a no-brainer. However, I’m not, which makes the decision more challenging. I believe that choosing either school will lead to a positive outcome, but I’m uncertain which will have the best long term outcome.
Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Upon graduation, I aim to work in the energy industry or a business/strategy development role, with a particular focus on Scandinavian countries and DACH as a secondary priority.
My background involves working with industrial energy clients in Canada, so I don’t anticipate a massive career change. Additionally, my EU citizenship will simplify the process by eliminating the need for a work visa.
Ive been accepted to both schools (no scholarship)
Schools Global Presence
Oxford: Oxford offers a globally recognizable name, which I feel could open career opportunities in various countries. I feel this is the main strength of school and makes the decision of choosing a school so difficult
IESE: From my understanding, IESE has an underrated presence in DACH countries, but I’m unsure if this translates to Scandinavia. I also know that IESE’s alumni network is heavily skewed toward consulting, which is not my target industry.
Program focus
Oxford: Oxford has strong focus on sustainability aligns with my career and personal goals, but I worry that the school overemphasizes sustainability.
IESE: Where IESE stands out in my opinion is in its emphasis on ethics, which is strongly reflected in the students and alumni I’ve spoken to. I’m not sure if this is due to IESE’s selection process or the values taught at the school, but my opinion may be heavily skewed as it is based on a sample size of only six individuals.
Program Duration
Oxford: I feel that Oxford’s, might feel too rushed to develop meaningful relationships and might be difficult to find a job after graduation.
IESE: A two-year program with an internship, like IESE’s, seems better suited for building strong connections and establishing career opportunities in Europe.
Alumni Network
I’m also quite curious about the alumni network. IESE has about 60,000 MBA alumni globally, while Oxford has 27,000 MBA alumni and 300,000 undergraduate alumni. Does having access to the Oxford undergraduate alumni network have a similar effect as the MBA alumni network?
Decision
If I were planning to pursue consulting, IESE would be a no-brainer. However, I’m not, which makes the decision more challenging. I believe that choosing either school will lead to a positive outcome, but I’m uncertain which will have the best long term outcome.
Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated!
20 Nov 2024, 22:20
Kudos
Bookmarks
Congratulations on your admits! Awesome job!
A few answers for you - having access to undergrad alums is usually NOT very valuable, at least in the US Schools.
In terms of 1 year vs. 2 years - that's a very valid concern. Having 2 years allows you to do an internship in the summer and get some relevant experience (hopefully). Note that EU employers (traditionally and still) are looking for relevant work experience in recruiting, looking for ideally candidates who have done a similar job before or something of a related field. Having energy experience in Canada can be helpful but you have to get into the shoes of the employer and how they would evaluate it (a large global company vs. unknown local player)
P.S. Having the EU citizenship is super helpful too to avoiding hiring games.
aayushipt - do you know about the Exford and IESE for Energy?
A few answers for you - having access to undergrad alums is usually NOT very valuable, at least in the US Schools.
In terms of 1 year vs. 2 years - that's a very valid concern. Having 2 years allows you to do an internship in the summer and get some relevant experience (hopefully). Note that EU employers (traditionally and still) are looking for relevant work experience in recruiting, looking for ideally candidates who have done a similar job before or something of a related field. Having energy experience in Canada can be helpful but you have to get into the shoes of the employer and how they would evaluate it (a large global company vs. unknown local player)
P.S. Having the EU citizenship is super helpful too to avoiding hiring games.
aayushipt - do you know about the Exford and IESE for Energy?
MBAGuide
Joined: 24 Jul 2019
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 2,359
Given Kudos: 28
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Marketing
Schools: Insead Sept'18 (A$$) ISB '19 (A)
21 Nov 2024, 05:46
Kudos
Bookmarks
maximilius491
My perspective may not help you much, but I am inclined to say if consulting isn’t your primary focus and you’re considering a career in the energy sector, Oxford will provide a gateway to rich networking opportunities with organizations deeply invested in sustainable practices within the energy sector. It is now the 'IT' B-school for impact focus and is making giant strides in organizing exceptional treks, forums, and providing tailored networking initiatives with forward-thinking companies shaping the future of impact initiatives, energy, and sustainability. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t pass up the chance to tap into Oxford University’s extensive network of experts spanning academia, industry, and policymaking (something you may benefit from at a later stage in your career). I think the sheer diversity of thought leadership converging at the University of Oxford makes it more appealing to me. I don’t know if I can say the same for IESE (I do not have much information about the university under which IESE comes).
Best wishes
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
Founder, MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/| Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- [email protected]
https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/about-us/school/sustainability
My perspective may not help you much, but I am inclined to say if consulting isn’t your primary focus and you’re considering a career in the energy sector, Oxford will provide a gateway to rich networking opportunities with organizations deeply invested in sustainable practices within the energy sector. It is now the 'IT' B-school for impact focus and is making giant strides in organizing exceptional treks, forums, and providing tailored networking initiatives with forward-thinking companies shaping the future of impact initiatives, energy, and sustainability. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t pass up the chance to tap into Oxford University’s extensive network of experts spanning academia, industry, and policymaking (something you may benefit from at a later stage in your career). I think the sheer diversity of thought leadership converging at the University of Oxford makes it more appealing to me. I don’t know if I can say the same for IESE (I do not have much information about the university under which IESE comes).
Best wishes
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
Founder, MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/| Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- [email protected]
https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/about-us/school/sustainability
maximilius491
