Tim Lie, IESE MBA Class of 2027
Age: 31
Hometown: Brisbane, Australia
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Bachelor of Engineering, Chemical and Biological Engineering Majors; The University of Queensland
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Program Lead – Strategic Programs (Health, Safety & Wellbeing), Woolworths Group (Retail & Logistics), 4 years; Health, Safety & Environment Manager, Mirvac Group (Property & Construction), 3 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I knew I wanted to change careers and work and live overseas, so I was looking for a stable environment to give me the time and skills to pivot into the right geography and profession.
Business School was a no-brainer for me, because the right program would immerse me in a diverse community, expose me to many paths/networks to explore ideas and professions, and also make some incredible friendships with people who think about life similar to me.
Why did you choose IESE? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I hadn’t even considered Business school before the age of 27, in fact, none of my family or friends had been to business school. So, I spent 18 months speaking to leaders, my mentors, and different school admission teams. I gathered data (quantitative and qualitative) from the top ~30 schools from around the world. I then reflected and made my own personal criteria for what I mattered most and my thresholds for location, cost, prestige, alumni community, etc. I created a scale and weighting for each criterion and then spoke to alumni of my top two schools. IESE was the clear winner on many fronts, but what stood out was the consistency in their alumni. There was a true sense of shared values and warmth exuded by the alumni I spoke with. I think just by interacting with IESE’s admissions team, you can get a hint of their secret sauce. The program has only just begun, but I already know I have found my community and I am not even thinking of the investment, because the experience is something I cannot price.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2027?
I think I have had a very privileged professional life, having the opportunities to lead through may unexpected situations. So, I think my friends and peers value the stories and lessons I share. That being said, although I am a little more seasoned in certain areas, I cannot understate the gratitude I have for being able to learn and grow from their diversity and different perspectives.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I love volleyball so much, but haven’t played in over 8 years. So, I have been playing every week here on the beaches and in the courts, also teaching others to get into the sport.
Post-MBA career interests:
I am intrigued by social and environmental impact, risk & complexity and economic/organisational systems. So, impact investing and associated ecosystem or complex operational leadership roles are something on my radar.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would take the time to understand yourself. Different schools have very different strengths and priorities. I think rankings help to attract attention and shortlist your choices, but know yourself and find a school that matches your specific circumstances, goals and values.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I wouldn’t change a thing, but I think speaking to people more and earlier, was such a enriching experience, so I would just encourage people to take a chance and reach out.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
GMAT. Nothing really helped me; it just required some discipline and making time to prepare (but I only studied for about 4 weekends and took the test twice, so my perspective and experience probably isn’t that relevant).
What is your initial impression of the IESE students/culture/community?
I couldn’t be happier. The people are incredibly talented and giving. I am loving everyday and Barcelona is a truly special place.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I have joined 7-8 organisations/clubs:
Impact Fund – it isn’t a club as such; it is real work experience sourcing deals to present to VC partners each month. I want to get a better understanding of the space and test my own methods of assessing value/risk of deals/opportunities.
Related to Impact Fund, there are about 5 other clubs that I have joined – 1) Finance (to take masterclasses and acquire skills I don’t have currently), 2) PE-VC (to understand the different fund models and learn more from external and internal expertise in the space, 3) Responsible Business Club (related to social/environmental impact), 4) Startup & Entrepreneurship (to empathise and deeply understand the founder journey perspective, because evaluating deals is heavily about the people/team), 5) Energy Club (environmental-impact related sector), 6) Healthcare Club (social- impact related sector), 7) Women-in-Business (because I think I have been fortunate to work in far more progressed environments that other parts of the world can learn from).
What is one thing you have learned about IESE that has surprised you?
There is no free coffee on campus, criminal really…
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am excited for the cases and the teamwork. At IESE we learn by case method and we work in teams of 8-9 from all around the world through the first year of the MBA. I am the only native English speaker on my team, and I cannot wait to learn from this little band of international rockstars.
