Like many young professionals, Carlotta Schwarz had reached a point in her career where she was ready for a change. Used to independent learning and taking deep-dives into new ideas, she was looking for a more holistic experience. She found that in IMD‘s MBA program. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Schwarz shares how IMD’s emphasis on team dynamics and leadership development helped her become more resilient and adaptable, preparing her for a new role at Amazon.
Carlotta Schwarz, IMD MBA ’24, Senior Product Manager at Amazon
Age: 32
Hometown: Milan, Italy
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Politecnico di Milano – Biomedical engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Product Manager, OverIT, 2 years, Field Service Management
Post-MBA Work Experience: Senior Product Manager, Amazon, 1 year, Retail/e-commerce
Why did you choose to attend business school?
There were two main reasons I decided to pursue business school. First, I was ready for a change. I didn’t know exactly what that change would look like, but I felt I was becoming too comfortable in my role. Second, I had always been used to deep-diving into topics and learning independently. I wanted an experience that would give me a more holistic perspective—one that would help me better understand how companies operate and how they interact with the broader world.
Why IMD? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
IMD stood out to me for three main reasons: location, class size, and its strong focus on leadership development. The small class size means more dedicated time with professors and the opportunity to build deep relationships with classmates, creating an incredibly strong network. Studying with the backdrop of the Swiss Alps during long hours in the library is also quite spectacular. Most importantly, IMD’s emphasis on team dynamics and understanding how your own experiences shape your leadership style pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect.
What about your MBA experience prepared you for your current career? How do you feel that your MBA has been an asset when it comes to navigating new challenges, such as AI?
My MBA helped me become more resilient and adaptable. It changed the way I approach challenges, encouraging me to see them as opportunities to learn rather than obstacles, and it gave me tools to navigate ambiguous situations with more confidence and less stress. The program also strengthened my ability to collaborate with people from very different backgrounds and perspectives. Over time, I shifted from a more confrontational approach to problem-solving toward a more collaborative mindset. Finally, the MBA gave me the time to reflect on my values and priorities. It encouraged me to question many of the assumptions I had about my career and helped me think more intentionally about the path I wanted to pursue next.
Why did you choose your current company? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to work?
Before this role, I had mostly worked in startups and scale-ups, so I wanted to experience a much larger organization and understand how a company at Amazon’s scale operates. I was also drawn to the rotational program, since it gives me the chance to explore different roles, see multiple parts of the business, and learn quickly.
Advice to current MBA students:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of the job search?
Talk to as many people as possible. Networking was not only helpful for opening doors, but also for genuinely understanding what types of roles and career paths are out there. Informational conversations were the best tool to clarify my goals.
–One thing you would change or do differently as part of the job search?
I would start reaching out to alumni earlier and be more structured about it. In the beginning, I focused a lot on finding opportunities and looking at open positions. Talking to alumni can give you a better idea of what companies are like and what they are looking for. If I could do it again, I would prioritize those interactions from the start.
–Were there any surprises regarding your current employer’s recruiting process?
What surprised me most was how fast the process was. From the first contact to receiving an offer, it took about two weeks.
–What piece of advice do you wish you had been given during your MBA?
I wish someone had emphasized earlier that the job search is as much about exploration as it is about landing a role. Taking the time to test different industries, speak to people in various functions, and reflect on what energizes you can make a big difference in finding a role that truly fits.
