Eva Maria Karner, Esade MBA Class of 2028
Age: 27 years
Hometown: Milan, Italy
Undergraduate Institution and Major: EHL Hospitality Business School
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Business Development & Strategy Manager, JSW Realty, Mumbai; hospitality and hotel development/operations roles across Europe and the US. Approximately 5 years of post-graduate professional experience.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
After graduating from EHL, I wanted to build real professional experience before returning to school. I deliberately moved across different areas of the hospitality and real estate industries, from hotel development and corporate strategy to operations and, most recently, business development and strategy at JSW Realty in Mumbai.
My experience in India was particularly formative. I had the opportunity to work closely on large-scale real estate projects, help build a hospitality vertical from the ground up, engage with international hotel operators, and contribute to the early development of a major museum project. These experiences gave me a much broader view of how businesses and projects are built, but they also made me realize that I wanted to strengthen my general management and strategic toolkit.
An MBA felt like the right next step because I wanted to consolidate what I have learned through experience, challenge my own way of thinking, and prepare myself for broader responsibilities. The timing also feels right because I have enough professional experience to bring a real perspective to the classroom while still having a lot I want to learn.
Why did you choose Esade? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Esade stood out to me because of its combination of academic rigor, international environment, and very collaborative culture. Having lived and worked across several countries, I wanted an MBA where the people around me would be as important to my learning as the classroom itself.
I was also drawn to the flexibility of the program and its strong focus on applying what you learn to real business situations. My career has always been very hands-on, so I wanted a program that would challenge me intellectually while keeping a strong connection to the real world.
I was also particularly attracted to Esade’s strong entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystem. The opportunity to be surrounded by people building new businesses, exploring ideas, and taking an entrepreneurial approach to problem-solving is something I wanted to be part of, especially as I think about the next step in my own career. And, of course, Barcelona was a major part of the decision. I love cities with a strong identity, great food, access to the sea, and an outdoor lifestyle, so Esade gives me the opportunity to experience all of that while studying in a truly international environment.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2028?
I think I bring a combination of international exposure and a fairly unusual career path. I have worked across hospitality operations, hotel development, real estate strategy, and cultural projects, and have lived in very different environments, from Europe and the US to India.
I hope to bring a perspective that connects strategy with the realities of actually operating businesses and projects. I also enjoy bringing people together, whether around a dinner table, an aperitivo, or a spontaneous weekend trip, so I hope to contribute to the social side of the class as much as the academic one.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I have always been drawn to the sea. I started rowing competitively in high school, and since then my love for water has only grown. Today, I am happiest surfing, kitesurfing, sailing, and, most of all, scuba diving. I especially love diving in places where I can see sharks, and I’ve been lucky enough to have some pretty incredible encounters with them.
Post-MBA career interests:
I am interested in strategic management and project development roles at the intersection of real estate, hospitality, culture, and experiences. I would like to work on projects where I can be involved from the early strategic thinking through to development and execution.
Longer term, I would like to lead businesses or platforms that bring together strong commercial fundamentals with a distinctive sense of place and experience. I am deliberately keeping the geography open – having worked across different countries, I enjoy international environments and would like to continue building a career that allows me to move across markets.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would spend a lot of time understanding why I wanted an MBA now, rather than simply why I wanted an MBA. For me, the application became much easier once I understood the story connecting my different career choices and could explain what I wanted to do next.
I would also absolutely speak to current students and alumni. Those conversations gave me a much better sense of the culture of each school than reading a website ever could.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would start the process earlier. There are many small pieces to an MBA application, and the combination of essays, recommendations, testing, school research, and interviews can become surprisingly time-consuming.
I would also leave more time between drafting and submitting essays. Coming back to them after a few days makes it much easier to spot what actually sounds like you.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The standardized testing process! It was probably the least enjoyable part of the application for me. What helped was treating it as a project with a defined end point and not letting it take over the rest of the application.
What is your initial impression of the Esade students/culture/community?
My first impression has been how international and open the community is. People have very different professional and personal backgrounds, but there is a genuine willingness to get to know each other and share experiences.
I have also been struck by how much happens outside the classroom. There is a strong social side to the MBA, and people seem very willing to organize dinners, trips, sports, and events.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I’m particularly interested in joining Women in Business, the LATAM Club, the Asian Club, and the Entrepreneurship Club. I’m drawn to the international perspective of the LATAM and Asian Clubs, while Women in Business connects with my interest in female leadership. The Entrepreneurship Club also appeals to me because I enjoy being involved in building new businesses and projects.
What is one thing you have learned about Esade that has surprised you?
How much the experience extends beyond the MBA itself. I knew Esade had a strong international community, but I was surprised by how interconnected the wider ecosystem is – across students, alumni, clubs, companies, and the Barcelona business community. The amount of guest speakers is also very high.
I also did not expect the campus and city to become such an important part of the experience. Barcelona makes it very easy to combine an intense academic year with a very active life outside the classroom.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am most excited about changing perspectives and seeing the business world through a different lens. I hope to challenge some of the ways I have approached problems so far, while learning from people with very different backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking. More than anything, I look forward to being enriched by all the encounters, conversations, and learning opportunities throughout the year.
