Vittorio Monferrino only applied to one MBA program: IESE. He wanted a two-year program, a supportive community, top-notch education, and strong consulting opportunities–all of which he found at the Barcelona-based business school. Vittorio’s attitude and drive, along with the community and MBA education he found at IESE, led to his current role as a consultant at BCG. Learn more from his journey in this Real Humans: Alumni.
Vittorio Monferrino, IESE MBA ’24, Consultant at BCG
Age: 29
Hometown: Genova, Italy
Undergraduate Institution and Major: UNIGE (University of Genova) – Industrial & Management Engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Innovation leader, GFT Group (~4 years, tech); Account manager, Expert-AI (part-time, ~2 years, advisory); Senior advisor & mentor, freelance (part-time, ~2 years, advisory)
Post-MBA Work Experience: Consultant, BCG (current, ~7 months, consulting); Associate director, IESE (~3 months, education); Summer senior associate, Strategy& (~3 months, consulting)
Why did you choose to attend business school?
I had a clear vision of who I wanted to become, and I knew I needed a change to get there. I’m a pragmatic person, so I focused on three areas: personal growth, professional growth, and friendships. The MBA was the best way to level up in all three. The constant challenges pushed me to learn so much about myself. IESE’s case method gave me a fresh approach to problem-solving, and I met companies—like BCG Dubai—that might not have considered me otherwise. Most importantly, I built strong, lifelong connections with classmates who I shared these incredible experiences with.
Why IESE? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
It may sound cliché, but it was all about the people. Even though IESE wasn’t my first choice initially, it became the only school I applied to after talking with alumni. They spoke so highly of the experience and the genuine friendships they formed. Now that I’ve graduated, I understand exactly what they meant – the amount of lifelong relationships I’ve formed in just two years, it’s impressive. I also wanted a two-year program, a supportive community, top-notch education, and strong consulting opportunities, all of which IESE offered.
What about your MBA experience prepared you for your current career at BCG?
IESE’s teaching style and case method were fantastic. The professors and visiting professionals were top-notch, and my first-year MBA team was truly exceptional. I’m grateful for how much I learned from them. Beyond that, the IESE Consulting Club and the Career Development Center played a huge role in helping me land where I am today.
What was your internship during business school? How did that inform your post-MBA career choice of BCG?
From day one, I aimed for a consulting role in Dubai, so I focused all my energy on that goal. My consulting internship there confirmed that I was on the right path and strengthened my resolve to continue in that direction.
Why did you choose your current company? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to work?
I was committed to consulting in Dubai because of its international environment, high-impact projects, and the region’s future potential. When comparing offers, I looked at project variety, the 90+ nationalities in the office, and a firm’s global network. BCG matched my priorities perfectly. After seven months, I’m incredibly happy with my decision.
Advice to current MBA students:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of the job search?
Talk with your classmates (yes, even if you have to pester them) and prepare together. You have so many resources right at your fingertips. When I was prepping for consulting, I did market-sizing exercises with friends—each of us would solve the same prompt differently. Seeing how others think and challenging your own way of reasoning is extremely valuable.
–One thing you would change or do differently as part of the job search?
I would interact more with second-year students. They’ve already been through what you’re going through, made mistakes, and learned from them. Their fresh insights are priceless.
–Were there any surprises regarding your current employer’s recruiting process?
We often think “cracking the case” is everything, but that’s not true. Communication style, presence, and how you connect during the fit interview matter even more. You still need to solve the case, but it’s about collaborating with your interviewer—listening to hints and finding the solution together. Ultimately, they want someone they’d enjoy working with day to day.
–What piece of advice do you wish you had been given during your MBA?
In life, you either win or learn. You’ll face challenges and fail at times, but don’t give up. You don’t need to be the smartest—you need grit. Know what you want and fight for it, and don’t compare yourself to others. When I applied for internships, I got only two interview invites out of more than ten applications. Some peers got invited 80% of the time. Of course, it stung, but I refused to be discouraged. The real fight is with yourself, and if you keep improving day by day, you’ll get there. Even if things don’t go as planned, you’ll land on your feet and build a better future for yourself. So, keep smiling—positive energy tends to come right back to you! 😊
