Waina Landauro is the definition of a career revitalizer. With an impressive entrepreneurial history under his belt, the IESE MBA represented an inflection point for his new professional trajectory. Waina shares how IESE laid the groundwork for his career at Google.
There are many reasons for joining an MBA program, with one of the most prevalent being to change careers. By most metrics, Waina Landauro was riding a wave of success when he decided to retrain himself with an MBA. His resume featured successful startups, self-initiated projects, and experience as an independent IT contractor.
However, with one eye on the future, Waina knew it was time for something different. “I felt that I was hitting a wall,” he recalls. “I really wanted to experience the corporate world and join a large tech company. I thought that an MBA was probably the quickest and most certain way of achieving that goal.” (00:39)
Once he was committed to getting the degree, the next step was deciding on a school.
Part of Waina’s decision to choose IESE Business School was in the human touch of the application process. He visited the campus and got to know the staff who showed genuine interest in his plans and ambitions. Waina also points to the practicalities of IESE, noting that “the price tag was definitely a positive compared to other American programs I got accepted into.” (01:26)
Additionally, IESE’s reputation for quality education goes before it. Ranked third in the world by the Financial Times, its full-time MBA is a solid reference point for business schools.
A recent report revealed that 87% of young professionals would consider switching jobs if they found one more aligned with their values. So it follows that learning ethical business practices is often high up on prospective MBA students’ checklists. Top business schools like IESE are hyper-aware of this generation shift and present the values front and center.
IESE distinguishes itself from other business schools by its focus on ethics. In the case of IESE, ethics and good business practices complement each other.
“In every aspect of the MBA, obviously you have the financial aspect and the growth and financial success that you’re supposed to get out of any transaction”, Waina explains. “But it really puts the emphasis on doing the right thing and that resonates a lot with me.” (02:01)
Making a tangible impact has always been a part of Waina’s vision. For example, the first startup he worked at brought electricity to rural communities in East Africa. Therefore, IESE’s ethos was an important factor in his decision to study there.
Going into his MBA Waina had an eye on joining a Big Tech company. However, the focus on entrepreneurship at IESE meant Waina further developed his personal and business skills.
Waina states that one of the most interesting aspects of studying entrepreneurship at IESE was his introduction to VC (venture capital). How it operates, how they make money, and how they choose to make their investments. (03:01)
Despite having first-hand experience as an entrepreneur, IESE shed new light on an area Waina was considering moving away from. His changed perspective proved to be a stroke of good luck. Although planning to return to Google, where he did his internship, Waina graduated mid-pandemic when the job market was rather barren.
After gaining deeper insights into entrepreneurship at IESE, and backed by the school community’s support, Waina charted his own course. “I really leveraged the school,” he says. “I talked to lots of professors, I got into the Angels Network, I leveraged the alumni network that helped me and referred me to go into Techstars.” (04:42)
The triple threat of Waina’s previous work experience, newfound entrepreneurial insight, and network support were fertile conditions for success. The result was Mockmate, an AI platform for job seekers to run mock interviews. “My venture post-MBA was more successful than any other I created before. I think it’s because I learned a lot during the MBA. It’s because I had a network of professors and alumni and support from the school in general,” Waina explains. (05:00)
As far as success stories go, Waina’s case is curious, creating a successful business despite initially avoiding entrepreneurship.
Fast forward to the present, Waina’s career path has made yet another pivot. After two successful years leading Mockmate, he has landed his goal of a job in a large tech company. As a Google Startup Success Manager, Waina channels his past experience and lessons learned daily.
Advising startups on their cloud strategy, Waina points to marketing, operations, and VC classes as directly transferable from his MBA. However, there are also numerous soft skills that have proven invaluable.
“There’s a big part of the MBA that teaches you about the power dynamics and influence you can have in large organizations,” Waina says. “I come from startups so you know this is very new for me … but some classes like power and influence help you understand those dynamics, how to put yourself forward, and how to advance your career.” (08:16)
Waina’s unintentional, yet successful, return to entrepreneurship and his seamless integration with Google proves the value of the IESE MBA. Waina’s post-MBA journey is a prime example of how an MBA can open up a vast range of professional avenues.
If you’d like to learn more about entrepreneurship at IESE from Waina or other alumni, it’s easier than you might think. Head to the MBAGRADSCHOOLS Ambassador page today and reach out to them directly.
