From a week-long exchange to a Full-time MBA: coming full circle at ESMT

It isn't Martín Leal's first time at ESMT Berlin. In fact, before he was a Full-time MBA student, Martín (Class of 2027), came to ESMT for a GNAM week exchange in 2018. 

In this blog, Martín outlines why he was drawn back to ESMT after eight years away, and why the Full-time MBA (FTMBA) is a great choice for those who want to reframe their thinking and shake up their career paths. 

Martín also reflects on what it's like to be a Chilean living in Berlin. He explains the differences between Chilean and German work cultures, and why he chose to reach out to prospective students from LATAM by helping run an MBA info session in Spanish.  

And he describes what it is like to be one of the Young Voices at Berlin Global Dialogue 2026 – an opportunity that is giving him a platform to "speak for those who are continuously misrepresented or underrepresented." 

Hi Martín, please introduce yourself

I am Martín Leal and I’m a Full-time MBA student at ESMT Berlin. I am Chilean and have lived for almost four years in Germany. My bachelor's is in Business Administration and Economics, and I have worked in the banking industry and in the eco-social field since 2018. I have also been a freelance consultant for NGOs' social impact programs in Chile. 

You have a longer history with ESMT Berlin than many of our current students. Could you tell us a bit about that?

I did an exchange at Bocconi University in Milan during 2018. While doing it I received an email from my home university, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, inviting me to participate in the GNAM week in universities across Europe.

I chose ESMT Berlin because I had already visited Berlin during my Bocconi exchange and I really loved the city. So, I did a course in Startup Financing and Valuation which I really liked. Because of this, ESMT was at the top of my mind when I decided to pursue further studies.

Why did you choose to join the Full-time MBA program, and why at this point in your career?  

" I wanted to shake up things a little. Studying is always a good idea for that."

I was in Germany for a while and I was struggling to get into companies that I wanted and positions that I wanted. I think I came to Germany at a moment when a lot of people were coming and competition for jobs started to be super intense. I hardly had any differentiator than other candidates, so it was super hard for me to land in the job that I wanted. 

At the same time, I felt that I was a bit stuck in my career. I didn’t see much of a path for me. Or maybe I saw one, but it didn't feel appealing. So, I wanted to shake up things a little. Studying is always a good idea for that.

What is it like studying at ESMT? What is your favorite place on campus?

It is very nice. I feel like the school puts a lot into giving us a good learning experience. The campus itself is a pleasure to be in. My favorite part is actually Auditoriums 1 and 2, where I had most of my lectures. It’s really inspiring to look at the beautiful lamps hanging and looking through the window to see the Humboldt forum.

"I learnt so many strategies, and I feel more comfortable entering a negotiation now."

The negotiation class. This was a particularly sensitive subject to me. I always saw negotiation as dark arts. But the teacher told me something so powerful: I should frame it as defense against the dark arts. I learnt so many strategies, and I feel more comfortable entering a negotiation now.

You are part of a cohort where 91% have an international background. How does influence classroom discussions?

Everyone has a different perspective, and it is so interesting to hear. Each classmate comes from such a different background, and from different geographies, so it feels very diverse when it’s time to discuss a subject.

At the same time is really nurturing for you to exchange experiences with your classmates because you start seeing the world through their lenses, and that enriches your perspective.

You recently took part in an ESMT webinar about moving from Latin America to Berlin. What was this like and what advice did you give?

It is always nice to help prospective students. I felt that even more strongly in this webinar, as in my cohort I am the only Spanish-speaking person from that side of the world.

I basically motivated people to apply, to not be afraid of the process, and to trust their value as a prospective student. 

"One thing that I really like from German work culture is the separation between professional life and your personal life."

Yes, many differences. This is a funny subject to me: from my experience, I think Germans are more focused on the process than in the outcome. And they have a way to do everything. In Chilean work culture they give you more space to craft your own process and execute it. There is not a “unique way” to handle something. 

One thing that I really like from German work culture is the separation between professional life and your personal life. In Chilean work culture, work blends with personal life, which has some good things but many bad ones. I like more the German way more though. 

You have been selected as one of the Young Voices in the Berlin Global Dialogue (BGD). What does the BGD involve, and how did it feel to be chosen?

"I do believe that my background has shaped the way I understand inequality, representation, and whose voices are heard."

I’m part of Berlin Global Dialogue's Young Voices, which is a group of students from different schools within the GNAM network. We will participate in several workshops, engaging with leaders from academia, business, and policy – and we are expected to represent the voice of the next generation of leaders. 

To apply, I had to submit an essay with my motivation for joining. What motivates me is the opportunity to be a voice for those who are continuously misrepresented or underrepresented. Coming from the Global South, identifying as a queer person, and having direct Indigenous ancestry, I feel I can bring perspectives and lived experiences that are still too often absent from spaces where important decisions are made.

I do not claim to speak on behalf of these communities, but I do believe that my background has shaped the way I understand inequality, representation, and whose voices are heard. I want to bring that perspective into conversations about the challenges our generation will inherit and the kind of leadership we need to address them. 

What has been your best overall memory from the program so far?

I think the continuous interaction with my classmates. Or maybe the first week – everything felt so new and exciting as we were starting something completely new: studying after years of not being at university. 

Do you have anything you would like to tell your pre-MBA self?

To my pre-MBA self: enjoy every moment because it is going to go fast.

Thank you, Martín!

If you would like to hear more of Martín's thoughtful insights on life in the Full-time MBA and in Berlin – or to follow his journey as a BGD Young Voice – you can follow him on LinkedIn.