Martha Sanchez – a journey of personal and professional growth
Martha Sanchez
Participant of the International MBA 2024
What was your background prior to studying at emlyon?
"I'm originally from Mexico and have an academic background in Economics and Finance. During my Bachelor's studies, I had the opportunity to spend six months in Paris on a study exchange program. It was my first real experience living in another country and immersing myself in a different culture. After completing my degree, I returned to Mexico and worked at Danone for five years in the Commercial and Trade Marketing departments. Later, I transitioned into e-commerce with a role at Mercado Libre. At that time, my focus was more on the sales side, which suited me because I’ve always considered myself a ‘people person.’ Although I’m very analytical and passionate about working with numbers, I also thrive on human interaction — I like both to feel fully engaged in my work."
Why the International MBA at emlyon?
"I wanted to move beyond sales and saw the IMBA as the best way to expand my skillset, take on greater responsibility, and push myself outside of my comfort zone. Studying an MBA abroad felt like the right step to achieve both my professional and personal growth goals.
“From the beginning, I felt a strong connection with emlyon. I was especially drawn to their clear commitment to CSR and sustainability, as well as the importance they place on entrepreneurship—an area I’m very interested in exploring in the future. The international diversity of the program and its structure were also key factors in my decision. Studying in France allowed me to grow not only academically and professionally but also linguistically. While the program was in English, I had daily opportunities to practice and improve my French.
“Of course, moving from Mexico City, with its 22 million residents, to Lyon, with around 500,000, was a big change. But Lyon turned out to be a vibrant, welcoming city that’s perfect for student life. Its growing international atmosphere also played a big part in choosing emlyon over other business schools based in France."
What were the key takeaways from your emlyon student experience?
“The interaction with different cultures on a day-to-day basis was probably the defining aspect to studying at emlyon. You’d be working in close collaboration with classmates from very different parts of the world, all of whom would bring varying ideas, methodologies and mindsets to the table. So successfully delivering projects as part of such a melting pot of a team was especially satisfying and rewarding, learning and using essential soft skills along the way. Effective time management was also something we had to grasp pretty quickly, as the program was a dense one (in the positive sense of the term).
"Luckily we had professors who were not only experts in their fields but also deeply supportive and knowledgeable about the real-world business environment. During my time on the program, I received great guidance from my professional coach. When I took on an internship in a different field, I kept in regular contact with one faculty member, who was incredibly helpful. He had taught courses on Operations and Supply Chain and offered me valuable advice on how to apply those concepts during my internship. His support made a big difference and was truly appreciated."
What does your current role entail?
“I’ve been working as a Pathways Operations Manager at Amazon starting with my internship last summer in Paris, and now based full-time in Metz. I’m having to manage the inbound operations process, which involves ensuring all my associates and their own operations are running smoothly in order to maintain flow and, above all, satisfied customers. The role entails a lot of team management and requires a good grasp of the various tools employed within the company to make sure that the stocking area is functioning as it should and that our forecasting is as accurate as possible. I'm currently managing a team of over 100 people, which presents a significant challenge in ensuring that everyone is aligned and working toward the same goal, all this in my second foreign language, French. From time to time I stop and think just how incredible the impact can be of a decision like coming to live, study and then work in France, as I have done.”
What advice would you give to prospective students considering a similar path?
“On a general level, growth is a key factor in any major life decision—whether personal, professional, or both. Stepping outside your comfort zone, as I did, can be a powerful catalyst for development and makes the journey all the more rewarding. What you’ll learn in the classroom will be fundamental to this process, but what you do with those learnings outside the classroom will be even more important. On a more deeply personal level, one of the most valuable aspects of an MBA program like emlyon’s is the relationships you build. Many of the people you meet and connect with will become lifelong friends and professional contacts. That sense of community is a truly special part of the emlyon experience and something to be genuinely appreciated.”