Ria de Borja is an ESSEC Global MBA- Luxury Brand Management Alumna who worked as a fashion and features editor before starting her MBA. Ria decided to do the MBA to learn more about the luxury industry and deepen her knowledge in the world of luxe. From working for Louis Vuitton in Paris post-MBA, to working for several publications as a luxury writer, she gained a lot of expertise in the field before returning to her homeland in the Philippines to start her own business. Currently the president of RDB Media, she focuses on providing creative copywriting and content marketing services to companies, she is also the President of the ESSEC Alumni Philippine Chapter.

Ria has not always been an entrepreneur, but she decided to take that road when she summed up all her experiences and knew that she could offer her talents to a broader market. In this interview, she talks about how the Global MBA prepared her to be an entrepreneur. She described the program in these three words...

#LUXE #MEMORABLE #FOCUSED

Can you tell us about yourself?

Ria:  I am from the Philippines, and moved to Paris in 2008 to do my MBA at ESSEC Business School. I worked as an editor and content strategist up until then. Post-MBA, I worked with leading brands, and then started my own business doing creative copywriting and content marketing for companies, drawing from the wealth of my own experience. The ESSEC Global MBA taught me alot about the world of luxury, working in the global markets and intercultural business relations.

Why did you choose ESSEC and this program specifically?

Ria: ESSEC was the only business school that offered an MBA program specializing in Luxury Brand Management. I chose this program specifically as I was really looking for  something that would let me experience the world of luxury so closely, and with the school's expertise and location, Paris, the heart of luxury, I didn't look any further.

How did the program assist you in achieving your goal of being an entrepreneur?

Ria: I learned a lot about all aspects of business, from marketing, to operations, to finance. I was able to draw from my various classes’ wealth of case studies to be able to think of how I’d eventually use this in my business one day. I was not thinking then of formally starting a business. I knew I had to gain some experience before going down that road. I was really able to apply what I learned in school.

Best moment(s) in the program?

Ria: The best part was the network I made and people I met. The interactions with my classmates who came from different corners of the world. I learned so much about them and about how to communicate with people from various cultures.

 

What is the biggest challenge you've overcome?

Ria: It was quite a challenge to learn how several aspects of a company worked and how different people from various cultures worked differently. Everybody came into the MBA with their own set of skills and experiences. The MBA was an eye-opening experience for many of my classmates and me.  

How did the program enable you to meet your challenges for the future?

Ria: I was able to take on more challenging roles, specifically in marketing, like I envisioned. I was able to look at how operations worked, and today, it is useful for me and my own company. All the knowledge and skills I learnt in class helps me in deciding what to do. Another aspect I really appreciated was the 'bigger picture' approach of looking at things, and that became very relevant for my business. If I was going to be responsible from the beginning, knowing that every decision could affect everything, I was able to see things more clearly. I was able to move in a direction that defined my brand from the very beginning.

Did you envision starting an entrepreneurial project before beginning the program, or did it come during/after it?

Ria: The program did prepare me to run my own company and gave me the necessary confidence, skills, knowledge and network for the same. It was always a lingering thought but the whole idea of being an Entrepreneur came after it when I realized it was time to start my own agency so I could offer my expertise to the industry. I came into the MBA wanting to work for Louis Vuitton, and I got my opportunity a few years later. 

Your advice to future applicants?

Ria: Dream big, do your best, be entrepreneurial in mindset. Always think, "If it were my own business, what would I do?" It helps in moving forward with your own ideas to start a company. You will gain insights about what to do in your own business, if you eventually start one. You develop a sense of responsibility when you think that way and it helps you envision your own business.

Learn more about the ESSEC Global MBA program:

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