Sebastian Oergel’s EMBA fits perfectly around his high-ranking managerial duties at the Tom Tailor Group
Hailing from Stuttgart, Sebastian Oergel can boast over a decade of business experience in fashion, from storied Italian houses such as Ermenegildo Zegna to retail titans like Adidas and Nike.In that decade, Sebastian worked in five countries, including Germany, Britain, Hong Kong, Panama, and The Netherlands. As a result, he slotted perfectly into the diverse cohort on ESADE's Executive MBA program, which requires its students to complete three separate trips abroad to top business schools, as well as offering a four-month exchange program.
Halfway into the 16-month program, Sebastian has already begun to reap its benefits, gaining multiple fashion contacts, and is applying his learning continuously to his new role as manager in international sales at Germany's venerated Tom Tailor Group, where he is responsible for their expansion drive into Africa and the Middle East.
Why did you decide to pursue a EMBA at ESADE?
Though my supervisor initiated the process, I decided which school I would study at, taking into account several factors important to me, such as ranking, diversity, course length, methodology, class size and location.
I chose ESADE because it is, in my eyes, the best business school in Europe, and met all of my personal requirements.
I was also able to pursue electives such as negotiations, B2B sales management and strategic digital marketing, which are all directly applicable to my new role as manager in international sales at the Tom Tailor Group.
How have you gained from your MBA experience so far?
The monthly format works perfectly in tandem with my responsibilities at the Tom Tailor Group. And I can't underestimate the added value gained from the international exposure and relevant industry insights.
I've had the opportunity to visit India for an intensive study week at the Indian School of Business, conducted alongside company visits in Mumbai. There are also trips to Brazil, China, and the US.
I've gained many fresh perspectives from my classmates, I've met an impressive array of people from the fashion industry and other fields, and I am convinced that some of these contacts will open doors for new business and career opportunities.
What has been the highlight of your fashion career so far?
My experience at Adidas Group was certainly a highlight. I had the chance to test products that my footballing heroes would use, and got to spend my afternoons on the football pitch.
I was proud to work for such a revered company, and enjoyed exciting work with international exposure, close friends and myriad sporting opportunities.
Part of the reason why I’ve enjoyed working for the Tom Tailor Group so much is that I can already see the value I’ve created for the company.
When I joined, we only had 2 Franchise Stores and 9 Multilabel areas, but now these figures are much higher. It’s so rewarding to see customers queuing up to pay for your products.
How has international exposure benefited your career?
In total I have worked about two years abroad, and those experiences certainly made me more culturally-aware and open-minded.
In my current role I am working predominantly with partners from Muslim countries as we seek to expand into new international markets. Even though I had never worked or lived in that part of the world before, being open and culturally aware was enough, and enabled me to become a part of the team much easier.
Do you think your experience at well-known brands made you more attractive to ESADE as an applicant?
Actually, I believe my background in wholesale fashion was what got me accepted, as I was the only candidate from the industry in my intake.
Furthermore, on Executive MBA programs like at ESADE, applicants who have been sponsored by their employers are considered more attractive, as it says to the university that these applicants enjoy the full support of their employer.
What are the key things EMBA applicants take into account when deciding on a program?
EMBA applicants should always consider the seniority of a program’s class profile, and how well the program will fit around their current working role. Finally, you need to choose programs and electives based on what you want to do. Some programs are better suited to entrepreneurs than people looking to move into executive positions.
What are your plans for the future?
My girlfriend and I would like to live abroad for a few years. I believe living and working abroad is not only important for your professional career, but also for your personal development.
I would also love to undergo a big personal challenge. One of the ideas I’ve had with a friend has been to cycle from Germany to China. I want to have experiences I can look back on with pride, both in my professional and personal life.
Student Reviews
Transformative Journey at ESADE Business School
My time at ESADE Business School has been beyond remarkable. From the moment of the application process, the staff has been super helpful and responsive on every single email! The faculty are highly engaging, the peers collaborative and the curriculum cutting-edge, encouraging me to push my own boundaries and broaden my understanding of business. With practical learning at its core, ESADE has provided me with crucial skills for success in the real world. Not only is this school an ideal place to develop yourself; it's also home to so many fantastic opportunities, friendships and growth. If you're ready for change and want to thrive in the business world then this is definitely the university for you!
Esade review
As I am just starting off in September, I do not have any hands-on information about the education or the university itself. However, I can tell you about the experience I have had with the admin staff, which was always extremely positive. As I am a scholarship student, I had some hardships with reserving my place as I needed to wait for the result of my scholarship application, otherwise, I would not have been able to attend the university. They kindly offered me to hold my place without paying which was a big help for me. Additionally, any time I had problems with the IT system or any administrative task they would always help me in a day or two.
Bachelor Business administration
ESADE University stands as a beacon of academic excellence and innovation. With its dynamic programs, world-class faculty, and vibrant campus culture, ESADE offers a transformative educational experience. From cutting-edge business education to a commitment to societal impact, ESADE surpasses expectations. It's a remarkable institution that nurtures tomorrow's leaders.
Excellent education.
ESADE is a quality university, the professors are the best in the area and this is evident in the student's academic progress. Additionally, the university is responsible for providing opportunities to access the world of work. It is a university internationally recognized for its quality and excellence. It is located in the best neighborhood of Barcelona.
Excellent teachers and classes and a superb international experience
If you are looking for a law specialization master's degree (LLM) in the non so traditional areas of law, and you are seeking for an international fully enriching experience, ESADE is your best choice.
ESADE started as a business school so the MBA and other business degrees are their core. Nonetheless, law education and in particular the specialisation master's (international business law and intellectual property and ICT law) are also on the top Europe's LLM of their fields. They combine an excellent program, with the best teachers available in Barcelona and with a more than enough amount of resources to study and help the student to get initiated in their career field. Also, this is the best international experience out there; personally, I got to share a classroom with other 25 students, where only 6 of them were Spanish, the other 19 including myself were a mixture of different nationalities, especially from Latin American countries.
What an enriching experience!
The program was super complete and touched on all the key points I considered important in a Master of Law, Intellectual Property and Technology. In addition, I was able to take advantage of business, communication, leadership and other disciplines, so important in the training of a complete and multifaceted professional. It is also great that all teachers are lawyers, so they can practice the knowledge they teach us on a daily basis. In this way, they are able to transmit theoretical knowledge to us with a much more practical approach, super useful for our future. In this way, we are able to penetrate the network of contacts in our areas, which can be extremely beneficial for our career.
I also believe that the University is really concerned with the students, in helping them in everything they need, which can be demonstrated, for example, in the current pandemic situation, since it has always tried to act in such a way as to harm the students as little as possible, providing the support and compensation that they considered fair.
In conclusion, I would like to thank ESADE for providing me with one of the best experiences of my life, in which I have made friends for life, and from which I leave with excellent academic preparation, ready to face the challenges of a professional career.
The online platform and the involvment of students and teachers
The online platform is very agile to work and gives you great flexibility to follow the program. Secondly, I was surprised by the involvement of students and teachers. This has made the program very interesting with links to extensions of the agenda. Quite a good surprise. I would clearly recommend it.
Great class cohesion, superb study location, super professors
I loved the class cohesion with plenty of international students from all over the world. Great to have that mix during a practical business project to do with the local economy of the Costa Brava.
Studying in Barcelona is simply amazing, and even though the university is not directly in the center, it is in a really nice part of the city with great views over the old town and the sea. I always enjoyed my walk from the metro station to the school.
The professors were nice and motivated, and as classes were small, it allowed a very good learning atmosphere.
Amazing experience!
The professors are qualified, passionate, and dive deeply into the topics while always making class engaging. Hands-on experience with companies to solve real issues - offering a great opportunity to apply the learnings and gain more relevant experience. The study tours and minor class trips are also adding value to the course, along with many career and social events, which help create a good environment. Would highly recommend!
ESADE Business School allows me to build amazing and long-lasting friendships.
ESADE Business School has successfully created an environment where engaged, open-minded, passionate and problem-solving individuals can proliferate both academically and professionally as they establish friendships with students/professionals from all over the world.
Career Pivot
I decided to pursue the executive MBA at ESADE after speaking with several alumni about their backgrounds and reasons for choosing this program. Coming from tech, I wanted to learn about other aspects of a company and get assistance in creating my own business plan. The open day was well planned and informative complete with a sample class and case studies. If you’re in doubt, I recommend you attend one of these events.
