#2.MBA and Mom Life with a 3-Year-Old Daughter, While Juggling her Husband’s Job
Hello, I'm Mei.
I've just graduated from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.
(You can find my profile here)
Before studying abroad, I struggled with the conflict between pursuing an MBA and my life plan, feeling the challenges that women face when attempting an overseas MBA journey. However, upon enrolling at IESE, I encountered many "MBA moms" and realized that the world offers diverse paths and joys that I hadn't known before.
Up until now on Note, I've shared my own experiences in forms like "Maternity Retrospectives" and "Parenting Diaries". Wanting others to know about the variety of forms available, I decided to interview the wonderful "MBA moms" around me.
For the second interview, I had the pleasure of speaking with Lin, one of my inspiring classmates at IESE.
Lin is known for her strong commitment to learning and active classroom presence—she always comes prepared and actively engages in discussions. Beyond the classroom, she’s a warm and considerate person who’s deeply attentive to those around her, making her someone we all trust and admire.
In this interview, Lin, a mother of one daughter, shares what drives her, how she approaches challenges, and what it’s like to pursue an MBA while raising a child. Her experience is a testament to quiet resilience and purposeful ambition.
About Lin
Originally from China, Lin majored in Mechanical Engineering during her undergraduate studies. After graduating from a university in China, she moved to France, where she earned a master's degree from a French engineering school.
She then built her career in the food industry in France, working as a project manager.
In 2020, she gave birth to her daughter. Three years later, in 2023, she was enrolled in the MBA program at IESE Business School in Spain.
Q1. Why did you go to France after undergraduate studies?
Looking back, I often think how a single moment of curiosity changed the entire course of my life.
At the end of my undergraduate studies in China, a French engineering school visited our university to promote their Master’s program. It was a spontaneous decision—I noticed their campaign, applied, and soon found myself preparing for an interview. To my surprise and excitement, I was accepted.
I had never lived abroad before, and the idea of exploring a new country deeply appealed to me. I received the acceptance letter in April, and without wasting time, I began learning French in May and June to prepare for the big move.
I arrived in France at the end of July. The school offered an intensive French language course—eight hours a day throughout August—to help international students prepare. The Master’s program officially began in September and lasted two years.
What still amazes me is how randomly it all began. This experience taught me that life is full of unexpected opportunities. Sometimes, it only takes a bit of curiosity and courage to set something big in motion.
After completing my degree, I was offered a job by a French company. Initially, I planned to stay for just a few years. But life had other plans—while working in France, I met my future husband. That decision to “just try something new” ended up leading to a long-term career and a new home.
Q2. What made you decide to pursue an MBA at IESE?
When did you first start considering this path?
To be honest, pursuing an MBA had never been part of my original career plan.
My husband and I were both working in France when, three years ago, he was transferred to the Spanish office of his company. We decided to relocate to Madrid together as a family. I was optimistic about finding work in Spain and, within just three months, I landed a job.
However, it didn’t take long for me to realize that the role wasn’t fulfilling. The tasks were simple, the responsibilities minimal, and I felt underutilized. I wanted to grow, to be challenged, to contribute at a higher level—but finding a better opportunity proved difficult, largely due to my limited Spanish language skills. From my earlier experience in France, I knew that not speaking the local language fluently can be a significant barrier to finding meaningful, higher-level work.
Rather than wait and hope for things to improve, I began considering my options. That’s when the idea of pursuing further education came into focus. I started researching MBA programs and soon discovered IESE Business School in Barcelona. Its strong international reputation and high ranking were key factors in my decision. Although we were based in Madrid, I chose IESE because I saw the MBA as a serious investment—both in time and money—and I wanted to make it count. For me, that meant joining a program where I could learn from world-class faculty and be surrounded by smart, driven, and inspiring peers.
In the end, choosing IESE wasn’t just about earning a degree—it was about opening new doors and redefining what my career could look like.
Q3. I remember your daughter was three years old when you enrolled. What was the MBA application process like for you, while working and raising a young child?
Preparing for the MBA wasn’t just challenging—it was one of the most demanding periods of my life.
The toughest part, without a doubt, was getting ready for the TOEFL and GMAT exams. I was working full-time and caring for my family, so finding time to study meant carving it out from evenings and weekends. I knew I couldn’t manage it all on my own, so I enrolled in a prep course. It was expensive, but for someone juggling a job and family responsibilities, it was the most practical choice. I simply didn’t have the luxury of spending hours researching resources or building a study plan from scratch.
My days quickly became a routine of long evenings filled with study sessions, and weekends dedicated to practice tests and lessons. Even during our summer vacation, I didn’t let up. For three weeks, I woke up at 6:30 every morning to study for the GMAT before my husband and daughter were awake. After that, we’d spend the day at the beach as a family. Then, once they went to bed, I’d open my books again. There were no breaks—not even one full day of rest.
In total, it took me six months: three months for the TOEFL and another three for the GMAT. It was exhausting, but also strangely motivating. One of the most touching memories from that time was how my daughter would encourage me. She’d say, “Mom, go study, go study.” She didn’t fully understand what I was doing, but she could feel the importance of it. I believe, in her own way, she’ll remember that period—how perseverance looked, even if she couldn’t name it yet.
Q4. How did you organize family things to make starting the MBA possible? For example, how did you and your husband manage his job and your daughter’s school arrangements?
I made the decision to leave my job shortly after receiving my offer from IESE—by March, I had officially resigned. From that moment, everything moved quickly. I began the search for an apartment in Barcelona, a school for my daughter, and started organizing the logistics of our relocation, including working with a moving company. I managed all of this preparation on my own.
To make sure we chose the right place to live, we traveled to Barcelona twice before the summer. During those visits, we explored different neighborhoods and viewed apartments, trying to get a feel for where we could build our new life.
For my husband, relocating wasn’t as straightforward. His job was based in Madrid, so we needed a flexible arrangement. He negotiated with his company to work remotely from Barcelona two to three days a week, commuting to Madrid for the remaining days. Thankfully, his company was supportive and approved the setup—it was a huge relief, and we felt incredibly fortunate.
We explored several possible scenarios: all three of us moving to Barcelona; me going alone while my husband and daughter stayed in Madrid; or me relocating with our daughter while he remained in Madrid for work. There was even a moment when we considered me commuting between cities during the week. But once I received my acceptance from IESE, the decision was clear. I was fully committed to pursuing the MBA—we just had to find a way to make it work. And we did.
Q5. Were there any time management strategies or prioritization techniques you found helpful in balancing your academic and parenting responsibilities?
People often ask if there's a secret to managing an intense MBA program while balancing work, family, and personal life. The truth? There isn’t one. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, and most of us are ordinary people who simply need time to study, absorb, and make sense of what we learn. For me, it came down to making choices—and accepting the sacrifices that came with them.
What I chose to give up was social life. During the first year of the program, I hardly participated in any social events. Maybe once or twice per trimester, I joined an outing—usually at the end of the term with my team, or occasionally with members of the Chinese student community. That was it. I never attended the larger, well-known social events organized by IESE students. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to—it was simply a conscious decision based on my priorities.
My study time was limited to just two or three hours in the evenings, which wasn’t nearly enough to complete all the readings and assignments. To keep up, I dedicated Friday nights, Saturday mornings, and Sunday evenings to catching up on coursework. It wasn’t easy, but I knew what I wanted to focus on.
For me, the first year was about academics and family. It was intense and demanding, but it laid the foundation I needed. In the second year, I finally found more breathing room—and with that came time to enjoy the social side of the MBA experience. Looking back, I have no regrets. It was the right balance for that stage of my life.
Q6. Were there any particularly challenging moments when balancing your studies and parenting felt especially difficult?
The most difficult moment of my MBA journey came during the Christmas break of my first year. Just before the exams, I developed a severe throat infection that lasted nearly two weeks. Even drinking water was painful. I couldn’t eat, lost five kilos, and had almost no energy. Yet, I still had to go to school, prepare for exams, and most challenging of all—take care of my daughter.
At the time, my husband was commuting to Madrid for work from Monday to Thursday, so I was managing everything on my own. It was an exhausting and humbling experience. That period taught me something I hadn’t fully grasped before: getting sick during an MBA is hard—but it's even harder when you’re also a parent.
When you’re a student without children, you can take a day off, rest on the couch, and focus on recovery. But when you have a child, there's no pause button. Your child doesn’t understand why you’re unwell. They still want to play, eat, and go about their day as usual. And you have to keep up.
After that experience, I started taking my health more seriously. I began taking vitamin C regularly—especially during high-risk periods like after holidays when everyone returns from vacation and seasonal illnesses spread easily. Staying healthy isn’t just about protecting yourself; it’s about protecting your ability to be there for the people who depend on you.
Q7. What was your life like outside of campus during the MBA program?
By the second year of my MBA, our life had settled into a steady rhythm. Weekends became the cornerstone of our family time—a comforting routine that brought stability amid the intensity of academic life.
Saturday mornings were reserved for grocery shopping to prepare for the week ahead. After that, we’d usually head to the beach. Living in Barcelona, we were lucky to be so close to the sea, and we made the most of it, going almost every weekend. Sundays had their own rhythm: mornings at the park, afternoons at home, and video calls with our families back in China. It wasn’t particularly glamorous or eventful—but it was our normal, and it worked for us.
Unlike many of my classmates, I didn’t spend weekends socializing with other MBA students. With a young daughter at home, I couldn’t just go out and join events spontaneously. I naturally gravitated toward students who were also parents—people who understood the pace and priorities of family life.
Weekdays were a different story. Family time was limited. My daughter would wake up at 8 a.m., and we had about an hour together before the day began. In the evenings, she finished school at 6 p.m.—I’d cook, we’d eat, read together, and before we knew it, it was bedtime. Altogether, we had maybe three hours as a family during the weekdays.
That’s why weekends meant so much to us. They weren’t just a break from school—they were precious pockets of time to be together, to reconnect, and to slow down, even if just for a little while.
Q8. Finally, do you have a message for young women who are currently struggling to balance their personal and professional lives?
Balancing an MBA with family life isn’t easy—but it’s not impossible. The key is accepting that you can’t have everything, and more importantly, you don’t need to.
As a parent, your life will look different from that of your single classmates. You won’t have the same party nights or Instagram-perfect beach photos, and that’s okay—those experiences belong to a different chapter of life. What matters is being clear about what’s most important to you.
Once you accept that you have limited time and energy, it becomes easier to focus on what truly brings you joy and fulfillment. For me, that meant prioritizing my family. They’ve always been my anchor—offering love, support, and a sense of purpose throughout this intense journey.
Talking with other MBA parents helped, too. It reminded me that I wasn’t alone. Many of us were making similar trade-offs, choosing quiet moments with our kids over nights out, and finding connection in shared experiences rather than big events.
One of my professors, in our final class, said something that stayed with me: “To be happy, what you need is not an easy life, but a heart that is in love.” That really resonated with me. For all the challenges, my heart is full—because I have my family. And for me, that’s more than enough.
Every decision comes with trade-offs. If you choose to dedicate more time to your family, don’t feel disheartened when you see classmates posting beautiful party or travel photos on social media. And if you choose to invest heavily in academics or networking, don’t carry guilt about spending less time at home.
The key is understanding and accepting the consequences of your choices—and making peace with them.
There are many ways to build friendships and grow your network. It’s not only about parties or big social events. Some of the strongest connections I made at IESE were formed in classrooms, through group projects, and over shared challenges. Even though I didn’t attend many social gatherings, I still came away with meaningful friendships that I truly value.
You don’t have to live your MBA experience the same way as anyone else. There’s no one “right” path—only the one that aligns with your values, priorities, and circumstances. The most important thing is to know what you want and to stand confidently behind the life you choose.
Thank you for reading until the end!
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