Jose Puyana
Jose Puyana shares his Global MBA journey and reflects how his Bayes experience enabled him to combine work, study and family commitments, as well as achieve his career goals.
My Global MBA journey
My name is Jose Puyana and I am a Principal Consultant at Transform (previously Cadence Innova), an award-winning management consultancy based in London. We specialise in driving public sector transformation delivering positive impact for our clients and communities. Prior to starting the MBA, my career had taken me to some amazing places helping businesses to expand internationally between Europe and Latin America. I had worked in multiple countries, and developed a very robust set of skills, but I had reached a ceiling within my previous company. Advancing further would have required relocating abroad, but I was determined to continue my professional journey in the UK. So, my main motivation in doing the MBA was to facilitate a move into the management consulting industry here.
Flexible format was right for me
I strongly believe that learning should be a lifelong journey, and we should continuously challenge ourselves to grow. Personal and professional development are foundational to the management consulting profession. To succeed in this industry, it’s essential to stay informed and ensure your knowledge remains always up to date. Bayes Business School Global MBA provided me with all the different tools that I needed to succeed in this industry.
I considered several prestigious London business schools and what each offered in terms of curriculum and teaching methods. I needed something that would allow me to combine my family commitments and a demanding full-time job with an equally demanding MBA programme. The format offered by Bayes was perfect because at the time I enrolled I was transitioning into a regional role that would require travelling a couple of times a month to different countries in Europe.
The fact that teaching is online provided the flexibility I needed. I had never studied online before, but it was so well-structured that it almost felt as if we were doing it in a classroom.
The live webinars were scheduled at the same time each week, creating opportunities for students to engage directly with faculty and experts. Meanwhile, the videos and online materials offered diverse learning options, making the experience feel seamless. The structure of the course lets you manage your obligations – I didn’t have to commute to class, and I was able to watch the videos after putting my children to bed.
Another key deciding factor to choose Bayes was the option to continue learning after graduation. Bayes offers MBA alumni access to one free elective each year – a unique benefit that truly stood out, as no other school I considered offered anything similar. As someone who genuinely enjoys learning, this perk was particularly appealing to me.
Many readers might be wondering about the networking opportunities in an online programme. While this can indeed be a challenge in a virtual setting, Bayes goes above and beyond to ensure you can build meaningful connections throughout the programme. The in-person weeks, along with the international modules, play a significant role in fostering those relationships. Additionally, as an alumnus, you'll have access to lots of events – not only in London but also in other parts of the world, helping you stay connected and to expand your network.
And as a Global MBA student you can access all of that – you are not treated differently, and you can network with people from all the other MBA cohorts.
Careers support that doesn’t end when you graduate
I had great support from the Careers and Professional Development team throughout my time at Bayes, which I truly appreciated, especially as I was navigating a career transition. As well as helping me with pitches, and providing feedback on CVs and cover letters, they also challenged me to get to a place where I felt comfortable and ready for interviews.
The Professional Development Week was invaluable. I knew that I had the skills needed to thrive within the UK market, but I was probably not pitching them well. During that week there’s a significant focus on personal branding and how to present yourself. It helped me reflect on my skills, understand the unique value I bring, and learn how to communicate that in a more compelling and impactful way. I still use what I learnt and the tools I developed during this week – last year, when preparing for a promotion panel, I went back to the outputs of that week and used them in my promotion pitch.
I’ve maintained a strong connection with the careers team at Bayes. They were there to support me during my promotion panel and again for my recent professional discussion to achieve Chartered Management Consultant status. Their support isn’t a one-off; they are committed to helping you grow and succeed throughout your career.
Tailoring the MBA to specific goals
When I started the MBA, I knew that I wanted to focus on strategy. I chose electives on Investment Strategy, Change Management and Consulting to ensure that I was able to graduate with a specialism in corporate strategy. The different modules were very relevant to the skills I wanted to gain to grow my career after the MBA as a management consultant.
Bayes has a very strong reputation for Finance, and doing those modules on Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Finance and Private Equity has been incredibly useful. Although I don’t apply those insights in my everyday role, it’s made me much more comfortable to be in conversations about finance.
The Business Mastery Project is a major part of the programme and was hugely important for me in terms of connecting it to my career goals. It involved very thorough research, and it allowed me to build a very strong network with people in leadership positions. This network has proven invaluable, not only for job hunting but also for business development in my current role.
Tools for leadership
I’ve held various leadership roles since early in my career, and in many ways, I was a self-made leader — learning on the job and shaping my style through experience. The Global MBA programme, especially the leadership module, equipped me with a stronger set of tools to thrive. I now feel more confident in my ability to run a business, with a clear understanding of the commercial acumen required to take it to the next level. It’s about being acutely aware of the bottom line, knowing how to drive revenue, and managing cost structures effectively to meet strategic goals. Before, my focus was mainly on delivering great work — being a strong consultant and leading teams well. Now, I feel I can bring a broader perspective on what it truly takes to be a successful business leader.
Advice for prospective students
If you're considering the Global MBA, my advice is simple: go for it. Online learning is just one aspect of how knowledge is delivered, but Bayes offers so much more that will define the outcome of your journey – whether that’s career support, or doing international modules, or getting diverse insight from your classmates.
If I had to pick just one highlight from my Bayes experience, it would be the lifelong learning and connection. This is not a one-off 24-month course. The school will be with you to see you grow and develop throughout your career. It really feels like a lifelong partnership – like a marriage that keeps on giving.