Welcome to the IENYC Hustle, a series that spotlights the unique voices shaping IE New York College. Thinkers, creators and doers who bring our campus and the city to life.
Each story reveals what it truly means to learn, grow and lead in New York City: the greatest classroom on Earth.
In this edition, we meet Giovanni Coeli, a Master of Science in Management student whose year at IENYC has been defined by intensity, reflection and real growth. For Giovanni, the decision to come to New York wasn’t just an academic one. Rather, it was an opportunity to step into a new way of living, learning and becoming.
The decision to come to IENYC was both practical and bold. On one level, it offered a rare chance to complete a master’s degree in a fast-paced, immersive environment. It also opened the door to something far more demanding: a year in New York City, surrounded by ambition, a global environment and constant movement.
Eligible international students in STEM-designated programs can also apply for Optional Practical Training after graduation, an opportunity to build US work experience that travels well, wherever the next role happens to be. For Giovanni, that made the decision straightforward.
“As I entered my final year of university and got closer to graduation, I felt it was time to really invest in the milestone right before the beginning of my actual career. I wanted a place where I could grow, learn and build a true launchpad for everything that came next.”
All in all, with a background rooted in Europe and a global, forward-looking mindset, Giovanni came to IENYC ready to combine strategy, teamwork and hands-on learning to prepare for an aspiring international career.
At IENYC, learning rarely stays only inside the classroom. Courses are built around real cases, projects and applied challenges. Theory accounts for only a small percentage of the academic experience. The rest happens through research, debate, reflection and doing.
“There are many presentations and group projects, sometimes even with outside judges. It forces you to be professional, thorough, persuasive and effective in how you communicate and collaborative in how you work with your teammates.”
Two experiences stand out for Giovanni. Leadership pushed him to reflect deeply on his values, purpose and the kind of leader he wants to become. Writing about these topics made them tangible, forcing him to articulate and truly understand his vision.
Meanwhile, APSDM (Analytics, Problem-Solving and Decision-Making) felt almost indistinguishable from real life: a team project with multiple milestones ending in an investor-style pitch.
“We were essentially founding a startup from idea to presentation. That is exactly how things work in real life.”
Living and studying in New York accelerates everything. Skills are not just learned; they are lived. Negotiation, prioritization, problem-solving, teamwork and communication show up everywhere: from finding an apartment to networking, from managing deadlines to navigating cultural differences.
“From negotiating for an apartment to meeting professionals from all kinds of industries to figuring out how to use every hour of my day well, those skills shape how I operate here.”
But one of the biggest surprises for Giovanni wasn’t about doing more, but about knowing when to do less.
“I realized how important it is to take time for yourself. To say no if you need to. That space helps you stay grounded, avoid being overwhelmed and make more deliberate decisions.”
In a city that never slows down, learning how to pause becomes a form of strength.
New York quietly rewrites your sense of what’s possible.
“This city made me realize that you can shape your life and career in many different ways. People come here with a plan and end up discovering new interests, new paths, even new versions of themselves. Everyone is reinventing themselves, often more than once.”
The city’s intensity also fosters gratitude and perspective. Fast-paced environments don’t drain him; they energize him.
“I realized I really like uncertainty and challenge. And I know this is exactly where I should be at this age. I need environments and people that push me to grow.”
Giovanni’s mindset is already carrying him forward. Next up is a full-time role in Miami: another new city, another fresh start and another set of challenges to embrace.
“New projects, new managers, new culture. IENYC has been perfect preparation for that because it has already taught me how to adapt, grow and start over somewhere new.”
Three words define his journey so far: Thrilling, life-changing and mind-blowing.
And the hustle continues.
For students like Giovanni, the Master of Science in Management at IE New York College offers a fast-paced, immersive experience that combines strategy, leadership and hands-on learning to prepare for careers on a global stage.
The IENYC Hustle is a continuing series celebrating the people who make IE New York College extraordinary. Stay tuned for more stories of ambition, resilience and inspiration, straight from the heart of the city that never sleeps.
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Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Ashleigh now calls Madrid, Spain home, where she has built a career shaped by curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of languages. Her work grows out of a passion for learning, storytelling, and meaningful cross-cultural connection, with language as the thread that ties it all together.
Her academic journey took her from studying Spanish and French and Secondary Education at the University of Southern Mississippi to graduate studies in Spain, where she completed a Master’s in Spanish at the University of Salamanca and a Master’s in Translation and Interpretation at the University of Alcalá. Along the way, she has worked across classrooms, research projects, and creative spaces, contributing to academic, multilingual, and editorial initiatives that connect language, knowledge, and culture.
