Student Spotlight: Frances Ezcurra – Growing a career while pursuing the Global Online MBA

While studying for her MBA, Frances also made an important career move within the insurance and reinsurance industry, stepping into a role with responsibilities across Latin America. In this blog, she shares more about her professional background, her motivations for pursuing an MBA, her study routine and how the programme is shaping her professional and entrepreneurial ambitions.

Could you tell us a bit about your professional background?
My professional background has been mainly in insurance and reinsurance, with a strong focus on financial lines. Throughout my career, I have worked closely with complex risks related to directors and officers liability, professional liability, and other financial line exposures.

Currently, I work at WTW (Willis Towers Watson) as Head of Growth for Financial Lines in Latin America. In this role, my main responsibility is to drive sustainable growth of the portfolio across the region. This includes developing new products, strengthening relationships with insurers and reinsurers, negotiating with markets, and identifying opportunities to expand our financial lines offering to clients in different countries across Latin America.

You build a career in the insurance and reinsurance industry. Why did you choose this specific industry?
I chose this career path because the insurance and reinsurance industry is very dynamic and intellectually engaging. It allows you to understand how many different industries operate.

Through my work, I have gained exposure to sectors such as aviation, oil and gas, energy, and mining, among others. Each industry has its own risks and challenges, and financial lines provide a unique perspective on how organizations manage those exposures.

In August 2024 you started the MSM Global Online MBA. What motivated you to pursue an MBA?
I started the MBA with the goal of continuing to grow both personally and professionally. When I applied to the programme, I was working at another company in the insurance sector, focusing mainly on the Peruvian market.

Since then, I have moved to a new role with regional responsibilities across Latin America, which has made the MBA even more valuable as it provides broader strategic and managerial perspectives that are very relevant to my current position.

I have moved to a new role with regional responsibilities across Latin America, which has made the MBA even more valuable

What made you choose the MSM Global Online MBA specifically?
At that point in my career, I was not looking to stop working or move to another country for two years. Instead, I wanted an MBA that would allow me to continue working while studying.

The MSM Global Online MBA was very attractive to me because MSM is a highly ranked university, and the class schedule works well with my local working hours despite the seven-hour time difference. I also had the opportunity to receive scholarship support, and the programme offers the possibility to attend two in-person summer courses.

For me, this combination offered the best of both worlds: the flexibility of online learning while continuing my professional career, together with the opportunity to have in-person classes and connect with classmates as part of the MBA experience.

How has your experience in the MSM Global Online MBA been so far?
So far, it has been a very positive experience. My classmates come from very diverse professional backgrounds, which makes discussions and exchanges of ideas very enriching.

The courses are well structured, and the way the programme evaluates and measures progress is clear and well organised, which helps maintain a strong learning environment.

My classmates come from very diverse professional backgrounds, which makes discussions and exchanges of ideas very enriching.

Great to hear that you have such a positive experience in the MSM Global Online MBA so far. Are there any courses that have been particularly impactful for you?
My favourite course so far has been the Entrepreneurship expertise track, which I took during the summer. It was a very hands-on experience where we worked on analysing a traditional bookstore and presented our recommendations directly to the owners.

The course was particularly valuable because it provided practical insights into business analysis and strategy. It has also been very helpful for developing my thesis, which is focused on creating a business plan.

Balancing an MBA with a demanding job can be challenging. Can you tell us a bit more about your study routine?
Given the time difference, I usually attend classes during my lunch break, typically from 12–2 pm or from 1–3 pm depending on daylight saving time. This allows me to integrate the classes into my normal workday.

In the evenings, I usually spend some time reviewing readings. However, most of the heavier work, such as case studies, midterms, and final assignments, I normally complete during the weekends when I can dedicate longer and more focused blocks of time to studying.

Do you find yourself applying insights from the MBA in your daily work?
Yes, definitely. One of the main insights from the MBA is that it helps broaden your perspective and think in a more international and strategic way.

Through the programme, you realise that many challenges can be approached from different angles, and that there are often multiple ways to analyse and solve the same problem. This mindset has been very useful in my daily work when evaluating opportunities and making strategic decisions.

The MBA helps broaden your perspective and think in a more international and strategic way.

Looking ahead, what goals do you have for the future?
From a career perspective, my goal is to continue developing professionally within WTW and to keep growing in my current role.

At the same time, I would also like to build an entrepreneurial project in parallel, applying many of the ideas and frameworks I have been learning during the MBA.

Based on your journey so far, what advice would you give to future students considering the MSM Global Online MBA?
My advice to future students would be to take full advantage of the diversity of the programme. Your classmates come from many different industries, countries, and professional backgrounds, and there is a lot to learn from those perspectives.

It is also important to stay organised and disciplined, especially when balancing work and studies. If you approach the programme with curiosity and commitment, the experience can be extremely rewarding both professionally and personally.

Approach the programme with curiosity and commitment.

Thank you, Frances, for sharing your inspiring journey with us and for providing insights into your Global Online MBA experience. Taking on a new role with more responsibilities while pursuing an online MBA is an impressive achievement. We wish you continued success in your career at WTW, in completing your Global Online MBA, and in developing your future entrepreneurial project.

Do you want to join Frances in the MSM Global Online MBA?
The MSM Global Online MBA combines the flexibility of online learning with the dynamic engagement of an on-campus programme. You will participate in engaging and interactive live online class sessions conducted through Microsoft Teams. Our virtual platform is designed to fully support your MBA journey, offering a range of learning materials, multimedia resources, and self-assessment tools to personalise your experience. The programme will not only deepen your business expertise but also enhance your leadership skills, broaden your perspective, and push you beyond your comfort zone.

For more details, visit our website or get in touch with Alina Prapagic at alina.prapagic@maastrichtuniversity.nl