Marta Pires

Describe your role and what it is that you do overall and on a day-to-day basis.

I currently work at Gartner as a Senior Business Associate. When explaining others what I do, I usually say I work as an internal consultant. On a day-to-day basis that translates into leveraging powerBI and excel to perform quantitative analysis, acting as Project Manager for some initiatives and preparing presentations to executive stakeholders.

What interested you about the field/company/role you are currently in?

During my studies at SSE, I did a summer internship at Gartner. It was after that 8-week internship that I decided that Gartner was the right place for me to work at. I love the people and the culture together with the endless development opportunities.

Why did you choose to study your subject area at SSE?

I did my Bachelor's at Nova SBE, Lisbon, Portugal. During my studies there I had the opportunity to spend my exchange semester in Beijing, China. After that international experience, I could not stop thinking about studying abroad for a little longer. Even though Nova SBE was also a CEMS school, I thought that studying abroad would contribute to my development in a different way and so I mostly applied to international schools. The experience of having the MIB assessment center in person together with the fact that EU citizens do not pay tuition fees at SSE made my decision easier and I could not have been happier about it.

How did your time/education at SSE help guide you to the career journey you have embarked on?

I got to know Gartner during a company event organized by SSE. I never heard about the company before that day. On top of that, my studies at SSE were key to broaden my horizon, make me keen on learning from different perspectives and more culturally aware.

Following the time at SSE, do you have any words of wisdom or advice you would like to share with our current students?

Studying at SSE might not be easy, it might actually be a rather intense and (quite) troublesome journey. Nonetheless, do NEVER forget to have fun. Studying at SSE is a great opportunity for your future and an incredible experience for your present. You will meet great people, interact with super smart teachers and work with amazing peers. Enjoy - time flies by.

What are three words that sum up your time at SSE?

International, fun, intense.