MBA success stories: Esteban Avila-Crisostomo, Emlyon Business School

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your career to date?
I studied industrial engineering at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and it woke up my passion to fix things. I started my career in the port terminals industry with the Ultramar Group in Chile. Later, I landed in France to pursue my MBA at Emlyon Business School, then I joined CMA CGM Group in Marseille, first managing Africa projects at CEVA Logistics. I am now at Terminal Link, a worldwide terminal operator in a partnership with CMA CGM and China Merchants Ports.

What does your current role involve?
As an assets manager at Terminal Link, I’m the guy from the head office who focuses on keeping a portfolio of terminals running well and delivering value for shareholders. I assess new equipment or expansions, guide operations and track financials and daily performance. It’s a mix of big-picture planning, finance and stakeholder management. Considering the dynamics of the supply chain industry and the different context of each terminal I oversee, every day there is a new puzzle to crack.

Where and when did you achieve your MBA?
I earned my MBA at Emlyon Business School, a leading institution known for its global outlook, in France in 2021. I was in the top 10 per cent of my class, earning the Excellence Performance Award.

Why did you want to study for an MBA and why did you choose to do it at this particular school?
To shift from a local role to a global one. By 2020, I’d led teams and projects in Chile but needed more perspective. I chose Emlyon for its strong focus on finance and international business, which propelled my career to where I am now. I also saw it as an institution with a renewed, growing ambition – lots of changes were happening when I got there, like the new campus and a fresh administration and now, with some perspective, I like the direction the institution is heading in.

What is the most interesting thing you learnt from your MBA?
What I loved most were two ideas: multiculturalism – collaborating with people from different parts of the world opened my mind – and adaptability – being flexible and adjusting to new situations is often more important than being the strongest or smartest. These qualities have defined me as a professional.

What were some of the challenges you faced when studying for an MBA?
The hardest part was staying committed to excellence. Most candidates finish an MBA, sure, but working to stand out? That is a choice. Embracing this purpose as a personal commitment – for me, that was the real challenge.

How has the MBA made a difference to your career path and leadership journey?
It’s been transformative. The MBA took me from a local role in a regional company to a regional one in a global firm. It gave me the skills and confidence to learn from different cultures, legislation and ways of doing business.

In what ways have you taken what you have learnt in your MBA into the organisation you work for?
I bring it all to my current role. As a Chilean guy working with French and Chinese colleagues, managing terminals in diverse locations like Iraq, Morocco, Ukraine, Greece and the Ivory Coast, it’s quite challenging. My adaptability helped me land and succeed in this role.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about studying for an MBA?
Stick to a realistic career plan. The European market is very competitive and you need to use your previous experience as an asset. Think of the MBA as a way to complement your career, otherwise you will not be differentiated. There’s no shortcut; hard work is the key, no matter where you’re from – it’s the most universal skill globally.

What are the next steps for you on your career journey?
I’m hooked on logistics – building supply chain assets feels like collaborating in global trade directly, I’m convinced that’s how countries grow. I want to dig deeper, keep pushing boundaries and have a long career in an industry that I’m passionate about.