Success stories
"The MBA marked a turning point in my academic career"
23 de January de 2019
Enrique Martínez Luque took the MBA at EAE Business School and now works at Argentina's Ministry of Sport.
Enrique Martínez is a clear example of one of the School's success stories. After taking the MBA at EAE's Barcelona Campus , the Argentinian professional took up a position of responsibility, as the Director of Management in a public institution related to sport.
How did the opportunity to join Ministry of Sport arise? Did you already have links to the world of sport?
I have had links to sport for more than 20 years. I have built my career in the world of golf, where I have held a number of positions. I was the manager of a golf club, director at a federation level, an agent for professional golfers and director institutional relations on the Argentinian Tour, among other responsibilities. Moreover, I started a magazine (Tiempo de Golf, which is still in circulation) and, for more than 5 years, I worked as a journalist specializing in the field. The opportunity to work at the Ministry came about because I was also involved in politics. I am a member of the political party Cambiemos, which has been in power in my country since 2015.
Tell us about your day-to-day duties in the job.
I currently work as the Director of Management at the Ministry of Sport in my country, the leading institution for the promotion and development of sport in Argentina. It is hard to describe a typical day in my job because there are so many different tasks and responsibilities that I take care of. I arrive at the office at around 8 o'clock in the morning and stay until 6 in the evening. At the same time, I do various activities outside the ministry and I also travel around Argentina.
What was the selection process like at the Ministry of Sport? Did you prepare in any particular way?
A job came up and I joined in May 2017 as the Coordinator of the Ministry's institutional relations. A few months later, I was appointed as the Director of Management at the instruction of the Minister of Sports and by decree of the president of my country.
How did you feel when they told you that you were the selected candidate?
I felt enormously pleased when I was appointed as director. At the same time, I felt a very great responsibility because of everything that being a civil servant entails.
Why do you think you are the ideal person to hold this position?
It is hard for me to answer that question. I can certainly say that I really like what I do and that spending my time working simultaneously in sport and public management in great privilege.
What experience do you think you can gain at an institution like your country's Ministry of Sport?
Since I started at the Ministry of Sport, I have done nothing else but learn. I had never worked in public administration before and my previous experiences had focused on advising legislators at a provincial and national level. I am learning a great deal from working with professionals in the world of sport, who have spent years working to get Argentinian sport to the high level it is at today.
What contribution can you make to your country's Ministry of Sport?
I strive to contribute my dual perspective of sport and politics. Moreover, thanks to my experience in the field of golf, for many years, I have been travelling abroad, gaining very rewarding experiences that I can now apply in my day-to-day work.
Are you putting into practice the knowledge acquired on the MBA?
Without a doubt. The MBA that I did at EAE Business School marked a turning point in my academic career.
What are the strengths of the Argentinian Ministry of Sport?
The Ministry of Sport advocates equal opportunities in terms of learning, practising, training, participating and competing. Another key factor is the participation of high-performing sportspeople in the national federations and confederations. This is all within the framework of strengthening the various organizations of the Argentinian sporting system.
What impact do you think the experience you are gaining at the Ministry of Sport will have on your professional future?
The experience that I am gaining is very valuable. Everything happens so fast nowadays that I try to apply my experience in every new day.
Why did you decide to take the MBA?
In 2004, I was looking to do a postgraduate program abroad, focusing on Sports Management and I found the MBA & Sports Management at EAE Business School. The following year, I applied for a grant from the Fundación Carolina (that offered the Master) and I was lucky enough to get it. That is how I came to take the MBA in the 2005-2006 academic year.
What aspects of the knowledge and skills you acquired at EAE would you highlight?
It is hard to emphasize one thing in particular from my time in Barcelona. I do have some unforgettable memories of a lot of great lecturers and the things they taught us, including José María Gay, the lecturer in Management Control and Financial Statement Analysis, Esteban Serra, the lecturer in Negotiation Strategies, Francesc Rufas, the lecturer in Sales Forecasts and Cost Analysis, and Juan José Moya, the lecturer in General and Financial Accounting, to name just a few. Not to forget Sonia Pereira, our Academic Coordinator, who had an amazing amount of patience with us.
Besides the academic side of things, what other experiences have you had at EAE Business School?
During my time in Barcelona, I met loads of people, many of who remain good friends and whom I am in touch with almost on a daily basis. There were 19 students from 8 Latin American countries on my MBA program. The friends I made were definitely one of the highlights of my years living in Spain.
Would you recommend EAE Business School? Why?
Absolutely, I would recommend EAE Business School. Many of its Masters and Postgraduate programs rank among the best in Europe in the different specialist league tables. My experience studying at the Business School is something I will never forget.