The IE MBA essays ask you to share what’s not on your resume through one main essay (written, video, or PowerPoint) plus complete a short online Kira assessment. All are designed to highlight your personality, values, and fit with IE’s innovative, entrepreneurial culture. 

For the 2025-2026 admissions cycle, IE Business School requires:

• One personal essay answering “What is the most important thing you would like us to know that is not in your resume or application?” (provide your response in a 550-650 word essay, a 3-minute video, or a 10-slide presentation).
• The Kira online assessment, which includes three timed responses (two video, one written) completed after submitting your application.

Both components are designed to reveal the person behind the resume: your values, personality, and how you’ll contribute to IE’s global, entrepreneurial community.

The primary goal of these IE questions is to uncover the person behind the resume and see if you’re the right fit for the IE culture. In this guide, we’ll break down each component, explain what the admissions committee is looking for, and share tips to help you stand out.

What Is the IE MBA Essay Question?

The big centerpiece of the IE MBA application is the Personal Essay, with three format options:

• Written Essay (550–650 words): Ideal if you’re strongest at storytelling through writing.
• Video (max 3 minutes): Best if you’re confident on camera and want to show energy and presence.
• PowerPoint (max 10 slides): A unique IE option for applicants who want to highlight creativity or visual thinking.

Prompt:
“What is the most important thing that you would like us to know that is not in your resume or application?”

This section is important in understanding who you are, not just as a student but also as a person in order to grasp the value that you could add to our program. Take this as an opportunity to showcase your unique attributes and personality. There are three formats you can choose to express yourself: a video (max. 3 minutes), a PowerPoint presentation (max. 10 slides), or a written essay (between 550-650 words). Please pay special attention to punctuation, structure and content.

How to Approach the Personal Essay?

Regardless of the format you choose, the “most important thing” prompt is an invitation to reveal who you are beyond your resume – to show IE who you’ll be as a classmate, leader, and contributor to its global community. It’s less about achievements and more about the experiences and insights that have shaped your worldview. Your goal is to share a story that feels authentic, reflective, and human – one that helps the admissions reader genuinely get excited about the energy, perspective, and impact you’d bring to the IE community.

How to tackle the topic:

• Focus on identity, not accomplishments. Choose a story that conveys character, values, or perspective and goes beyond the facts and figures of your candidacy that the admissions file reader can learn from other elements of your application. 
• Show evolution. IE values growth and self-awareness – so demonstrate how your experiences have shaped who you are today.
• Connect to impact. Reflect on how what you’ve learned and how this will influence the way you engage with classmates and the learning experience at IE.
• Be intentional. Each format – written, video, or PowerPoint – offers different tools for storytelling, but the underlying message should be the same: this is what defines me and why it matters.

Which Format Should You Choose?

There’s no single “right” choice – the best format is the one that allows you to express your story most naturally. If you’re a confident writer who enjoys crafting ideas through words, the essay is ideal. If you communicate best through voice and presence, video can make your personality shine. And if you think visually or work in a creative field, the PowerPoint option offers a dynamic way to show how you think and connect ideas.

Whatever option you choose, remember that IE’s admissions officers are looking for authenticity, curiosity, and a sense of contribution. Choose the format that helps you tell a story that feels true to you – and leaves them genuinely eager to have you join the IE community.

How To Tackle The Written Essay (550-650 words)

This is the most traditional route and best suited for applicants who can craft a clear, thoughtful narrative. It allows space to build a story with emotional depth and reflection – a window into your character and motivations.

Tips:

• Lead with a story. Choose an anecdote that reveals your character or values – a challenge overcome, a cultural experience, or a moment of change.
• Show personal growth. Go beyond describing what happened to reflect on what you learned and how it influences your outlook or goals.
• Keep it human. Write as if you’re speaking to someone genuinely curious about who you are; IE values warmth and sincerity over polish.
• Anchor on key themes. Focus on two or three central qualities – curiosity, resilience, or cross-cultural awareness – rather than trying to summarize your entire life.
• Demonstrate fit. Subtly highlight traits that align with IE’s entrepreneurial, innovative, and globally minded culture.
• Structure with intention. Create a clear beginning, middle, and end: set the scene, share your story, and close with thoughtful reflection.
• Check the flow. Read it aloud to ensure tone and flow feel natural and true to your voice – clarity and authenticity matter most.

Example: One successful applicant wrote about volunteering at a refugee center – a story that illuminated her empathy and adaptability.

How To Tackle The Video (max. 3 minutes)

This format highlights your personality and communication style. It’s ideal if you feel comfortable speaking on camera and can connect naturally through tone, energy, and presence.

Tips:

• Speak conversationally – imagine answering a friend who asked, “What’s something important about you?”
• Structure your message: open with a short introduction, then share a story, followed by your takeaway or reflection.
• Be mindful of tone, background, and pacing. A warm smile and genuine enthusiasm often stand out more than perfect delivery.
• Speak naturally based on prepared bullet points and don’t read or memorize text. 
• It’s not a test of your video editing or post-production abilities. A simple single-take video with you talking directly to camera is ideal. 

Example: A candidate shared a story about his first failed startup. On video, his blend of humility and optimism came alive – something that might have felt less engaging in writing.

How To Tackle The PowerPoint (max. 10 slides)

IE is known for embracing creativity, and this option allows you to express your story visually. Done well, it can showcase originality and design thinking.

Tips:

• Think “visual storytelling.” Use images, graphics, and concise captions rather than heavy text.
• Keep it visually polished but personally expressive – authenticity matters more than design flair.
• Be concise and intentional. With limited space, every slide and caption should serve a clear purpose – focus on the few ideas that best capture who you are and what defines your perspective.

Example: One applicant used childhood photos, short quotes, and a final slide linking her lifelong love of art to her career in product design. It was simple, honest, and memorable – a true reflection of self.

How to Approach IE’s Kira Live Assessment?

After submitting your online application and paying the fee, you’ll receive a link to complete the Kira Talent Assessment, an interactive online exercise designed to help the admissions team get to know you in a more spontaneous context. You’ll have one week to complete it. The assessment consists of two short video questions and one written response, and the whole process takes about 20-30 minutes.

For the video questions, you’ll be randomly assigned prompts from a large question bank. You’ll have 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to record each response. For the written portion, you’ll have 10 minutes to compose your answer. There’s no word limit, but around 250 words (half a page) is typical – however you should focus on substance rather than length.

What IE is looking for:

• Quick thinking and composure under time pressure.
• The ability to organize and communicate your thoughts clearly and concisely.
• A glimpse of your personality, energy, and communication style.

Tips for success:

• Practice aloud. Record yourself answering a few sample questions within 60 seconds to get comfortable thinking on your feet.
• Use a mini-structure. Frame your answers with a basic structure such as Situation – Action – Reflection to stay clear and focused.
• Focus on your key message. If you start with a long preamble, or you finish with a rambling conclusion, you’ll run out of time (the video cuts you off after 60 seconds). 
• Create a professional setting. Choose a quiet, well-lit space, dress smartly, and look directly at the camera.
• Keep your written response simple and direct. Grammar and spelling count, but genuine insight carries more weight than stylish phrasing.
• Show authenticity. Admissions officers aren’t looking for perfection; they want to see the real you – someone who can think clearly, connect naturally, and bring positive energy to the IE community.

Common Mistakes To Avoid In The IE MBA Essays

1. Covering too much ground.
   Some applicants try to cram several achievements into the personal essay. The prompt asks for what’s not in your resume – so don’t repeat bullet points. Choose one or two impactful, meaningful, and defining stories.
2. Choosing style over substance.
   PowerPoints full of flashy design or heavily edited videos can sometimes distract the viewer from your key messages.  
3. Rambling in the Kira assessment.
   The time constraints can trip you up if you haven’t practiced delivering responses in the required format. The platform will cut you off when the time limit has expired so you need to rehearse getting to the point very quickly. 

What the IE Admissions Committee Looks For

Beyond checking if you can follow instructions carefully and thoughtfully, IE’s admissions team is reading (and watching) for signs that you’ll add to their culture.

• Authenticity. The school is looking for an authentic voice to come across in the application. If the style and personality behind your written application is inconsistent with how you come across in the Kira submissions, it will raise a red flag. 
• International mindset. IE thrives on cultural diversity. Show curiosity about other perspectives or experiences and the value of collaborating across borders.
• Innovation. Whether you’ve launched an initiative, taken a creative risk, or approached a challenge differently, show evidence of original thinking.
• Leadership with purpose. IE emphasizes impact and ethics. Leadership can mean mentoring one person as much as managing a team.
• Contribution. Think about how you’ll add to class discussions, clubs, or the alumni community.

Final Thoughts: Substance Over Style

IE’s MBA essays are distinctive because they give you creative freedom. That freedom is a test in itself: how will you choose to present who you are? The right answer comes from telling an honest story that feels real, intentional, and aligned with IE’s mission. Whether you write, record, or design, admissions officers want to walk away with a sense of you.

If you can show clarity of goals, self-awareness, and a willingness to contribute to a diverse cohort, you’ll be a step ahead in standing out at IE.

Check out further Fortuna resources: 

• Best European Business Schools
• IE Business School Guide
• MBA Video Essay Tips + Sample Video Questions

Let’s Get You Into IE

At Fortuna Admissions, we’re a dream team of former admissions directors and seasoned MBA coaches from the world’s top business schools. We specialize in helping applicants craft compelling stories and maximize every part of the application process.

Book a free consultation to assess your candidacy and find out how we can help you get into your dream MBA program.