Love Lessons From Three Couples Who Met At Business School

Business school has been the backdrop for many relationships—most famously, former Prime Minister of the UK, Rishi Sunak, and his wife, Akshata Murty, first met during their Stanford MBA. 

While most see business school as a springboard for their careers, for some, it’s also where love stories begin.

This Valentine’s Day, we’re sharing the stories of three couples who took on business school together—balancing career shifts, international moves, and even entrepreneurship.

So, if you’re thinking about pursuing an MBA or business master’s with your partner, read on for some valuable lessons in love and business.

Greta and Diego, MBA 2024, ESMT Berlin

Greta and Diego, together for seven years, completed their MBA degrees at ESMT Berlin in 2024. Originally from Peru, Greta worked in tech and Diego worked in supply chain management before moving to Germany.

Greta had always dreamed of studying an MBA abroad. Diego, on the other hand, wasn’t initially set on the idea. But after researching the career prospects, networking opportunities, and return on investment, he decided to take the leap alongside her.

Despite not speaking German before they arrived, the practicality of the ESMT MBA program enabled Greta and Diego to tailor it to their individual goals. 

With strong career opportunities in Germany, family connections in the city, and access to scholarships, the decision made sense both professionally and financially.

Going through the MBA together proved to be a major advantage, the couple explains.

 “Living with your partner who is your emotional support is incredibly valuable. You can openly share points of view about a specific class or company, and no one understands your challenges and dreams more than they do,” says Diego. 

“Diego has been my biggest cheerleader and support,” Greta adds.

For couples considering an MBA abroad, their biggest advice is to live together first. 

Establishing everyday routines, such as managing finances and household responsibilities, makes it much easier to handle the added pressures of an intensive program in a new environment. 

“You both need to be on the same page—not just about the MBA, but about your long-term plans. Where do you want to be after graduation? What do you want to do?” says Greta.

Vitor and Leandro, International Business Postgraduate Program 2023, Porto Business School

Vitor and Leandro met in their native Brazil and moved to Porto together to complete the International Business Postgraduate Program. Leandro works in marketing and Vitor is a financial advisor to startups. The couple now lives in Lisbon. 

Initially planning on pursuing business school separately, Vitor and Leandro found that the International Business Program at Porto was a perfect fit for both their industries: marketing and finance.

Studying together gave them both a built-in support system while still allowing them to pursue their own career goals.

To get the most out of the program without limiting their networking opportunities, the couple set a rule from the start: never stay in the same group.

“It was a great rule because we could introduce each other to people in our respective networks,” says Vitor.

Having each other nearby made a difference emotionally, too.

“When I was doing my final project, knowing that Vitor was in the room motivated me and gave me more confidence,” says Leandro.

Adjusting to a new country without their friends or family came with challenges, but they quickly realized that structure and communication were essential.

Vitor and Leandro approached their relationship with the same intentionality as their careers—managing expectations, making space for individual growth, and communicating throughout.

Business school can be demanding, and they knew that navigating it together meant balancing ambition with the realities of a shared life abroad. 

“You have to challenge yourself to do the best you can and to make the best of this time. In the end, it was a really nice thing to do together,” says Leandro. 

Céline and Victor, Master in Management 2012, NEOMA Business School

45 minutes from the city of love, Céline and Victor met in the sports association at NEOMA Business School. Married since 2020, they are co-founders of the last minute activity booking platform Hati Hati. Victor works in the company full-time, and Céline works in marketing.

Céline pursued business school to advance her marketing career, while Victor, focused on commercial development, took a different path. 

Their studies rarely overlapped, but it was the student sports association at NEOMA Business School that first brought them together as friends.

Looking back, Victor sees his time as president of the association as an early lesson in entrepreneurship.

“It was a great way to learn how to manage projects, meet deadlines, and understand the strengths and weaknesses of a team. When you have a small budget and big responsibilities, you have to get creative and find smart solutions,” he says.

It wasn’t until years after graduating that they became a couple.

While traveling in New Zealand for a month, they came across an app that made booking activities effortless. The idea stuck with them, and when they returned to Paris, they saw an opportunity to bring a similar last-minute activity booking platform to France.

Combining Céline’s marketing expertise and Victor’s background in commercial development, they created Hati Hati.

Starting a company as a couple has its advantages. Céline believes their deep understanding of each other’s strengths helps them move quickly and make better decisions.

“It’s a real advantage, because you can make progress even faster than with other people,” she says.  

But Victor is quick to add that working together isn’t for everyone.

“Just keep in mind that starting a business together will change a lot of things in your life,” he says.

The key is to be realistic about the challenges. While balancing love and business isn’t easy, a strong partnership makes the risk worth taking.

“It’s a beautiful adventure. It’s not easy, but that’s life,” Céline concludes.