From Hospitality to Artificial Intelligence: Constantin Blum’s Journey with ESEI
When reflecting on his professional journey, ESEI alumnus Constantin Blum describes a career shaped by curiosity, resilience, and a constant willingness to reinvent himself. From a background in hospitality to building startups and now working in artificial intelligence, Constantin’s path is a story of adaptability and lifelong learning.
Early Career in Hospitality
Constantin completed his Bachelor’s degree at École hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), where his fascination with food and hospitality first took root. “Everything related to food has always been a real passion of mine,” he explains.
After graduating, he joined Viking River Cruises, starting in the operations department.
“I began at the very bottom of the operations team and gradually worked my way up over the next couple of years. Eventually, I became the deputy head of river operations in Switzerland, which, in the short time I was there, felt like a significant achievement.”
But the experience also prompted a moment of reflection.
“It opened my eyes and made me realise that this wasn’t exactly the path I wanted to follow long term.”
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Eager to explore new challenges beyond the corporate world, Constantin decided to start his own food operations company.
“I wanted to create something on my own, to take the skills I had developed in hospitality and operations and apply them in a new way.”
The venture turned out to be a success and marked an important step in his professional growth.
“It went really well and eventually reached a successful conclusion. That experience gave me confidence and taught me a lot about building something from the ground up.”
Despite the achievement, Constantin began to feel that his career had reached a plateau.
“My work had started to feel a bit stale, partly because I had become so specialised in hospitality and cruise operations. When I applied for new roles, people would often say, ‘But you’re specialised in operations. Why would you want to move into something like business development?’”
It became clear that it was time for a major change.
A New Beginning at ESEI
That change coincided with a personal milestone: the birth of his son. Together with his wife, Constantin decided to move to Barcelona and enrolled in the Master’s in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at ESEI International Business School.
“My thinking was: if life is going to change so drastically anyway, why not change it completely? Why not move to Barcelona and further my education?”
At ESEI, Constantin found exactly what he was searching for.
“The biggest thing ESEI did for me was reopen my mind. Being surrounded by younger students, especially in the innovation and entrepreneurship programme. People who were building their own startups and had plenty of great ideas, reignited my passion for that kind of dynamic environment.”
He also highlights the impact of his professors. “Some of our teachers were truly exceptional. I have to give a special shout-out to Tim Wekezer and Denis Boevskiy. They were incredibly good at sharing their passion for their subjects with us, and that was invaluable.”
Beyond the classroom, an ESEI staff member encouraged him to attend startup investor meetings in Barcelona.
“I thought it would be fascinating to see things from the other side, to understand what investors look for in a company and what processes they recommend to early-stage startups so they can scale and become profitable.”
These experiences broadened his view of entrepreneurship and gave him valuable connections in Barcelona’s thriving startup ecosystem.
“Barcelona has incredible energy. It is full of creativity and people boldly pursuing their ambitions. I really fed off that energy and benefited from it enormously.”D
A Career Pivot into Artificial Intelligence
After completing his master’s, Constantin joined Aikyma, a Swiss startup focused on artificial intelligence. The move marked a bold departure from his previous roles.
“Previously, I was working in food operations and hospitality-related fields. Now, I’m working at an AI company. It is one of our main areas of focus and was a completely new space for me to explore.”
Today, he works as a Founder’s Associate, a role that gives him wide-ranging responsibilities.
“The beauty of this role is that I get to explore all aspects of the startup. I’m not focused solely on business development or strategy. I also work on marketing, client outreach, PR, and financial analysis. It’s a mix of everything you would expect in an early-stage company, and I’m honestly having a blast. It’s a really exciting time for me.”
Advice for Future Students
Reflecting on his journey, Constantin offers clear advice for current and future ESEI students.
“Approach it with an open mind. Come to Barcelona, come to ESEI ready to learn and connect. Don’t limit yourself to talking only to people you would naturally gravitate toward. If you stay within one small group, you miss out on so much of what ESEI can offer.”
He also stresses the importance of informal learning.
“It’s not always the classroom where the most valuable ideas take shape. Often, it’s at the little bar down in Sarrià after class, where conversations with classmates can spark ideas or perspectives that really help you grow.”
And he ends with a heartfelt reminder to enjoy Barcelona itself.
“Have fun. Embrace the Barcelona lifestyle. I miss it so much. Now that I’m back in Switzerland, I can’t wait for the chance to return.”
Conclusion
From his Bachelor’s studies at EHL to his Master’s at ESEI, from launching a food startup to joining an innovative AI company, Constantin Blum’s journey illustrates the power of adaptability and openness to new opportunities.
His story is also a testament to what makes ESEI unique: a community that sparks creativity, encourages experimentation, and connects students to real-world opportunities. For those considering joining ESEI, Constantin’s advice rings true: keep an open mind, embrace the community, and let both the classroom and the city of Barcelona shape your path forward.
Explore ESEI’s Programmes
👉If you’re considering starting your own journey in Barcelona, explore ESEI’s Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes and see how we can support you as you settle into life here.
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