Meet INSEAD’s MBA Class of 2017

Lina Gedvilaite

INSEAD

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Global affairs news junkie with an interest in fintech and social impact

Hometown: Plunge, Lithuania/ Fort Myers, Florida

Fun Fact About Yourself: A second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Undergraduate School and Major: The George Washington University, Economics and International Relations

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Credit and Political Risk Underwriter, Zurich Insurance – Washington DC and London

Investment Analyst, International Finance Corporation – Kyiv, Ukraine

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Biggest accomplishment so far has been to have a varied career in multiple geographies and to have worked on projects that have significant impact on countries, governments and private enterprises.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? To take the time to really reflect on what you want to get out of the MBA and represent that in the application essays. Not only does it help to come across genuinely to the admissions committee, but it becomes invaluable later to anchor yourself as you make your way through the program. This is especially true if you are a career changer. It helps even if you completely change your mind, to trace back your steps to where you started and examine the reasons for the changes.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? Like many, I was attracted by the ability to take classes in several countries and have exposure to a few markets before settling on a location after graduation. Additionally, it was the right choice economically – opportunity cost of a two year program was too great. And finally the truly global student body with a wealth of personal and professional experiences from around the world to prepare me for a global career. Now, as I sit in lecture halls and listen to my classmates share their experiences, views and perceptions, I am delighted that I made this choice. 

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? Given that I am still exploring, I hesitate to put any names or particular sectors but ideally it would be a company that is driven by technology and motivated by social impact: a company that is still a relative start-up, growing fast and is looking to expand in to new markets.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? She surprised me – in a good way.