Meet INSEAD’s MBA Class of 2017

Lindsay Van Landeghem

INSEAD

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I am an adventurer, am committed to authenticity, and am passionate about accelerating international development.

Hometown: Jackson, Mississippi, USA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I spent the year before INSEAD training as a whitewater kayaker on the world-class Futaleufu River in Chile before travelling to all 7 continents.

Undergraduate School and Major: Dartmouth College, Class of 2011, Government Major

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

• GVEP International: Business and investment advisory for renewable energy SMEs in East Africa | SME Advisor (Nairobi, Kenya)
• Innovations for Poverty Action: Yale-based research institution conducting randomized controlled trials of international development interventions | Consultant (Kampala, Uganda)
• BTS USA: Boutique consultancy developing and executing customized business simulations for Fortune 500 companies | Business Analyst (San Francisco, CA, USA)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I am proud of a paper that I published through the Moving Energy Initiative / Chatham House, called “Private Sector Engagement: The Key to Efficient, Effective Energy Access for Refugees.” Having worked with government, non-profit organizations, and the private sector, I am increasingly convinced that the private sector is optimally positioned to address capital access and distribution infrastructure issues in emerging markets, two of the biggest issues impeding base-of-the-pyramid access to life enhancing products. My paper serves as a thought piece regarding how to accelerate private sector engagement in, and thus the effectiveness and efficiency of, targeted international development interventions.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants?

• Conduct as many information interviews you can with individuals in your current or future dream job(s) to determine the appropriate career path for you. This exercise will help you ascertain the educational and professional experience that you need to succeed long term in your profession of choice.
• Put long, efficient hours into studying for the GMAT. Don’t give up on yourself, even when the task feels overwhelming. It’s a battle of who wants it the most – if you put in the time, you can succeed.
• In the admissions interviews, be yourself! It’s all about finding a school that is the right fit for you. If you and your interviewer(s) are excited about exploring similar experiences and career paths, then you are more likely to enjoy your business school experience and to benefit from the student and alumni networks.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I hope to work as a management consultant in emerging markets long term. INSEAD is the top talent pool for management consultancies with an international scope, and the INSEAD Singapore campus positions me for recruiting opportunities in emerging markets.

Additionally, I value the one-year nature of the program, which allows me to more quickly pursue my dream career and to save on opportunity costs. I also appreciate the fact that INSEAD prioritizes international work experience, language proficiency, and cultural diversity, which are significant values of mine.

Finally, INSEAD students and alumni not only share my commitment to international work and travel, but many have had or currently have jobs that I find fascinating and inspiring. These last points were the biggest indicators that INSEAD was the best fit for me.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? My dream job is to be a consultant in an international development context, advising governments, non-profit organizations, and private sector companies on how to optimize their operations and achieve high impact results for their stakeholders and beneficiaries.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program?  I would like my peers to say that I am dedicated to my professional and personal passions, that I demonstrate a strong work ethic, and that I project strength in character and a commitment to authenticity.