Meet INSEAD’s MBA Class Of 2021

A clip from a video for incoming INSEAD MBA students on how to insure a safe return to campus

10 REASONS TO JOIN INSEAD

Why should an applicant consider joining next year’s J-Term? Here’s what INSEAD MBA students and alumni had to say:

1) Global Point of View: “INSEAD describes itself as “the Business School for the World” and the programme design is very international. I want to take my MBA as an opportunity to explore the region I never worked or lived in (Southeast Asia, Middle East) and INSEAD is a perfect fit for this.”
Nancy Tong (’21)

“INSEAD lives to the expectations and even surpass them [when it comes to diversity]. It’s not only the breadth of nationalities in class – 70 in mine – that you can see in the statistics but the diversity within their experience. The more you talk to your classmates, the more you see the dimension of this diversity. Most of them have lived in at least two or three countries, and their experience includes areas such as architecture, medicine, journalism, law, and even acrobatics. All of this combined contributes to having a top-notch learning experience in class, one that is impossible to understand until you experience it first-hand.”
Jiwon Kang (’20)

2) Multiple Campuses: “Aside from the highly diverse student body and truly international alumni network, I was attracted by INSEAD’s multiple campus setup – Fontainebleau, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi. To be able to experience two or three distinctly different environments while still maintaining a cohesive, high quality education is unparalleled to any other MBA program.”
Lucy Yiran Liu (’21)

3) Entrepreneurship: “One of the areas INSEAD has committed to is entrepreneurship. I look forward to the INSEAD Entrepreneurship Forum and the Venture Competition where I could draw insights from fellow entrepreneurs and the opportunity to connect with classmates who want to pursue entrepreneurship.”
Michael Lau (’21)

“The MBA program was the springboard that convinced us to take the leap into entrepreneurship. The best thing about doing an MBA is the feeling that any career path is possible. This provides the open-mindedness to reach out to people with the most disparate background, listen to their stories, and be humble enough to ask for help. We talked to over 50 Entrepreneurs-in-Residence and alumni with entrepreneurial experience, went to multiple startup treks and participated, and won, the INSEAD Venture Competition. In this process, we found role models, mentors, and advisors with the most exciting and different stories. Our key takeaway: many people go from corporate to entrepreneurship, but nobody goes back to the corporate world; there must be a reason for it, no?”
Alessia Fontanari (’20)

4) Alumni: “The strength of INSEAD’s brand is prominent in every corner of the world. When I started thinking about going back to school, I reached out to people who had recently done an MBA. Every INSEAD alumni I spoke were incredible individuals with unique backgrounds, fresh perspectives, and vibrant personalities. I followed my intuitions based on the people I wanted to surround myself with and am extremely grateful that I did.”
Lucy Yiran Liu (’21)

5) Fontainebleau: “Putting aside the academics, I am very excited to start exploring the Fontainebleau forest and the climbing, biking, and jogging potential it contains. Living on its doorsteps in a Chateau doesn’t hurt either.”
Nicholas Walker (’21)

6) Hoffman Institute: “It was INSEAD’s Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society, which focuses on the interface between business and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Institute’s work aligns very well with my interest in nature conservation and the environmental sustainability of businesses.”
Elisa Dierickx (’21)

7) Dash Day: “Dash Day is an activity I am really looking forward to. It is an INSEAD tradition where each class picks a special day in which people dress up and attend different classes in costume! This custom highlights the importance of not always taking ourselves too seriously throughout the MBA experience – something which can happen to students in such a high pressure environment.”
Marco Vitali (’21)

INSEAD

8) National Week: “I am most looking forward to various national weeks that will happen throughout the year. Each National Week is a week-long celebration of cultural traditions of a specific country or region. Entirely organized by students, national weeks offer opportunities to try delicious traditional food, socialize at themed events, and attend panel discussions on topics related to that country.

National weeks are just one snapshot of how diverse the INSEAD student population is. They also show how much the school values diversity. Inside and outside classrooms, we are constantly inspired to learn everyone’s unique backgrounds and appreciate different cultures.”
Jiwon Kang (’20)

9) Community Challenge: “[This happens] during the Launch Week at INSEAD Singapore Campus. I was selected as part of the leadership team to build, together with my classmates, an outdoor teaching and learning area for the women of the Center of Domestic Employees (CDE). Here, they could learn essential life skills, including basic English and Maths lessons, as well as career-oriented competences.

This project was a fantastic example of the Force for Good motto of INSEAD, where MBA students joined forces for a good cause that will have a lasting impact on the local community of CDE women. It reminds us that we should always pursue business as a means to impact society positively.”
Jiwon Kang (’20)

10) Intensity: Other than passing INSEAD’s unique Exit Language requirement test after studying Mandarin for only four months, I am proud of how I am handling INSEAD’s fast-paced, intense academic curriculum in general. Given that it is a one-year program, things move very quickly here. I came from a non-traditional background, so juggling the core classes that I am not familiar with has not been easy at times. But I am learning a lot every day not just academically, but also personally as I am motivated to manage my time better and prioritize strategically. Thankfully, INSEAD offers many resources and I have wonderful study groupmates who are supportive and patient.
Jiwon Kang (’20)

3 STRATEGIES TO GET ADMITTED

Here’s some advice on how to separate your INSEAD application from the pack.

1) Embrace Your Uniqueness: “I know it’s a bit cliché, but I have had conversations with more than a few prospective students who are concerned by their lack of a consulting background. While it’s true that many current students have experience in the sector, it’s not necessarily an advantage or disadvantage. In fact, the perception contradicts the inclusive culture that INSEAD actively promotes. I had a background in the entertainment industry and used my essays as an opportunity to emphasize my experiences working in a niche field. Don’t be afraid to let your individuality, strengths, flaws, and quirks shine through your application.”
Henna Kamdar (’20)

2) Convey Your International Motivation And Ability To Contribute: “It’s not just about having lived abroad or having a long list of trips. What we are really interested in is why an international vision is important to you as a professional. We want to understand your ability to acknowledge differences, your capacity to communicate across cultures. We’re looking for examples of the ability to interact effectively despite the cultural differences, having different ways of expressing your ideas. The ability to contribute to the program is a very important element for us beyond your international motivation.”
Virginie Fougea, the Global Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at INSEAD

3) Clarify Your Key Motivations For Pursuing The INSEAD MBA: “It’s essential to have a clear understanding of why you’re pursuing an international MBA, why INSEAD, and why now at this moment in your career. Candidates frequently tell us they want to expand their perspectives, experience new cultures and pursue new interests within INSEAD’s unique ecosystem of more than 80 different nationalities. Another reason they choose INSEAD is a desire to learn from others who have different perspectives, different ways of seeing the world. That’s possible thanks to the very hands-on learning with core courses, elective modules, diversity of student clubs and events happening on campus. We frequently hear people say they want to build global connections outside their home country or where they live, to forge friendships and expand their network with a worldwide employment base. Some are career changers looking to work with our Career Development Center to craft a roadmap, not just immediately post-MBA but for the next five or 10 years down the road.”
Virginie Fougea, the Global Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at INSEAD

What led the Class of 2021 to pursue an MBA? What did they do during the application process to determine the best school fit for them? What other schools did they consider? Find answers to these questions and more by clicking on the in-depth profiles of current INSEAD MBA students below.

MBA Student Hometown Alma Mater Last Employer
Etienne de Geloes Versailles, France ESCP Europe French Army
Elisa Dierickx Fontainebleau, France Harvard University Fauna & Flora International (FFI)
Lize Hartley Cape Town, South Africa University of Stellenbosch Hicell Cellular
Michael Lau Hong Kong, China University of Waterloo 2Elephants Co.
Georges Mahl Paris, France Télécom Paris and Technische Universität München PriceHubble
Virginia Nuñez Madrid, Spain ICADE Shiseido
Nancy Tong Beijing, China London School of Economics Stealth Startup
Marco Vitali Italy École hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) LunaJets S.A.
Nicholas Walker Toronto, Canada McGill University TradeCafe
Lucy Yiran Liu Winnipeg, Canada University of Western Ontario IBM

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