Hadeel Jaradat

INSEAD

“I’m a strong-willed and ambitious person, and I continuously strive to take on challenges.”

Hometown: Rawabi, Palestine

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was featured in 60 Minutes show in 2021.

Undergraduate School and Major Mechanical Engineering – Birzeit University, Palestine.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Senior manager – Bayti Real Estate investment, Rawabi, Palestine

INSEAD is one of the most culturally and professionally diverse MBA programs in the world. How do you see these global perspectives enhancing the value of your business education over the next year? I believe that INSEAD’s diverse MBA program helps shape true global leaders. Their diverse program provides an ideal opportunity to develop creativity and awareness across all groups, cultures, societies, and business methods. MBA students are the leaders of tomorrow, so it’s extremely essential for tor them to have a wide perspective not tied to a single way of thinking or way of conducting business. I personally believe that these global perspectives will offer my peers and I the chance to become a more well-rounded business leader.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of INSEAD’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Aside from the strong education and diversity, the personal career development opportunities offered by INSEAD’s MBA program are an essential part of why I choose them as a next step in my career. INSEAD establishes strong leaders and offers personalized career development programs that prepare us for the next step in our career. They strive to understand our skills, weaknesses, challenges, strengths, and aspirations, as well as offer new perspectives and trainings that contribute largely to who we are as individuals and leaders.

What has been your first impression of the INSEAD MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best INSEAD story so far. During my application process – and specifically when I was still studying for the GMAT – I had the opportunity to host a group of 35 alumnus from INSEAD’s 2021 graduate class for a tour in the city I was working at, Rawabi City. My first impression was that those students were not like any typical group of individuals that went to school together: they were family. The genuine interactions they had with each other and with me was wonderful to see. They were all so excited and offered to help me throughout the application process as soon as they knew I was applying to INSEAD. I was also fascinated by their interest and admiration in learning about the project and its influence on the community. The first interaction with them made me reassure my decision to join INSEAD.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at INSEAD? Coming from a community where I had to continuously challenge the stereotypes created in a male-dominated field, I’m mostly excited to join INSEAD’s Women in Business Club. I value the opportunity to share my experience and shine a light on women becoming stronger leaders in their businesses. Moreover, I’m planning to create a Chess Club this year. I have been playing chess since I was 6 years old and participated in many international competitions throughout the years. I believe that chess is a great game and develops the ability to see from someone else’s perspective. I hope the club will continue to grow even after I graduate from INSEAD.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I believe that my biggest career accomplishment is managing the Facility Management unit at the age of 26. The facility team belonged to Bayti Real Estate Investment company, which is the developer company of Rawabi City. Rawabi is the first Palestinian planned city and the largest private sector project in Palestine’s history. The Facility Management section (SAH) contains seven departments of over 130 employees performing preventive scheduled maintenance and corrective maintenance in both Hard Services (plumbing and HVAC, electrical coverage, and miscellaneous civil works) and soft services (waste management, cleaning and housekeeping, landscaping, and grounds maintenance) for the City’s facilities (residential buildings, offices, shopping center, retails, and public parks and streets).

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? I believe that at this point of my career, it is time I hone my natural skills and improve them with scientific knowledge and world-wide expertise. I believe this program will help me gain financial and management skills that will make me a better leader for my team in the short team. As for the long-term, I believe this program will help me obtain the know-how, tools, and experience needed to transform my section and make it independent from its mother company and a reputable leader in the market.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? I have recently read a book by Mark Wolynn, It Didn’t Start with You, that offered me a new perspective on dealing with Trauma. Mark offers a compelling perspective of how the ancestor’s past trauma and experience might affect us, as well as how to end it. I believe it’s an important book for prospective MBAs to read as it offers a new horizon of exploring our roots beyond the usual thinking cycle. As MBA students, it’s important to explore new ways of thinking and new methods for approaching life.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? My decision to join an MBA program was solely dependent on the education and experience I would gain from INSTEAD. Thus, I only applied to INSEAD as I felt like it’s the right place for me and for my career aspirations.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into INSEAD’s MBA program? Throughout the admission’s process, I would advise the applicants to stick to their determination and buckle up for the ride as it will not be an easy one. Their determination will inspire others to support them as well. There were multiple occasions throughout the process where I questioned if achieving the dream will be possible, but thanks to the continuous support I received from INSEAD and from the Alumnus I met, I never stopped dreaming.

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