Meet IMD Business School’s MBA Class Of 2023

SPORTS BRINGS CLASS TOGETHER

However, you won’t find the Class of 2023 listing the dungeons among their fondest memories. Akané Lièvre can actually list five memories: “The MBAT (sports competition between MBA schools), singing our lungs out at karaoke night, dancing until breakfast at the Gala, bonding over baseball at Oracle Park, and inhaling coffee and takeaway sushi while we compete with each other in academic group activities.” Echoing Lièvre, Tomás Pérez Bacchi playing soccer against other business schools at the MBAT in Paris as his best memory.

“What made this experience truly remarkable was the fact that we were a group of individuals from different parts of the globe who had never played together before,” he explains. “Our team’s synergy grew stronger with every game, complementing each other’s playing styles. What amazed me was how the chemistry we developed in the field seamlessly translated into our relationship, as if we had known each other for years…Our hard work paid off, achieving a historic 4th place for an IMD soccer team in the tournament. Though we didn’t win a medal, the camaraderie and memories further bonded us together. The experience taught us true teamwork transcends borders, achieving greatness when individuals unite with purpose.”

The class also transcended borders – literally – through its Discovery Expedition. Here, MBAs complete a week-long immersion overseas, where they are exposed to a range of business practices and cultural mores through IMD alumni and regional leaders alike. IMD students visited locales as different as Argentina and Singapore, with Elvin Chua singling out the Silicon Valley expedition as the highlight of his time at IMD.

“We had the opportunity to learn about the history of the valley, how its ecosystem has been so successful with nurturing technology start-ups, and the latest innovations in sustainability. The discovery expeditions are an integral part of the IMD MBA learning experience.”

A TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCE

For Kriti Bakshi, the best memories came in class, where her startup team partnered with a medtech firm conduct research on the clinical trial process. After learning the “ins-and-outs” of entrepreneurship – and presenting their findings to the founders and venture capitalists alike – Bakshi’s team was able to step back and view the larger picture.

“My fondest memory is of the last lunch we had together as a startup team with our CEO, who was an IMD alumnus from 2004,” Bakshi reminisces. “She not only gave us guidance about life after MBA, but also talked about all the wonderful memories she made at IMD decades ago. As all of us listened to her stories we thought about all the memories we were making together now.”

For alumni, those experiences can be described as “transformational.” When Sarah Mumbi-Ndegwa spoke to alumni as a student, that’s the word they used to characterize their time at IMD. Now, as an alumni, she believes ‘transformation’ is hardly hyperbole.

“I can remember the deep gratitude I felt when a classmate gave me very honest feedback that was hard to hear, yet extremely helpful. There was the moment when a classmate shared his life journey that is etched in my memory as it left me in tears, both inspired and challenged. There were moments when my professors came to class and left me in absolute awe. I came to business school to learn ‘business’, but these very few examples are to tell that it was so much more! Not to sound cliché but it really was transformational.

THE LEADERSHIP STREAM

Overall, the Class of 2023 brings a 680 average GMAT to Lausanne, with scores ranging from 640-740. Women account for 36% of the class, up a point from the previous year. Professionally, 20% of the class last worked in Consulting, followed by Technology (18%), and Financial Services (14%). The class also includes representatives from Energy, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and the Non-Profit sector.

One way the program is transformational is through its year-long Leadership Stream. Less theory and more reflective, the program is designed to help students understand how they behave the way to do – all while providing opportunities for them to immediately practice what they’ve learned. Notably, students work heavily in groups, engaging in simulations, labs, and discussions. In the process, they receive constant feedback on what works and how their actions are perceived. These activities are supplemented by one-on-one coaching – and even sessions with a psychoanalyst to uncover the unconscious catalysts driving their behavior.

“Not only does the leadership stream equip us with the skillset required to become an effective leader,” explains Elvin Chua, “it also provides us with the opportunity to truly reflect on our core values as individuals through the personal development elective (PDE), where we receive 20 one-to-one sessions with a psychoanalyst over the course of the MBA.”

Chao Fang was equally bullish on the programming. “The Leadership Experiential Lab in February was one of my best memories at IMD so far. We had the chance to observe our reactions and behaviors in a group setting and a safe environment. I learned far more than I expected about myself and my fellow classmates. The experience provided me with a glimpse into my leadership style and what I could do to improve myself to be helpful to a team. It was intense and it was a wake-up call! From there, I started exploring and building my self-awareness as a leader.”

TIPS ON MAKING IT THROUGH

IMD is also known as a work hard and play hard program, where the joke goes, ‘You can study, network, and sleep – just not all three.’ How has the Class of 2023 been able to make it to the finish line? For Akané Lièvre, the secret has been being present and figuring out her priorities.

“You might not have time to do everything but be present when you do – whether a lecture, group work, or going out socializing. Try to get the most out of each experience that you manage to squeeze into your schedule. If you feel like you need to refuse a drink or take some time for yourself, then do so; it is probably better than trying to “do it all” and finding yourself too shattered to enjoy each experience to the fullest.”

Taking a different tack, Kriti Bakshi urges future IMD MBAs to create a support system. In her experience, having peers around who understand the pressure-packed workloads and deadlines make the experience “more manageable and less isolating.” At the same time, Siya Xabanisa believes students should give themselves a break, understanding their classmates are there because they don’t have to know and do everything.

“It’s essential to recognize that everyone comes from diverse backgrounds and experiences, and it’s perfectly normal to have knowledge gaps. Embracing this fact and understanding that others in the class may feel the same way fosters a collaborative and supportive learning environment where we can all learn from each other.”

AN INTERVIEW WITH SANDEEP TADA

This past year, IMD collected several honors, ranking 3rd in both the Poets&Quants Global and Bloomberg Business European rankings. In addition, the school scored an impressive 9.59 student satisfaction rate in the latest Financial Times survey (not counting notching the 7th-highest score for the quality of the alumni network). In September, Dean Jean-François Manzoni announced that he would be stepping down from his position at the end of 2024. That’s not the only news on campus. Earlier this year, P&Q reached out to Sandeep Tada, MBA Program Delivery Director, to learn about new developments at the school and take a deeper dive into IMD’s offerings. Here are his thoughts…

P&Q: What have been the two most important developments in your MBA program over the past year? What type of impact will they have on current and future MBAs?

Tada: “To ensure our MBA students are well equipped to navigate AI-permeated societies, IMD is already reimagining the content and delivery of our renowned MBA journey, with elements such as a crash course on generative AI to demystify GenAI, explore how it can be applied and prepare our students for some of the ethical and social implications. IMD MBA students will enter the job market with a more technologically savvy skill set and the competitive advantage of being able to apply these cutting-edge tools to solve complex business challenges.

Our ultimate goal is to ensure our MBA students can navigate the high-tech future as reflective, responsible leaders who can effectively harness AI’s strategic advantage for business and society.

An additional vital development is a stronger focus on sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and ethical business practices. Some of the critical elements of this change include strong collaboration with WBCSD, the inclusion of Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) certification in our Finance course, and a COP simulation as part of our Business & Society course. As the business world places more emphasis on sustainability and social impact, IMD MBA graduates will face a professional landscape that highly values leaders with a deep understanding of these issues and the ability to guide businesses towards more sustainable and socially responsible practices.”

P&Q: Give us your one-minute pitch for your business school. What makes you unique?

Tada: “Overall, IMD’s key strengths lie in its core value of “challenging what is and inspiring what could be, we develop leaders who transform organizations and contribute to society.”  We do this through our international faculty and students, and our commitment to fostering thought leadership beyond academic publications.

Our strong links to the industry and international network (in 2022, more than 19,000 executives participated in executive education programs), combined with the personalized attention that we offer to each student, prepare them for their future career journey as reflective and responsible leaders.”

P&Q: Sustainability has emerged as a major attraction to prospective MBA students. How does your full-time MBA program integrate sustainability across its curriculum?

Tada: “Beginning in January 2022, a new sustainability-themed curriculum was introduced in the MBA program, with the aim of weaving sustainability into the entire program versus isolating it as a separate element.

During the redesign planning, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), became a contributor to the redesign process and was involved in the implementation of special activities. At the centre of the redesign, an overarching Sustainability Framework was adopted with ten key skills to be developed in our MBA students throughout the core curriculum.

Additional elements include a 2.5-day offsite mountain experience in the Swiss Alps around the topic of sustainability and climate change at the start of the MBA program and a visit to the United Nations (UN) Office in Geneva. Here, students met key UN officials to discuss climate change before role-playing country delegates and climate activists during a COP climate summit.”

P&Q: What are some key elements in your teaching of leadership? What types of options does your school offer that deepens student experience with leadership and makes them more competitive in the marketplace?

Tada: “Leadership is a core part of the IMD MBA program, integrated across the whole program structure and learning and grounded in the themes of reflection and responsibility. Combining theoretical knowledge with experiential exercises that offer the opportunity to learn by doing, the IMD MBA leadership stream examines different levels of leadership from developing personal self-awareness as a leader to leading organizations and society. A recent addition to this stream is a series of Right-vs.-Right Forums where MBAs debate and learn about how to resolve key value dilemmas.

On an individual level, each student is also offered the possibility of completing a Personal Development Elective (PDE), comprising 20 sessions with a psychoanalyst for the purpose of personal growth and development. This increased self-awareness supports MBAs to exercise leadership more effectively in both personal and professional contexts.”

Next Page: Profiles of IMD MBA Students

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