Meet IMD Business School’s MBA Class Of 2023

2023 MBA Students Ping Pong Challenge

P&Q: Two years ago, P&Q asked you to share how you’ve integrated AI, STEM, analytics, and digital disruption into your programming. Since then, what types of enhancements have you made in these areas?

Tada: “Digital and Analytics have been part of the IMD MBA core course since 2018. However, in recent years Sustainability and Social Responsibility have become key topics needed to help prepare MBAs for future leadership. Both topics are key elements of the IMD MBA program and are explored during in-course discussions, role-plays and debates around the latest challenges and opportunities. For several years, our MBA Program already included Marketing Analytics and Digital Analytics, as well as a Discovery Expedition where students explore innovative, technical hubs worldwide, with the aim of better understanding how global challenges and opportunities are shaping the future of business and society. As a lates addition to the program, we have included an AI-driven crash course on generative AI and we will also prepare MBAs on the topic of Digital Resilience, the practical aspects of using GenAI, and the ethical social implications of its use.

P&Q: What is your biggest student-run event of the year, and what does it reflect about your school?

Tada: “The IMD MBA program is a co-created experience where MBAs actively participate in creating a memorable year. Some of their participation includes creating class committees, i.e., Social, Public Speaking, Sport & Wellness, Yearbook, Sustainability, and D&I, as well as career clubs to better prepare themselves for the job market in various fields.

However, one event that truly brings team spirit and forges the class identity is the student preparation and participation for the MBAT (MBA Tournament) in Paris, where they compete against other European business schools. The organization demonstrates the inclusive culture we foster at IMD and how it gets cascaded down at the MBA class level as students from a multitude of backgrounds and cultures come together to create and train teams to take part in a variety of activities. The class support, as they actively cheer each other on at every event, is inspiring.”

IMD Business School. MBA innovation MassChallenge in Les ateliers at Renens near Lausanne. © Olivier Vogelsang / IMD

P&Q: How many courses outside the business school can MBAs take during your program? To what extent has your business school embraced coursework from other schools and departments at your university? Are students from other schools and departments at the university allowed to take MBA electives?

Tada: “IMD always seeks opportunities to collaborate with other institutions. A prime example this year was when our MBA students participated in the Global Virtual Teams exercise, which brings together MBA students from multiple schools in the Global Network for Advanced Management to work together on a negotiation project. As part of the experiential learning, IMD MBAs formed teams with students from Yale’s School of Management to work on a negotiation task.

Part of our uniqueness lies in our strong links to the industry that benefit our boutique MBA program. In 2022, more than 19,000 executives participated in executive and education programs, with approximately 6,600 in open programs and 13,000 in custom programs. Many of the faculty who teach in these programs also teach in our MBA program, and therefore bring their learnings into the MBA auditoriums.

We are also able to expand our global reach through the institute’s Executive Learning Center in Singapore, and as part of our inclusive culture and value proposition, we have opened up our electives to our diverse cohort of MBA spouses.”

5 REASONS TO CONSIDER IMD BUSINESS SCHOOL

1) Leadership Training: “The leadership focus, which IMD is so well known for, was the leading factor. There is a very personalized approach from regular sessions with a leadership coach and a psychoanalyst, to lecturers, experiential weeks, and labs. It is not a cookie cutter approach: you really get to explore your unique voice as a leader. The international cohort also meant that you could really experience how your approach translates across cultures which was aligned to my international career.”
Sarah Mumbi-Ndegwa (’22)

“IMD’s emphasis on leadership and personal development. Getting access to a leadership coach and PDE (Personal Development Elective) analyst were undoubtedly some major highlights of the year for me in terms of personal and professional development. The leadership stream isn’t just a set of generic theoretical classes. Instead, this stream ties in personal development so we are able to understand not only what kind of leader we naturally are but also, what we need to work on to be the kind of leader we want to be. As someone who hopes to have leadership positions in my career, I knew this would be invaluable in my leadership development. The surprise element was the impact this had on my personal development and self-awareness – I leave IMD a much happier person!”
Amanda Tan (’22)

2) Deeply International: “Working for about eight years in China for Walmart China and about four years in Russia for Alibaba, I analyzed my skill set and identified where I could bridge what I saw as gaps. I had encountered a very different cultural background and working environment in Russia, prompting me to search for an MBA where I could develop as a leader and gain a wider international perspective. The one-year MBA is a good fit for me, well into my career, as it enables me to focus on leadership and general management. The whole experience is exposing me to different cultures and ways of communicating and interacting with people, and it is allowing me to address the gaps I identified.”
Chao Fang (’23)

3) Distinguished Faculty: “IMD is known for its robust executive education programs that are delivered by reputable professors with great academic and real-world experience. This is what led me to choose IMD, because I wanted to be taught by people who had great exposure to the companies that we talk about in class. Now that I’m in the middle of the program, I can say that my expectations have been exceeded, as we have gained substantial insights from the consulting work that our professors do with important companies around the world.”
Faisal Alkhalaf (’23)

4) Experiential Learning: “IMD offers a unique curriculum focused on experiential learning. We are not just handed frameworks in class, but we also learn to put these theories into practice, allowing us to validate their effectiveness and relevance. This sentiment is echoed across all the streams, from leadership to finance and accounting. An important aspect for me was to choose a business school which not only teaches theories and frameworks but also helps students actively engage with the material learned. At IMD, we get our hands dirty through real-world simulations like MarkStrat, a COP simulation and Crisis Consulting. These interactive experiences have transformed how I learn, pushing me to test my skills in a real-world environment and quickly adapt to changes.”
Kriti Bakshi (’23)

5) Sustainability Focus: “The emphasis on sustainability at IMD goes beyond being just another course; it’s deeply ingrained in the ethos of the school. I’ve noticed how the theme of sustainability permeates all aspects of our education journey, from classroom discussions to extracurricular activities. Through this immersive experience, I’ve gained a profound appreciation for how vital sustainability is in shaping responsible business practices.”
Siya Xabanisa (’23)

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