Anouk Rossier

IMD Business School

“A perpetual learner with a passion for healthcare and fostering collaborative team environments.”

Hometown: Geneva, Switzerland

Fun Fact About Yourself: As a child, I regularly appeared on TV singing Christmas songs in a choral on 25 December

Undergraduate School and Major: EPFL, Switzerland, MS Life Sciences Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Senior Consultant, McKinsey & Company

What has been the best part of being in a small class with this group of classmates? The best part of being in a small class is the strong bonds I have formed with my classmates. With just 100 students, I have had the opportunity to connect with everyone on a deeper level, which would not be possible in a larger class of 500+ students. Additionally, the smaller class size allows for more meaningful interactions with our professors, enhancing the overall learning experience.

Aside from classmates, what part of IMD’s MBA programming led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I chose IMD for its renowned leadership development program, which emphasizes experiential learning in addition to theoretical knowledge. Moreover, my passion lies in healthcare, and IMD’s strong connections to the pharmaceutical industry perfectly align with my career aspirations. This combination offered exactly what I was looking for in an MBA program.

IMD is known for its academic rigor. What is one strategy you used that would help a future IMD MBA better adapt to the workload early on? Maintain a balanced lifestyle by identifying your non-negotiable needs. For me, those were gym sessions three times a week, and a weekly date night with my fiancé.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: As a consultant, joining teams for brief periods can be challenging. Sometimes, teams are welcoming, but other times, they are resistant to external involvement. My biggest accomplishment has been transforming client perspectives from initially being unhappy with our presence to becoming our biggest supporters. A memorable moment happened when I joined a team that was struggling due to a lack of client trust. A partner told me, “If you manage to turn around this relationship, this engagement would be a massive success.” Not only did I turn it around, but I also established a close, collaborative, and long-term relationship with the client.

Describe your biggest accomplishment at IMD so far: Being appointed ombudswoman, following a class vote, to create an inclusive environment where every student’s voice is not just heard but valued. This role has not only allowed me to advocate for my classmates, but also to contribute to the culture of mutual respect and support within our cohort.

Where is your favorite hang-out in Lausanne? Why do you (and your classmates) gravitate there? Lacustre, for its convenient location next to IMD and its stunning view of Lake Geneva. It offers a great mix of bar and club vibes, so you can either chill or dance, depending on your mood.

What has been your best memory at IMD thus far? Participating in the High Performance Leadership course with George Kohlrieser. This intensive two-day workshop was transformative, delving into how top leaders, musicians, and athletes achieve consistently high results. George’s unique insights, drawn from his experience as a hostage negotiator, provided us with invaluable tools to navigate our careers and develop into the leaders we aspire to be.

What do you hope to do after graduation?  Looking ahead, I aspire to shape and execute strategies within a pharmaceutical company, focusing on business development, portfolio strategy, or medical affairs.

DON’T MISS: MEET IMD BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2024