Meet IMD Business School’s MBA Class Of 2024

Niche gets a bad rap. To many, niche translates a specialized approach geared to a small audience and a narrow outcome. Don’t tell that to IMD Business School. Here, niche takes on an entirely different meaning: unconventional and forward-thinking. It is an MBA program that balances intensive self-analysis with deep dives into tomorrow’s driving forces. In the process, IMD produces astute and well-rounded leaders who understand themselves and the challenges ahead.

Omar Toulan, dean of the MBA Program at IMD, wears niche as a badge of honor, arguing it forces the school to become “more innovative in creative.” In IMD’s case, that means fully committing to specific areas. That starts with leadership development and personalized coaching, with one notable wrinkle being that MBA students spend over 20 hours undergoing psychoanalysis. In the process, students become fully aware of the underlying experiences, lessons, and values that shape their decision-making. At the same time, IMD has placed increased emphasis on entrepreneurship and sustainability, while making artificial intelligence the centerpiece of the program. Even more, the school has embraced life-long learning, hardly a surprise considering it ranks among the top business schools for executive education. This past year, for example, the school has rolled out Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) platform. Here, alumni can tap into class transcripts and faculty thought leadership – personalized to their interests – using their native language.

A LEARNING BY DOING APPROACH

Among the Class of 2024, the leadership and development aspect, coupled with its one-year format, ranks among IMD’s marquee attractions. “I think self-awareness and team-awareness, as well as understanding cultural differences, are important to be a good leader,” explains Adrian Knöpfel, a Swiss surgeon. “This, along with how to manage difficult conversations, are the main topics of the leadership stream. Second, I did not want to be away from work for too long as I thought it would be harder to get back into my field as a doctor/surgeon, so the one-year program was a perfect fit.”

Another differentiator is the deep integration of “hands-on” learning into the IMD programming, says Ananya Bala, a product manager who grew up in India and studied in Canada. “I learn better by doing and prefer being thrown in the deep end to figure stuff out rather than having a lot of theory presented to me. Our integrative exercises, the startup project, the international consulting project, and our several group assignments are all chances for me to apply the hard and soft skills I have learned. As an example, I don’t come from an accounting background, but being thrown into projects where I need to construct financial statements forces me to get comfortable with the subject.”

Bala’s classmate, Orlando Santos, has been equally impressed with IMD’s experiential curriculum since starting the program in January. In addition, he cites the quality of faculty and guest speakers as particularly enriching. “The professors don’t just have academic knowledge, but constantly engage with top executives from leading global companies,” writes Santos, a mechanical engineer from Portugal. “This daily interaction gives them up-to-date insights into the real challenges and trends facing today’s business leaders, which they bring directly into the classroom. The experiential learning approach is further enriched by discovery expeditions, an international consulting project, and many other scenarios where students tackle real-world challenges. One memorable experience was a simulation where our group was surprised by a crisis scenario. We even had top real-world journalists immediately entering the room to put us on the spot.”

AN ACCOMPLISHED CLASS

Santos himself is a man who “love(s) to be on the move,” with hobbies ranging from sailing to piloting to skiing (not to mention playing guitar). Working for CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, Santos was part of the team that operated, upgraded, and maintained the LHC, the world’s largest particle collider.

“I am particularly proud of my involvement in upgrading the vacuum system that delivers the colliding particle beams to the CMS experiment, responsible for some remarkable scientific discoveries,” Santos tells P&Q.

Santos isn’t alone in boasting an impressive resume. Growing up, Gianluca Perino dreamed of becoming a military pilot – even attending the Air Force Military High School. However, his 6’5 height made that an impossibility. In response, he joined the Italian Naval Academic for his postsecondary educaton and rose to becoming a department head in navigation and telecommunications. His biggest contribution, he says, was integrating one of his ships into a U.S. Carrier Strike Group – a first for the Italian Navy.

“At the outset, I was overwhelmed and doubted my ability to handle such a significant task,” he explains. “There were no guidelines to follow, which only added to the pressure. However, as I was going through each challenge step-by-step over seven intense months, I started to see progress. The experience was transformative! It made me realize my entrepreneurial mindset and taught me the critical importance of effective stakeholder management and building strong relationships.”

A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE

Before joining IMD’s MBA Class of 2024, Jack Davies worked in s family’s UK investment firm focused on food and agricultural enterprises, once raising $30 million for one venture in its portfolio. Veronica Durando developed digital media campaigns for a Fortune 500 healthcare firm. After earning a degree in architecture, Sebastian Schulte became a consultant and later project leader for the Boston Consulting Group. In the Sudan, Nadia Osman spearheaded partnerships between startups and government to spur economic growth.

“A key highlight of my journey was leading various national and international programs across 14 cities in Sudan, including post-conflict zones, impacting over 5,000 individuals. This role allowed me to forge strategic partnerships with organizations such as GIZ, USAID, and GEN, while working closely with government entities like the Ministry of Economics & Finance and the Ministry of Social Welfare.”

Since arriving in Lausanne, Osman has kept busy. She led the Finance Club – Impact Investing, organizing speakers and events around topics like sustainable finance. Ananya Bala put her startup, which markets dance shoes, to the test and reached the finalist round of the IMD Venture Competition. Beatriz Monreal, a Brazilian product manager for Johnson & Johnson, has found the IMD MBA experience to be transformative, after overcoming her fear of public speaking. And Veronica Durando can even pinpoint the day when she hit her stride at IMD: June 13th.

“I pitched my HealthTech start-up for the IMD Venture Award in the morning, had a Business and Society final exam in the afternoon, and put on an LGBTQ+ Pride Picnic for the DE&I Committee in the evening. I was so proud of myself. After years of believing I was trying to do too much or I had too many interests, I finally learned how to balance and succeed across my various priorities.”

In other words, says Orlando Santos, the program has been operating exactly as it should for the Class of 2024. “The entire MBA experience is designed to help us undergo this transformation — the constant teamwork and collaboration were at least as rewarding. Constant immersion in groups with different personalities, cultures, and professional blends, when coupled with a feedback-rich environment, made me look at myself through different lenses all the time, leading me to an understanding of myself that I could not have attained otherwise. I believe these insights are instrumental for future success and give me a mindset that will enable me to succeed in today’s job and tomorrow.”

PLAYING SMALL BALL

In the past, IMD classes were described as “The Might 90” – a community of 90 highly gifted professionals whose individual contributions were considered indispensable to the group. The class size has since ballooned to 103 students. However, the small school advantages remain the same, says Anouk Rossier, a McKinsey consultant from nearby Geneva.

“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.”

Another advantage of the class size, says Orlando Santos, is the “intimacy” makes for “more honest and constructive feedback” – further accelerating student growth. Nadia Osman adds that the class’s 44 nationalities create an atmosphere akin to a “mini-UN”. Here, the differences spark “lively debates and create fun dynamics,” Osman says, enabling her to learn new things every day. Because IMD swaps out groups every four-to-eight weeks, explains Gianluca Perino, students are eventually exposed to every class member.

“There’s a lot of care for each other in the class, whether it’s helping someone get through a tough time, baking a cake from scratch for someone’s birthday, grilling 100 burgers for the class’s pre-summer BBQ, or cooking a cultural dish for 100 people for the international potluck,” adds Ananya Bala. “We’re all extremely busy, but I find it beautiful that we never make others feel as if we don’t have the time to support one another.”

Not only is the class small, but time is short at IMD, with the program running from January through December. That said, the Class of 2024 became the first IMD students to enjoy a four-week break in July,. which is designed to provide time for internships. Even more, the internship can be extended to eight weeks, giving IMD an advantage over other one-year programs that cannot fit work experience into their compact schedules.

“From the participant’s point of view, it’s an opportunity to get a head start in the job market, since many companies that offer summer internships use it as a feeder to the permanent roles,” explains Dean Omar Toulan. “For recruiters, on the other hand, it’s a relatively low-risk opportunity to have first access to a highly-skilled talent pool which has already gone through a rigorous selection process.”

SIMULATING THE DEMANDS OF THE WORKPLACE

For MBA students, the internship is bound to provide a welcome break. After all, IMD carries the reputation for being one of the world’s most academically-demanding MBA programs. What else would you expect from a school whose basement work spaces is called “The Dungeons”? The workload and pace have lived up to the hype according to Sebastian Schulte, who describes his experience as intense. To get through it, the class has mastered certain practices that will come in handy for the more demanding roles they’ll take on after graduation.

For Ananya Bala, that means learning to say no, knowing time to re-energize is critical to giving your best when and where it matters. Anouk Rossier found “balance” by never shirking his non-negotiables, which were three weekly gym sessions and a weekly date night with his fiancé. By the same token, Gianluca Perino built diet, exercise, and “energy management” into his routine.

“Always keep in mind that this journey is not a sprint – it’s a marathon,” Perino observes. “You will learn how to prioritize and become more efficient. My advice: don’t waste time searching for perfection, which is not achievable. Instead, focus on producing excellent outputs.”

Never forget, adds Nadia Osman, IMD students are all in this together. “Build a strong support system with your teammates. While individual efforts can achieve much, teamwork enabled me to exceed expectations and always deliver on time. This support system helped me manage the workload, engage in team-building activities, and still have personal time, ensuring a well-rounded and balanced experience.”

FAVORITE PLACES OF THE CLASS

These shared experiences carry over outside the classroom. For the Class of 2024, Lacustre has been one of the favorite gathering spots for the Class of 2024. Overlooking Lake Geneva, the combined bar-restaurant-dance club is just a 10-minute walk from the business school.

“I enjoy gathering there with my classmates, where we build beautiful memories and engage in the most interesting conversations,” Orlando Santos says. “The breathtaking scenery, perched right on the lake, offers stunning views of the water and the surrounding mountains, making it an almost magical place to unwind. Lacustre is known for its great drinks and delicious food, including some of the best pizzas in town. The ambiance becomes even more magical as the sun goes down, with great music setting the perfect backdrop for our evenings. It’s more than just a place to relax; it’s a venue where our bonds are strengthened, and we can enjoy Lausanne’s beauty together.”

Besides Lacustre, you’ll also find the class at Le Jetée, a seasonal bar or the rooftop at Hotel Savoy. Individually, many enjoy the beaches and walking paths along the beaches of Lake Geneva (or Lac Léman as it is known locally). In fact, you’ll find many alumni who long for their days in Lausanne, which is just a 50-minute drive to Geneva and just across the lake from France.

“What I cherished most about {Lausanne] was its strong emphasis on family, healthy living, and safety,” writes Siya Xabanisa, a 2023 alum and P&Q Best & Brightest MBA. “Coming from South Africa, where urban life is often fast-paced and safety concerns are prevalent, the town’s serene and secure environment was a welcome change. The community’s focus on family values and well-being resonated with me, offering a balanced lifestyle with ample green spaces and outdoor activities.”

One word of caution: Get on an exercise regimen at IMD. The nearby bakery, Ca Passe Crème, is known for its scrumptious croissants and ice cream. At the business school itself, Siya Xabanisa also ravens about the on-campus restaurant. “I initially assumed that the meals would be average, but I was pleasantly surprised by the culinary experience. The variety of salads was impressive, and all the dishes were very tasty. It was a pleasant surprise to dine in an actual restaurant setting rather than a typical school cafeteria. The friendly staff further enhanced the overall dining experience.”

Next Page: Profiles of 12 MBA Students and an Interview with Dean Omar Toulan