Virginie Fougea Steps Down As INSEAD’s Admissions Director

Virginie Fougea has been global director of admissions and financial aid at INSEAD since 2019, but has held various roles in admissions and the school’s degree programs since the mid-1990s

Virginie Fougea, the long-time director of admissions at INSEAD, announced in a LinkedIn post October 11 that she has stepped down to take on a new role at the business school.

Fougea, who has held various roles with INSEAD’s admissions team since the mid-1990s, including global director of admissions, financial aid and scholarship since January 2019, is now the French B-school’s executive director of student engagement.

“After an incredible journey as the Director of Admissions & Financial Aid, where I’ve had the privilege to help students navigate some of the most important decisions of their lives, I’m thrilled to share that I’m stepping into a new role,” Fougea wrote.

“This is an exciting new chapter where I’ll continue my passion for student success, but now with a broader focus on enhancing their overall experience and helping them thrive both inside and outside the classroom alongside an amazing team of talented individuals.”

INSEAD IS CURRENT P&Q NO. 1 INTERNATIONALLY

Fougea joined the Fontainebleau-based B-school in 1996. In 2012 she became associate director of admissions, and four years later was promoted to director of MBA recruitment and admissions. After a little more than two years in that role she became global director of admissions and financial aid, overseeing the team responsible for selecting, admitting and retaining top talent to all the school’s degree programs.

In August, Fougea announced updates to INSEAD’s MBA application, including refinements to the motivation essays and a new prompt: “Consider a situation where you failed to achieve your objective(s). How did you handle failure? What did you learn about yourself and/or your interactions with others from this situation?”

Poets&Quants has ranked INSEAD first in Europe four of the last five years, including 2023-2024. P&Q also named INSEAD’s 10-month MBA our Program of the Year last year. The school, which has campuses in France, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, is No. 2 in the most recent Financial Times ranking; INSEAD’s executive MBA was named the No. 9 program in the world by FT on October 13.

In its latest MBA brochure, INSEAD reports having 1,000 students across two cohorts, in August in January. Students’ average age is 29, with 3-8 years’ work experience, representing 110 nationalities from 75 work or home countries. Most — 37% — are from Europe, with 34% from Asia Pacific and 12% from North America; 38% are women. INSEAD has more than 70,000 alumni in more than 180 countries.

‘LUCKY STUDENTS TO HAVE YOU BY THEIR SIDE’

In 2016, Fougea told P&Q that under her direction in admissions “interpersonal skills, leadership skills, self-awareness are elements we want to see. We want to see those skills highlighted in the letters of recommendation, in the interview process with alumni — this is very important to us. We believe that leaders of the world have these personalities. They have self-awareness and interpersonal skills.”

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities, growth, and relationships I’ve built in my previous roles INSEAD, and I look forward to carrying that energy and commitment into this new chapter,” Fougea wrote in her announcement on LinkedIn. “Thank you to all my managers, colleagues, mentors, and friends who have supported me along the way. I’m eager to see what this new role brings and the impact we can make together for our students. Here’s to new challenges, new opportunities, and continued growth!”

Fougea’s announcement was met with more than 130 comments from colleagues, current and former students, and other well-wishers. Among them was MBA admissions consultant Eric Lucrezia, who wrote: “The impact that your leadership has had on the INSEAD admissions process and greater INSEAD community is remarkable. Lucky for everyone there, you remain and can spread your talents to other areas of the school.”

Graham Hastie, associate dean of London Business School, wrote that Fougea was “an absolute superstar as the head of recruitment and admissions” and added that he was sure she will “bring that passion, knowledge, experience and care to this exciting new role.”

Added Fortuna Admissions Director Matt Symonds: “You have led INSEAD admissions with such generosity, thoughtfulness, inclusiveness and commitment Virginie Fougea and have had such a transformative impact on the lives of so many MBA candidates. You are a wonderful ambassador for the entire industry. You will bring so much to this exciting new role — lucky students to have you by their side!”

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