Samuel Blondel

INSEAD

“Belgian-Italian, 10 years in Japan, procurement expert, community builder.”

Hometown: Brussels, Belgium

Fun fact about yourself: I love to chat with anyone, anytime, about anything. Whether they want it or not…. I was told I have golden-retriever DNA.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Business Engineering at Solvay Brussels School

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? LVMH Japan (Tiffany&Co.)

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? N/A

Where will you be working after graduation? Hopefully a strategy consultant in a top tier consulting firm…we’ll see.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: I’ve always enjoyed helping others and connecting people. Back in Tokyo, I played a key role in growing the young professional network of the Belgian Luxembourg community from 5 friends in Tokyo to 200 active members across Japan. This passion for “bridge-building” is what led to me being awarded the Spot Scholarship at INSEAD. As Vice President of the Student Council (in charge of Career), I’m focused on connecting students with the resources they need to find jobs and internships, and I find great fulfillment in helping my peers.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I’m most proud of helping my classmates land jobs and connecting them with interesting recruiters. It was incredibly rewarding to see how my experiences and network, built before the MBA, could provide valuable support in their job search. I realized that the skills and insights I gained over the years weren’t just for my own growth but could also empower others to reach their full potential. It was a reminder of how impactful collaboration and sharing knowledge can be in a community.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? My company’s largest parts center in Japan was located 2 hours from Tokyo and struggled with finding dispatched workers, leading to rising costs. I approached the COO to investigate and proposed a solution. By collaborating with local management, I helped identify areas to subcontract non-core activities, increased efficiency, reallocated resources, and saved nearly a million euros – without job losses. This experience taught me the importance of open communication and collaboration.

Why did you choose this business school? I wanted to do an MBA at INSEAD to broaden my area of expertise, build on my Procurement, Finance, and Operations experience, and transition into a more strategic role in strategy consulting. My goal after the MBA is to advise executives on Operations, Procurement, and Budgeting, leveraging my experience and impressive network in Japan, combined with INSEAD’s world-class reputation and formation. Consulting has interested me ever since discussions with friends and former colleagues revealed it as a great match for my character. The dynamic and demanding nature of consulting excites me, as I thrive on solving complex problems and helping society progress.

In the long term, I dream of launching my own consulting company and creating bridges between Japan and Belgium/Luxembourg. In the process, I want to build on my network and experience to help European companies find partners and develop their business in Tokyo (and vice versa). This would be a first step for me would be to harness substantial opportunities that exist and help Japanese companies implement more innovative and sustainable Procurement and Operation practices.

The Japanese society is evolving at its own pace but it is changing, and entrepreneur/maverick mindsets that were shunned yesterday are set to become a tremendous source for innovation tomorrow. Within 10-15 years, I mean to build my own consulting firm and become an actor for this change, helping European entrepreneurs adapt and thrive in Japan. And, in a similar fashion, I would help Japanese startups to find partners in Europe.

To pursue an international career in strategy consulting, INSEAD offers the best expertise in the domain, which will help me grow beyond the procurement box. Finally, INSEAD, the business school for the world, has an international approach to business and is recognized globally, unlike many American and European business schools that are mostly recognized in their regions.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? I believe Lin Tian, professor of Price & Market, was my favorite teacher. She was engaging and energetic while being clear. She gave a lot of great examples and applications of the theories covered in class to complement her class. For instance, she regularly shared real-life pictures about pricing strategies and consequences across geographies and industries.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? I think that Miguel Lobo taught my favorite topic. He explained Uncertainty, Data & Judgement, which is about statistics and data analysis. He covered the topic in a concise, yet clear way and the regular assignments made it difficult for anyone to fall behind. His creative introductions to any topic made it clear How his class would help us and why.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? It hasn’t happened yet, but I am really looking forward the Culture exchange week. I believe it is a testament to INSEAD’s diversity, openness to differences.

What is the biggest myth about your school? I was told that INSEADers party all the time, and it is quite well balanced.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? The food.

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? In big corporate environment, it would be Game of Thrones.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? They are working on interesting projects and the recommendation of How to leverage AI were quite insightful

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Zhi Wei impresses me with his resilience and achievements. Despite facing challenges early in life, he built a successful career in consulting at a top firm. What stands out most is that, despite his accomplishments, he remains approachable, humble, and inclusive — always willing to support others.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

I wish to become a top tier strategy consultant.

Relocate in a new area where things are happening and play a role in the development of the region.

Use my influence and network to build bridges between communities, and help others grow to reach their full potential.

What made Samuel such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Samuel Blondel is a beacon of intellectual curiosity and vibrant energy in our classroom. His diverse knowledge and engaging insights transform complex theories into approachable discussions, while his thoughtful humor and positive attitude make challenging topics both accessible and enjoyable. Samuel’s ability to simplify complex ideas with clarity not only enriches our debates but also fosters a collaborative learning atmosphere. A natural leader, he seamlessly blends theory with real-world experience, inspiring his peers to explore ideas with both rigor and a smile.”

Lin Tian
Assistant Professor of Economics
INSEAD

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2025

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