In The Know by INSEAD

Successful executives seldom get to the top alone. Even the most talented need the help of other people to reach their true potential. As the workplace becomes more competitive and interactive, the practice of leadership coaching and mentoring is becoming more common as ambitious individuals seek guidance, and senior executives realise the importance of helping people reach their full potential by sharing knowledge and insights. Today we're going to delve into a successful career coaching partnership and discuss the differences between the many roles people can play in guiding us in our careers, and the benefits that can bring the individual. Our Guests Nicolaas Woudenberg Nicolaas is a Consultant at BCG and the CEO & Founder of Strōm which is a Human Performance coaching platform that energizes people to thrive through an offline coaching marketplace integrated with a digital journey of gamified micro-learning and habit building. Gene Cleckley Gene is a Career Coach in INSEAD’s CDC. He worked with hundreds of clients from all over the world, leveraging a 25-year career in global management, leadership development, corporate and organisational culture. Gene holds an academic and training background in organisational behaviour, psychotherapy and counselling, while also being an INSEAD EMC graduate.

“Don't wait for the future to tell you what to do. It is better to make mistakes in a strategy than having no strategy at all.” - José Luis Álvarez, INSEAD Senior Affiliate Professor of Organisational Behaviour. In episode 19 we discuss the importance of having a strategy or at least an idea ready for implementation and what career strategies look like in 2021. Our Guests Sonal Bahl Sonal is the Founder and Career Strategist at SuperCharge, a career advisory firm specialising in helping senior CSuite executives with their career challenges. Sonal is also the creator and host of the podcast How I Got Hired, which is a show aimed at inspiring 400 million jobseekers, looking to revive their work careers affected by the pandemic. Sonal is an MBA’09J and was an active member of INSEAD Women in Business Club and was responsible for Sponsorship, Marketing and Campus Liaison activities. Christos Manolis Christos is the Head of HR Benelux, Germany, France for PepsiCo and Human Resources leader with experience in the consumer goods industry in a variety of HRBP and specialist roles with UK, Europe and Globally. Christos leads a talented HR team at PepsiCo and partners business leaders across 7 western European markets supporting the growth of a $2bn portfolio and the organisation's transformation. Christos is an MBA’09J and was the President & Career Representative for the Consumer & Luxury Goods Club.     

Partners and children enrich and enliven our community and we try to make sure that everyone benefits from the INSEAD experience. Through the availability of on-campus support, activities and the INSEAD Partners' community INSEAD children even get their own network of international friends, just like mum and dad. Plus, both Singapore and Fontainebleau are child-friendly places to live. Our Guests Ana Val Romera Ana is a supply chain specialist with bachelor and master degrees in industrial engineering. Before pursuing her MBA, Ana joined Daimler in 2014 and managed Daimler's largest spare part procurement team and oversaw 40% of Daimler’s global spare part procurement worth a total of €820 million. Tim van Vliet Tim is the Co-founder of an alternative protein start-up INSEACT www.inseact.com. His start-up has received many awards, including the INSEAD Venture Competition, INSEAD Social Impact Award, Most Disruptive MBA Start-Up of 2019 (Poets and Quants) and the MBA Start-Up to look Out For In 2020 (Business Because).   Visit https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba/student-life/partners-families to find more information about partners and families within the INSEAD MBA programme.   

The last 12 months have shown us that the unpredictable can happen and our best-laid career plans don’t always work out the way we intend them to. To help us explain how we can understand and succeed in an ever-changing career landscape I am joined by two individuals responsible for ensuring students in the pioneering INSEAD Master in Management class build solid foundations for their future career success. Our Guests Jessica Whitehead Jessica is the Assistant Director of Career Development and Employer Engagement for INSEAD’s Master in Management.  Jessica has a background in managing programmes and strategic partnerships in Canada, the UK, and China. Most recently she worked in the Global Engagement Office at UCL, and prior to that, she worked at London Business School helping to operationalise the re-launch of the MiM programme. She also holds an undergraduate degree in business and a Master in education. Thibault Seguret Thibault is the Programme Director for INSEAD’s Master in Management programme and holds a Master of Computer Science as well as an MBA from INSEAD (12J). An experienced manager with over 12 years of experience, he started his career in the video games industry. Passionate about career development, he launched a start-up right after his MBA to challenge the way teenagers and young adults thought about their careers.  

INSEAD has four equally important application criteria that guide our selection of an exciting, dynamic and diverse student body. The MBA Admissions team is looking for people with intellectual curiosity, personal qualities to contribute to the many INSEAD activities and a desire to stretch themselves in a rigorous academic programme. We welcome applications from around the world regardless of race, religion, gender, colour or financial status. Gain insights into these criteria and how you can strengthen your MBA eligibility from the INSEAD Women in Business (IWiB) club who aim to create more opportunities for women to become stronger leaders and future role models. Since its launch, IWiB has built considerable interest among MBA participants and outside organisations across all of INSEAD’s campuses. IWiB aims to be a forum for discussion and networking for anyone promoting gender diversity within the business community. Guests Tips/strategies on how to tackle the GMAT by Whitney Garner from Manhattan Prep Student panel discussion (moderated by Maria Reis, Assistant Director, MBA & MIM Marketing and Recruitment Q&A from the audience (moderated by Kate Richardson, Marketing & Events Officer)

Episode #10 features one of the discussions from a three-day series of events that was part of the Sustainable Development Goals week organised by the Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society in collaboration with INSEAD student clubs. SDG Week brought leaders working on the SDGs together with students, faculty and staff. The week featured presentations, panel sessions and exhibitions that focused on sustainable development solutions that protect the earth’s biosphere and open business opportunities. In this event, Careers with Purpose, Jean-Marc Bally from Aster Capital and Fanny Auger from Nature & Decouvertes will talk about how they transformed the future of industries through their commitment to sustainability. They will share their success stories in unconventional career paths, their experiences in disrupting markets and in bringing their business models to life. Moreover, they will discuss sustainability and social impact trends they have seen in the private sector. Our Guests Today Fanny Auger  Brand Director, Nature & Découvertes Jean-Marc Bally Managing Partner, Aster Park Sol (Moderator) President of the MBA Impact Club Discover More  Learn more about INSEAD and how an INSEAD MBA will empower your future by attending one of our information session events held around the globe. We host Masterclass events, coffee chats, participate in MBA fairs and forums, one-to-one consultations and offer campus visits so you can gain insights into our one-year MBA programme and our diverse community. These events are held throughout the year and are hosted by Admissions, Student Recruitment staff and alumni. https://inse.ad/itkevents The INSEAD Indevor Club's vision is to inspire and foster the INSEAD community to embrace an integrated perspective and drive positive social and environmental change.   https://clubs.insead.edu/indevor/ The Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society is at the forefront of aligning INSEAD with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. In order to achieve this, we research and develop new sustainable business models, explore means of operating sustainably, inspire a diverse group of future leaders, engage with our global alumni community to expand the impact, and aspire to make INSEAD a sustainable school that acts and leads by example. https://www.insead.edu/centres/the-hoffmann-global-institute-for-business-and-society  

The region of Asia is incredibly diverse in people and culture, you need to be aware of those differences to be successful when conducting business or pursuing a career in Asia. The Tsinghua – INSEAD Executive MBA (TIEMBA) is a unique partnership between INSEAD and Tsinghua, one of China’s most prestigious universities. The programme takes place across INSEAD’s three campuses in Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Fontainebleau (France), and Tsinghua’s campuses in Beijing and Shenzhen. In episode #12 we have the first of a two-part episode which will feature a participant and alumnus from the TIEMBA programme. This two-part episode provides insights into business and career success in Asia. Guest Lynette Tan, TIEMBA'21Jul Co-founder and Chief Executive of the Singapore Space and Technology Association. Lynette is a Womens Weekly Great Women Of Our Time Award winner and current participant in the TIEMBA programme. Lynette shared many amazing insights into the science and technology industries and some tips on how to realise success in Asia.

Understanding how to create a fit between our colleagues, our organisation and our corporate goals is incredibly important as we try to make significant contributions in our careers. Today we are talking about how to transform yourself and your organisation with our guests from the Executive Master in Change Programme. Our Guests Today Samantha Yarwood  Samantha recently left the corporate world to start focusing on tapping into the collective powers of our community to create positive change. Samantha spent 15+ years in marketing & communications with a focus on building the brand, creating community, and inspiring through innovation with Starbucks/Nestle. Current projects include CMO at Scout Canning; Chief Marketing & Human Resources Officer at Abundance Behavioural Health and; Service Line Director, THNK. Michael Shiel Michael Shiel is adjunct professor of strategy at INSEAD, where he teaches on the core strategy course on the MBA, and is one of the Programme Directors of the Executive Master in Change. He has taught extensively in the field of Strategic Leadership, where his specialised interest is in the challenges of strategy in situations of uncertainty and ambiguity. Discover More  Spanning over 18 months and eight modules of three to four days, the EMC programme takes you deep into the basic drivers of human behaviour and the hidden dynamics of organisations. Integrating business education with a range of psychological disciplines, the programme enables you to understand yourself and others at a fundamental level – and to use that knowledge to create more effective organisations. Whether you are an HR professional, a coach, a consultant or an executive seeking new ways to make an impact on your organisation, this programme offers you not simply a prized degree from one of the world’s leading business schools but a life-changing intellectual and emotional experience. Visit https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/emc to discover more.

Everybody has diverse needs for career support, whether they are already on their way to building a successful career in their current organisation, or looking to progress in a new organisation or a new field. Today we discuss Career Development and Career Fulfilment to help you engineer not just greater success at work but also personal and professional fulfilment.  Our guests today Yassine Lahlou Yassine is a current INSEAD MBA Candidate and finance professional, passionate about Innovation, Africa, and Entrepreneurship. Yassine has built an impressive collection of experiences in the financial services industry, including Financial Due Diligence at Deloitte in Paris and Private Equity Valuation at IHS Markit in London. Yassine is part of the leadership team of the Africa Club and the Investment Banking Club and represented INSEAD at the LBS Private Equity Case Competition (1st place).  Charles Labelle Charles is the Head of Employer Engagement for Europe & Americas at INSEAD. Charles is an International Business veteran with 20 years of expertise and continuous advancement in leadership, coaching, marketing, sales, and new product development. We're giving you the power to ask our future guests questions  We are now giving you the ability to ask our future guests your questions about career development and how to achieve career fulfilment. Head to www.inse.ad/itk9 to submit your question or upvote questions from other listeners, and we will then ask our next guests the top-ranking questions. Each poll will be open for the first two weeks of every month; the earlier you submit your question, the more likely it is to be upvoted by other listeners.  Discover More  For a collection of thought pieces, expert opinions and first-hand accounts on the topics of career development and leadership curated to guide you on your journey from manager to mentor head to https://intheknow.insead.edu/ The INSEAD one-year MBA Programme is about academic rigour, amazing diversity, excellent career opportunities and an outstanding alumni network. With three fully-integrated campuses in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and over 90 different nationalities in the classroom, no other business school offers such a multicultural experience.  The accelerated full-time MBA programme curriculum develops successful, thoughtful leaders and entrepreneurs who create value for their organisations and their communities, and we are looking for smart, well-rounded candidates who believe that business can be a force for good. Find out more by visiting https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba

When considering whether to apply to the INSEAD MBA, you may be concerned that you might be lacking in experience compared to those that have been working in the corporate sector, financial services or as consultants. We discuss the benefits differences in knowledge and experience can bring to your career and how these experiences will give you the skills you will need to successfully manage diversity in your future. Our guests today Isabel Weiner Isabel is a current MBA Candidate at INSEAD and comes from a non-traditional business background. Isabel's experiences include working with non-profit organisations that were supporting women and refugees in the Middle East and Northern Africa. More recently, she moved into human rights and social justice philanthropy working for Open Society Foundations. Virginie Fougea Virginie is the INSEAD Global Director of Admissions & Financial Aid responsible for selecting and retaining top talents from very diverse backgrounds to INSEAD’s Degree Programmes. We're giving you the power to ask our future guests questions  We are now giving you the ability to ask our future guests your questions about career development and how to achieve career fulfilment. Head to www.inse.ad/itk8 to submit your question or upvote questions from other listeners, and we will then ask our next guests the top-ranking questions. Each poll will be open for the first two weeks of every month; the earlier you submit your question, the more likely it is to be upvoted by other listeners.  Discover More  For a collection of thought pieces, expert opinions and first-hand accounts on the topics of career development and leadership curated to guide you on your journey from manager to mentor head to https://intheknow.insead.edu/ The INSEAD one-year MBA Programme is about academic rigour, amazing diversity, excellent career opportunities and an outstanding alumni network. With three fully-integrated campuses in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and over 90 different nationalities in the classroom, no other business school offers such a multicultural experience.  The accelerated full-time MBA programme curriculum develops successful, thoughtful leaders and entrepreneurs who create value for their organisations and their communities, and we are looking for smart, well-rounded candidates who believe that business can be a force for good. Find out more by visiting https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba

We explore the intersection of business and society and discuss careers in social impact and sustainability. The challenges of our times are immense, and the decisions made by leaders today will determine the future. We discuss what "Force For Good" means as INSEAD develops the next generation of global business leaders, managers and entrepreneurs who will tackle world-scale problems. We also learn more about the Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society. Our guests today Katell Le Goulven Katell is the Executive Director of the Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society, which she describes passionately in our discussion. Katell joined INSEAD after contributing to UNICEF and The United Nations in advisory and policy roles. Nozomi Witherspoon Currently a participant at the INSEAD Global Executive MBA programme Nozomi has 15+ years of experience in international development/social impact. As a Senior Portfolio Manager at Southeast Asia, Water.org. her primary focus is on implementing WaterCredit and developing an innovative business model deploying digital finance. Discover More  A collection of thought pieces, expert opinions and first-hand accounts on the topics of career development and leadership, curated to guide you on your journey from manager to mentor. https://intheknow.insead.edu/INSEAD's modular Global Executive MBA programme (GEMBA) takes place in fully integrated campuses across three regions: Europe (France), Asia (Singapore) and the Middle East (Abu Dhabi). The GEMBA offers experienced executives an intensive 14 to 17-month fast-track to the top via one of the world’s most prestigious and multicultural business schools. https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/gembaThe Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society goal is to equip leaders to make decisions in ways that deliver positive outcomes for business, communities, people and our planet. Please share your innovative ideas, new approaches and experiences. You can follow or join the conversation here on our website. You can also find us on social media or email us. https://www.insead.edu/centres/the-hoffmann-global-institute-for-business-and-society

You may be part of an organisation where you are already on your way to building a successful career, or you may be looking to progress your career in a new organisation. In episode #5, we discuss career changes, and whether you are internal-career or external-career focused, we encourage you to take this opportunity to reflect on your career trajectory. Our guests today Kai Sieng Kai Sieng Fung, a Singaporean national and INSEAD’s Assistant Director for Executive Career Development in Asia. He brings more than 15 years of experience in executive search consulting and has placed numerous senior-level and mid-level professionals in front office roles and mid-office roles in Singapore and Hong Kong / China. Before that, he worked in e-commerce and transportation. Samantha Xu Samantha Xu is a Chinese national, previously the regional CFO of J. Lauritzen A/S, a Danish shipping company. Starting from August, she will be the Divisional Finance Director at Royal Vopak, responsible for developments of Asia and the Middle East. She is a proven finance leader with over 16 years’ experience in both the maritime, oil and gas industries. Samantha holds extensive international exposure and strong cultural understanding from her previous postings in China, Denmark, the UAE, and Singapore. Show Notes The show notes for today's episode are found via the In The Know website. https://intheknow.insead.edu/podcast Discover More  A collection of thought pieces, expert opinions and first-hand accounts on the topics of career development and leadership, curated to guide you on your journey from manager to mentor. https://intheknow.insead.edu/ INSEAD's modular Global Executive MBA programme (GEMBA) takes place in fully integrated campuses across three regions: Europe (France), Asia (Singapore) and the Middle East (Abu Dhabi). The GEMBA offers experienced executives an intensive 14 to 17-month fast-track to the top via one of the world’s most prestigious and multicultural business schools. https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/gemba GEMBA participants have diverse needs for career support. Our Career Development team is dedicated to Executive MBA careers and addresses both your “internal-career” needs (making the most of your career within your present organisation) and your “external-career” needs (making a change outside your organisation). In both cases, INSEAD is recognised by companies worldwide as a key source of talent and career development. https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/gemba/career-development#career-development  

What does ambition mean to you? Do we define success the same for both men and women? In episode 4 we discuss how ambition doesn't favour any particular gender and how you can support gender initiatives in your career and leadership positions. INSEAD is committed to developing the next generation of global leaders who will change the world with initiatives such as the Force for Good Campaign and the INSEAD Gender Initiative. Find out what the next generation of leaders can do to facilitate women’s success in business? Our guests today Antoine Clavier Antoine is an INSEAD MBA’18J Alumni with 7 years of commercial experience in medical devices and life sciences. Currently based in Asia with Visala Labs, Antoine has a great breadth of experience in mentoring and supporting gender campaigns including setting up the first Manbassadors movement with the INSEAD Women in Business Club. Zoe Kinias Zoe Kinias is an Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD and the Academic Director of INSEAD’s Gender Initiative. She is also a member of the INSEAD Randomized Control Trials Lab. Show Notes The show notes for today's episode can be found via the In The Know website. https://intheknow.insead.edu/podcast Discover More  INSEAD celebrates ambitious people who place no limits on the size of their dreams and dare to push beyond barriers to conquer obstacles in their lives. Learn more https://intheknow.insead.edu/limitless A collection of thought pieces, expert opinions and first-hand accounts on the topics of career development and leadership, curated to guide you on your journey from manager to mentor. https://intheknow.insead.edu/ The INSEAD one-year MBA Programme is about academic rigour, amazing diversity, excellent career opportunities and an outstanding alumni network. The accelerated full-time MBA programme curriculum develops successful, thoughtful leaders and entrepreneurs who create value for their organisations and their communities while ensuring business can be a force for good. https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba The Ambition Has No Gender video can be viewed on the INSEAD YouTube channel or via the above link. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9aeQQ-NqjHS3nfiod2PMSA  

In episode 3 we feature a little more about careers and leadership in entrepreneurship and in particular social ventures. Social entrepreneurship is the use of start-up companies and other entrepreneurs to develop, fund and implement solutions to social, cultural, or environmental issues. Ideally cultivating purpose-driven leaders and businesses that can transform the world and achieve a sustainable future.   Our guests today Daniel Layug Daniel graduated from INSEAD with the MBA17D class and was declared the winner of the 35th INSEAD Venture Competition (IVC)! With their venture, PeoplePods. PeoplePods is a corporate solution to provide innovative housing to workers. Their mission is to improve the lives of thousands of low-income workers by providing dignified and affordable communities. Nancy Hsieh Nancy joined INSEAD as the Executive Director for the Maag INSEAD Centre for Entrepreneurship (ICE) in the fall of 2014. In addition to managing the ICE team and activities across the Fontainebleau and Singapore campuses, she actively builds relationships within the INSEAD entrepreneurship community and develops growth strategies for the centre. Show Notes The show notes for today's episode can be found via the In The Know website. https://intheknow.insead.edu/podcast Discover More  https://intheknow.insead.edu/ A collection of thought pieces, expert opinions and first-hand accounts on the topics of career development and leadership, curated to guide you on your journey from manager to mentor. https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba The INSEAD one-year MBA Programme is about academic rigour, amazing diversity, excellent career opportunities and an outstanding alumni network. The accelerated full-time MBA programme curriculum develops successful, thoughtful leaders and entrepreneurs who create value for their organisations and their communities while ensuring business can be a force for good. https://centres.insead.edu/entrepreneurship/index.cfm The Rudolf and Valeria Maag INSEAD Centre for Entrepreneurship (ICE) was founded in 2003.  For the past 14 years, they have inspired, educated, and empowered INSEAD entrepreneurs as they innovate and create business ventures worldwide. http://www.peoplepods.co/ YOUR PARTNER IN EMPLOYEE HOUSING - Provider of safe, clean and affordable communities for workers

In episode 2 we discuss careers and leadership in entrepreneurial startups. Approximately half of INSEAD graduates run their own companies at some point in their careers, others join high growth ventures, lead entrepreneurial projects within corporations, or focus on social ventures. We discuss some of the challenges that present when running your own company. Our guests today Alexander Bregman Alexander Started off at Google with Inside Sales before Moving to Product Marketing and later the Global Product Partnerships team, negotiating and working with strategic partners to launch various Google products across EMEA, including Google Play Books, Play Newsstand, Google Chromecast, Google Assistant and more. After 11 years, Alex experiences some triggers (which we will cover) that led to him co-finding Invitly: a networking app for professionals to meet through invites for drinks or meals to grow professional network & unlock business opportunities.  Adrian Johnson Adrian Johnson is an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship and a technology and media entrepreneur. As well as co-founding several companies Adrian is an Adjunct Professor at INSEAD and teaches the legendary "Your First Hundred Days" MBA/EMBA course in Fontainebleau and Singapore as well as Executive Education customer-specific and open-enrolment programmes. Show Notes The show notes for today's episode can be found via the In The Know website. https://intheknow.insead.edu/podcast Discover More  https://intheknow.insead.edu/ A collection of thought pieces, expert opinions and first-hand accounts on the topics of career development and leadership, curated to guide you on your journey from manager to mentor. https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/gemba INSEAD's modular Global Executive MBA programme (GEMBA) takes place in fully integrated campuses across three regions: Europe (France), Asia (Singapore) and the Middle East (Abu Dhabi). The GEMBA offers experienced executives an intensive 14 to 17-month fast-track to the top via one of the world’s most prestigious and multicultural business schools.

We begin episode 1 in conjunction with the Executive Master in Change Programme Forum and two of our EMC Alumni, Dr Arpana Vidyarthi and Mrs Catherine de Dietrich. Our guests today Dr Arpana Vidyarthi Dr Vidyarthi has two decades of experience as a leader in academic medicine in the United States and Singapore and is currently the head of advanced in internal medicine at the National University Hospital in Singapore. She completed the Executive Master in Coaching and Consulting for Change at INSEAD in 2016 (Wave 18). Catherine de Dietrich Mrs de Dietrich envisioned Dynasty Consulting as a coaching practice set up to help individuals, families, family business members and professionals working with families. She completed the Executive Master in Coaching and Consulting for Change at INSEAD in 2015 (Wave 16). Show Notes The show notes for today's episode can be found via the In The Know website. https://intheknow.insead.edu/podcast Discover More  https://intheknow.insead.edu/ A collection of thought pieces, expert opinions and first-hand accounts on the topics of career development and leadership, curated to guide you on your journey from manager to mentor. https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/emc The INSEAD Executive Master in Change is a degree programme unlike any other. Spanning over 18 months and eight modules of three to four days, it takes participants deep into the basic drivers of human behaviour and the hidden dynamics of organisations.  

Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, careers, and organisations, and INSEAD alumni are at the forefront of this transformation. In this episode of In The Know, moderator Pankaj Kumar speaks with two experts driving AI strategy and innovation. Kevin Pereira (MBA ’14D) is Managing Director at Blu, where he advises global firms on AI consulting and education. Asan Hu, (MBA'25J) is an AI Product Manager at Alpheya and a former TikTok product strategist, building AI-powered solutions for the future of wealth management. They share authoritative perspectives on: How leaders can cut through the hype and integrate AI responsibly into business models Why successful adoption depends on mindset, education, and change management The evolution of work, from task automation to the creation of new roles The critical skills business leaders must prioritise, including continuous learning, critical thinking, and storytelling This conversation positions AI as an urgent opportunity for executives and organisations today, with insights that connect strategy, product innovation, and leadership. Episode Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 02:10 - Breaking down fear and confusion around AI adoption 08:11 - The changing role of product managers in an AI-first world 11:35 - How organisations should identify the right use cases for AI 16:28 - Job evolution versus job creation and the future of skills 20:41 - Wealth management and fintech: balancing AI and human judgment 23:35 - How different industries use AI 32:33 - INSEAD MBA reflections and how education adapts to AI 43:09 - AI and the human touch Learn more about the INSEAD MBA: insead.edu/mba

In this episode of In The Know, we catch up with Stefano Pizzoli and Francesca Fitzgerald, two alumni from the pioneering INSEAD Master in Management (MIM) class that graduated in 2021. Five years after starting their INSEAD journey, they share how the MIM shaped their careers, from launching a startup to consulting at BCG, and reflect on the personal growth and global opportunities they’ve gained. If you're wondering whether a Master in Management is worth it, their stories offer honest, inspiring answers.  Timesteamps 00:00 – Introduction to the episode and guests: Stefano and Francesca from INSEAD's pioneering MIM cohort 01:24 – Guests' introductions: Background and current roles at Celonis (Stefano) and BCG (Francesca) 02:25 – Why they chose to join the pioneering INSEAD MIM programme 05:35 – Stefano’s memorable experience applying to INSEAD 10:11 – Navigating the unexpected challenges of starting the programme during the COVID-19 pandemic 17:14 – Maintaining strong bonds with classmates post-graduation 21:44 – Stefano's global career journey in tech at Celonis 27:10 – Francesca's career path in consulting, across Portugal, the Middle East, and now New York City 33:44 – Stefano shares the entrepreneurial story behind his tomato sauce business 37:16 – Francesca highlights the unexpected benefits and personal growth from the INSEAD MIM experience

In this episode hosted by Julio Suarez of the Marketing and Recruitment Department, we explore the long-term impact of the INSEAD MBA through the lens of leadership, personal growth, and global collaboration. Our guest, MBA'19D Jacqueline Liao, reflects on how the INSEAD MBA programme and her experience with the Personal Leadership Development Programme (PLDP) shaped her communication style, leadership approach, and ability to thrive in diverse, international environments. From challenging assumptions to building lasting networks, she shares personal stories that bring the MBA journey to life. We also discuss: What actually happens in the PLDP The benefits of an INSEAD MBA How the programme continues to shape life and career post graduation Whether you're considering an MBA or are already part of the INSEAD community, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.   Learn more about the INSEAD MBA: insead.edu/mba

In this episode, we talk to Ahmad Sleiman, MIM'24, the founder of SPK Platforms. Ahmad shares how his transformative journey at the INSEAD Master in Management (MIM) programme has shaped his path as an entrepreneur. He delves into the invaluable connections he made during his time at INSEAD, highlighting how the diverse network of peers and alumni has been a cornerstone of his success. Ahmad also sheds light on the INSEAD faculty and staff's pivotal role in supporting his entrepreneurial aspirations. If you're curious about how a world-class business school can propel your entrepreneurial dreams, this episode is a must-listen!