Executive MBA Career Impact: Real Stories from INSEAD GEMBA Alumni

From public sector reform to media transformation and digital innovation in banking, INSEAD Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) alumni are transforming industries. Designed for experienced professionals ready to pivot or accelerate their careers, the GEMBA is a part-time Executive MBA programme offering a truly global learning experience.

In this article, we spotlight real stories from alumni who used the GEMBA to take bold steps into new leadership roles. If you're wondering whether an Executive MBA is worth it, their journeys offer candid and inspiring insights.

Each of the following alumni began the programme at a turning point in their career. Through global exposure, rigorous leadership development, and deep peer learning, they emerged with new skills and a new sense of direction.

Career pivot with confidence: From pharma to CEO in communications

Sandra Tang, a French-Algerian finance executive based in Singapore, leveraged the part-time format to pursue growth without pausing her career.

Formerly Deputy CFO for Asia at Sanofi, the GEMBA enabled her to transition into the communications industry, becoming ASEAN Managing Director and CEO of Publicis Resources.

“INSEAD helped me refresh my knowledge, broaden my perspective, and most importantly, gain confidence,” she says. 

"INSEAD’s teachings on vision, prioritisation, and strategic thinking really helped shape how I lead. I now focus much more on aligning our priorities with the overall strategy of Publicis Groupe."

Sandra also gives great credit to the INSEAD community and alumni network, which she finds valuable as a sounding board, even post-graduation.

“The support network doesn’t end at graduation but continues to be a powerful resource.”

Peer learning and leadership growth in the INSEAD GEMBA

For Aljohara Almandil, a senior executive at Riyad Bank in Saudi Arabia, the lifelong network is one of the reasons why she chose INSEAD over other top business schools. 

“The calibre of the people is unmatched,” she says.

“As someone already at a senior level, I wanted to be in a cohort where I could learn as much from my peers as from the professors, and that’s exactly what I got.”

Today, Aljohara leads two digital innovation divisions in Saudi Arabia’s third-largest bank. She credits the GEMBA’s emphasis on leadership development for giving her the confidence to step into a new domain.

"I’m still practising those lessons today and even teaching them to my team", she says.

“Before GEMBA, I focused on output. Now, I also focus on self-awareness and people. To lead effectively today, you need empathy as much as technical expertise.”

Leading with intention and reflection

That sentiment is echoed by Subhi Barakat, a Palestinian-Canadian strategist working on decarbonisation and global climate policy in the UK. 

With a background spanning engineering, law, and public service, Subhi enrolled in GEMBA to gain deeper exposure to business fundamentals and bring private-sector rigour into international development.

“INSEAD teaches you that leadership is not something you’re born with—it’s something you practice,” he reflects. 

“The Leadership Development Programme, especially the group coaching, helped me surface blind spots I never knew I had.”  

How the INSEAD Global Executive MBA prepares executives for the C-suite and beyond

All three alumni agree: GEMBA fundamentally changes how you think and lead, and prepares you for C-Suite roles. 

For Sandra, the shift meant embracing a broader, more strategic approach to shared services. “It’s no longer just about efficiency. Now, it’s about how your function contributes to the larger business vision.”

For Subhi, it was about cultivating psychological safety and reflection within teams tackling complex issues in fragile contexts. “We moved from asking ‘Do I like this person?’ to ‘Can I trust them to challenge me and help the team grow?’ That reframing has been transformational.”

And for Aljohara, it was about building character as much as capability. “GEMBA helped me move beyond self-doubt. It gave me the confidence to lead authentically and the mindset to embrace growth, even when it’s uncomfortable.”

Is an Executive MBA worth it?

For these INSEAD GEMBA alumni, the answer is a resounding yes. Whether they were seeking a career pivot, preparing for senior leadership, or gaining confidence to lead, the programme gave them the mindset, network, and clarity to lead with impact.

And for those still considering the leap?

“Do it,” says Sandra. “It will challenge and stretch you, but it will also open your mind in ways you can’t imagine.”

“Equip yourself,” adds Aljohara. “Build your knowledge, expand your network, and lead with impact.”

“And stay curious,” concludes Subhi. “Because the real lesson at INSEAD isn’t just what you learn but how you keep learning, long after you graduate.”