“With the right mindset, there is no limit to how much we can achieve.”
Yasemin Okur
Senior VP Consumer Health and Member of the Executive Committee, MundiPharma
Global Executive MBA 2013
In three sentences or less, could you tell us a little more about yourself?
I am a Turkish businesswoman, living in Singapore with my husband, two sons and our dog. I work at MundiPharma as the Senior Vice President of the Global Consumer Healthcare business.
Why did you choose INSEAD?
As I made my choice for the Executive MBA programme, I had two key criteria in mind: It needed to be a top-tier, internationally reputable school, and a programme that would bring out the best in students through an outstanding faculty, selective recruitment process and a powerful alumni network.
For me there were no other contenders to INSEAD. In fact, INSEAD was the only school I applied to.
How would you describe your INSEAD experience?
INSEAD has been the best learning experience in my entire life. The outstanding faculty, who are world-class researchers and teachers, and the diverse student body, which makes the discussions in and out of classroom extremely rich, is hard to match for any global programme.
On a personal level, I am most grateful for my classmates, especially my Lean In team (they know who they are!) and the robust alumni network which is globally connected and almost feels like family!
Was there an encounter that left you with a deep impression?
There wasn’t just a single encounter but I’ve been deeply impressed by the whole programme and where it has taken me. This has left me with a desire to do more for potential students through scholarships. With that inspiration, I have been volunteering with the INSEAD Alumni Fund as a trustee since my graduation.
What was the greatest challenge you faced at work, and how did you overcome it?
We were going through a major transformation in my current company. I leaned in and threw my name in the hat for the top job. This potentially big challenge turned into the greatest opportunity. I must say the mindset that I formed through my time at INSEAD and afterwards through my INSEAD classmates encouraged me to lean in. My advice to all professionals would be: Don’t be afraid to lean in and, of course, work hard!
What is your proudest achievement?
My family. I am proud to say that I have been able to manage and balance my family life, my demanding career and an active social life. This is thanks to the support and understanding I get from my family, and I am very proud of them.
What is your best life hack?
I am not sure we would call it a life hack anymore as it has become the norm, but my favourite go-to is and has been video conferencing services, which allow me to be able to work form almost anywhere, making life much more efficient.
What do you love about yourself?
I love the fact that I appreciate myself for who and what I am, and that I constantly work to improve and develop myself.
What does it mean to you to be limitless?
Work life is a marathon, it is long distance, it needs grit, perseverance and ambition. You might be worried that you have never run a mile in your life but you don’t know how much potential you have until you put your mind to it. With the right focus and effort anyone can run a marathon. We all have limitless potential. When we put our mind and heart into it we can achieve much more than we think.
