Partner Life as a Bellifontaine
“Okay, but what’s it really like to be an INSEAD partner?” The question, conscious or not, certainly remained present in my brain prior to the move to France. While eager to support my husband’s MBA journey, I struggled to answer those voices (including my own) that asked what exactly I would be doing as a Bellifontaine (i.e., Fontainebleau resident and fun new vocab word).
The answer: life here is full. We never seem to lack enriching activities or compelling company to adventure alongside. Little did I know the open, wonderful, and motivated community awaiting me with the INSEAD partners.
Together, we have experienced the inclusivity of INSEAD and its resources, explored Fontainebleau, Paris, and beyond, and gathered constantly to share in one another’s lives and cultures. Below, you will find a few examples of life here, based on my experience as a 25D partner. While this only paints a small snapshot, and each class may vary, I know the most significant merit of this partner community is in the intangible, side-by-side reality of investing time together.
On INSEAD’s campus, the partners are welcomed home. From Launch Week, INSEAD invited us to sessions with our students, sponsored our French classes for the first few months, and provided a guided tour of the stunning château, steps from campus.
Every day, at least a few partners attend workout classes (e.g., yoga, weights) at the INSEAD gym, and we get to know partners and students at recurring happy hours, club events, and career-building workshops. As partners, we eat lunch together on campus at least once a week, yet with constant INSEAD speakers and learning sessions, we find ourselves together on campus far more often.
Fontainebleau feels like the perfect balance: here, we have a peaceful, historic retreat surrounded by forest, yet we are within a short train ride of the buzzing, unmatched inspiration of Paris. Because of Fontainebleau’s location, the partners are constantly planning day trips to the city of lights and to our storybook-charming, surrounding villages (e.g., Moret-sur-Loing, Barbizon).
Whether hosting our own perfume-smelling tour, ticking off the world’s best museums, or commuting to art class on the banks of the Seine, we are constantly learning from the French neighbours around us and eating more than our fair share of fresh croissants.
“I wish I could be a partner.” This is the line we hear most often from students, complimenting the way we partners gather, adventure, and constantly open up our worlds to one another.
For example, we host “Chez Nomad” each week at a different partner’s home. The host makes a signature dish from their country, teaching us how to cook and enjoy the cuisine in the ways they might back home. We have eaten Spanish, Korean, Peruvian, Pakistani, and Israeli cuisine, to name a few.
In addition, the partners are the first to respond when life events arise. Whether a birthday, engagement, baby shower, etc., we gather for one another. When hosting a picnic, all I have to do is bring a blanket, because everyone else quickly volunteers to supply the snacks, sips, or crafts.
We joke that “being a partner is a full-time job” because we enjoy it so much. What an unexpected gift it has been to be part of this unique, global, and warm group of people brought together by INSEAD. May you take the leap and soon experience the same life-changing environment.
