This blog was contributed by MBA'26J students Alex Byun, Farah Behkaazi, Giovanni Leone, James Campin and Yuexiao Li.Master Strategist Day (MSD) has a very particular energy at INSEAD. Part strategy sprint, part pressure test, it is the moment where weeks of classroom discussions suddenly turn into a real consulting engagement with a real organisation, real ambiguity, and limited time. It is also the moment you see how your study group works under pressure.

• Read more about Master Strategist Day 2025: How Our Team Built a Bold, Credible Path for BGA in the United States

Hoja is a young startup that has already attracted over 40,000 students to its platform. With a mission to make learning more engaging, the company is building the foundations needed to scale sustainably. Joining at this early stage gave me the chance to contribute to the fundraising efforts, measuring Hoja’s success and translating it into clear communications for new investors.

• Read more about Hoja: From Metrics to Meaning to Storytelling

Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to dive deep into several thematic areas at the intersection of fintech, financial inclusion, and emerging market infrastructure.

• Read more about Connecting the Dots: Lessons From a Summer in VC at Quona Capital: Expanding Financial Inclusion Through Financial Technology

Before INSEAD, I co-founded and spent six years building an edtech startup that helped commerce graduates bridge the skill gap and secure jobs. Most of my work focused on employability, training, and building futures, downstream in the education journey. This summer, I found myself exploring the very start of that journey: where access to basic education is still a daily struggle.

• Read more about Teaching on the Footpath, Learning Along the Way

The Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) has set an ambitious goal: to increase the cancer survival rate in Spain to 70% by 2030. Achieving this will require a long-term commitment to accelerating research, improving patient outcomes, and facilitating the transfer of scientific discoveries to clinical application. As part of its Strategic Plan 2025–2028, the Foundation is focusing on how to fund innovation more effectively in later development phases, particularly those that are high-risk and capital-intensive but essential for reaching patients.

• Read more about Strategic Investment Planning for Oncology Innovation: My Internship at the Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association Against Cancer

On June 28th 2025, OUTsead launched its first-ever Global Gala. A bold new tradition that brought together 54 INSEADers from across generations and borders, spanning the Class of 1981 to 2025. Held in Paris during Pride Month, the sold-out event celebrated LGBTQ+ visibility, connection, and belonging. The theme, “From One Visibility to Another,” paid tribute to queer expression in fashion and art and called for greater LGBTQ+ representation in economic and political spheres. 

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This blog was co-authored by the following MBA'25D students: Alexandra Boretou, Aditya Katyayan, Javier Planas Borrallo, Ives Oliveira Reis, Siqi Ren.

• Read more about From Farmland to Future: Crafting a Carbon Strategy in Fiji

With campuses in France, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and the US, I knew attending INSEAD would be a global experience. It was the main reason why I chose to apply in the first place. The opportunity to meet and learn from people of all different backgrounds and nationalities was a once-in-a-lifetime chance that I wanted to take, and I can honestly say that it has exceeded all expectations.

• Read more about Business as a Force for Good, Up Close: A Week With Unjani Clinics