Just one more week to launch week! Looking back, it’s been a surreal journey. The first time I browsed through INSEAD’s website was in early 2019. After countless calls with alumni, essay preparations, and mock interviews, I finally got my notice of admission for the MBA Class of 22J. Now it is finally time to embark on this amazing journey, one that I certainly can’t be more excited for. Before that, I thought it would be useful to share some preparation tips that I have collected from seniors and alumni alike.

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When I got accepted into INSEAD the first reaction I got when I told people, was “Who will take care of your child?” instead of “Congratulations! You can do it”. Then when I found out I was pregnant, and I chose not to defer, I was told all sorts of things, like “Think about your child, this is an impossible task, you cannot raise a toddler and be pregnant and do such an intense MBA, stop thinking you can do it all”. 

• Read more about A Toddler, A Pregnancy, and INSEAD

A year at INSEAD allowed me to reflect deeply about female leadership. From discussions inside the INSEAD classroom to the incredible seminars hosted by the Women in Business Club, discussions on female leadership and gender equality are abundant.

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Our class has been defined as the “can-do” class.

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As a Portuguese engineer surrounded by a social environment where engineers take the majority, the MBA word is not commonly heard. Therefore, when I was challenged by a senior member and INSEAD alum of my previous company to think about my future and pursuing an MBA, it felt kind of unfamiliar.

• Read more about The Journey Has Already Started