When I arrived at INSEAD, I knew I was walking into one of the most intense and transformative years of my life. Looking back on my journey through P1 and P2, I have realised that INSEAD is not just about the academic rigour. It is about creating connections, building communities, and pushing one’s boundaries in ways one never imagined through laughter, lungis, and lifelong friendships. 

• Read more about From Veshti to Victory: A Whirlwind of Community, Culture, and Choices at INSEAD

Embarking on the journey to Master Strategist Day (MSD) was like stepping into a whirlwind of exhilaration and purpose. While clinching victory was undoubtedly a moment of triumph, it was the prospect of weaving innovative solutions with meaningful impact that truly fueled our spirits.

• Read more about Afya on Wheels: Delivering High-Quality, Affordable Healthcare in Underserved Areas in Kenya

July 3, 2023, marked the beginning of a transformational journey for 30 strangers at the INSEAD campus in Fontainebleau. These were individuals with a purpose and a sense of curiosity; they were there to learn a new language as part of their impending MBA programme. Little did they know that the coming three weeks would offer experiences far exceeding their expectations.

• Read more about Why You Should Opt for the INSEAD Intensive Language Programme

I joined the INSEAD MBA to expand my knowledge of and opportunities within a variety of business sectors. Coming from advertising, I knew a lot about marketing, had heard of finance, accounting, and strategic consulting, but did not know many other sectors. Additionally, being a more creative and qualitative person, I knew that I did not want a career based in spreadsheets and hard numbers. So, I entered INSEAD with an open mind, determined to understand other areas of business.

• Read more about Discovering Careers in Creativity and Innovation During the INSEAD MBA

Being a lawyer didn’t make the MBA a logical move. I had left the law firm industry quite early in my career, spending the six years before INSEAD in asset management. However, the assets I was working on were still legal by nature: my fund provided the financial means necessary to companies taking part in lawsuits to cover all related expenses in exchange for a share of the proceeds in case of success.

• Read more about Ex-lawyer the First Day, but Full and Unique INSEADer Thereafter

I came into the MBA unsure completely of what I was getting myself into but confident it was the right move in my career. I felt frustrated working in a company where I felt I was creating “strategies” without any real idea of what I was doing and how the “higher-up” decisions in the company hardly mattered compared to the “fires” I was constantly putting out in my day-to-day work. Instead I arrived at INSEAD and was immediately introduced to a world I hadn’t known existed, where everyone talked about the “MBBs” and inside jokes in class involved a guy named Porter.

• Read more about Finding My Way at INSEAD - from Confusion to Confidence

I am not your typical MBA candidate. For nearly seven years, I was a staff writer with TIME Magazine in New York City, where I covered music, culture, and entertainment. (I also worked remotely during the pandemic from a small town in the western U.S., writing about the economy and generational politics.) Journalism kept me busy, but as I watched the media industry crumble around me, I wanted to understand the business context more fully. As the type of person who loves school, I decided it was time to go back.

• Read more about A Former Journalist at Business School - Experiences of a "Non-traditional" MBA Candidate

Time is officially flying way too fast. Last week brought the end of my first "period" at INSEAD. INSEAD divides the year into five two-month "periods", each with different classes. The first two periods we complete core business classes (finance, accounting, organisational behaviour, etc). After that, we take electives. From a scheduling perspective, periods 1 and 2 (P1 and P2 respectively) are the most intense periods. After P2, the schedule is a little lighter, so everyone has time to recruit for a job. 

• Read more about P1 Recap