My goal is to become a global leader, undertaking business across borders. Where better to learn this than “The Business School for the World”?
Amani Fancy
Fun fact about yourself:
I used to be a professional ice skater for Team GB and have won the TV show ‘Dancing on Ice’ in the UK and Germany!
Undergraduate School and Major:
Criminology and Sociology at Royal Holloway, University of London
INSEAD is one of the most culturally and professionally diverse MBA programmes in the world. How do you see these global perspectives enhancing the value of your business education over the next year?
Your peer group is where you learn a good percentage of your skills. At other MBA programmes, I’d definitely be able to upskill in finance, but here, due to the international nature of INSEAD, I’ll be able to turn to my left and learn about the typical financial makeup of Russian businesses, the stock market in India, the economy in Columbia and the influence of tech on finance in America; allowing me not only to learn a skill but connect the dots across cultures and countries. This is invaluable.
My goal is to become a global leader, undertaking business across borders. Where better to learn this than “The Business School for the World”?
Why did you choose a one-year programme over a two-year programme? How do you see an INSEAD MBA giving you an advantage in the marketplace?
I thrive off of intensity and working under pressure. INSEAD’s curriculum does not miss a beat in comparison to other 2-year schools – they have it all and excel at hitting core learning points and experiences in their timeframe, giving students everything they need in under a year and providing a unique opportunity to head back to the workforce sooner rather than later.
Furthermore, given the globality of my goals, I knew that choosing a school that excelled in a single geography was not for me. Just through browsing the diverse alumni, their nationalities and their business geographies, one sees INSEAD’s unparalleled strength and reputation in nurturing and churning out global leaders.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of INSEAD’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school, and why was it so important to you?
Global impact and diversity, diversity, diversity. I knew I wanted a global career and needed the backing of a global reputation rather than a regional one.
I am in love with the fact that INSEAD has a 15% diversity cap on any nationality in one MBA cohort. In my opinion, this is the best way to learn.
On the academic side, INSEAD was the only school that had such a strong curriculum in “decision-making”, which I think is an overlooked aspect and an important learning bridge for young business leaders. Alongside other important courses, pathways, and experiential learning catered toward my dual goal of asset management in the family office and entrepreneurship of my own, choosing INSEAD was a no-brainer.
Most importantly, and I believe this is key for anyone who is thinking of applying to business school, I asked myself: What kind of environment do you want to be in? I realised very quickly – through the questions asked in the admissions essays and through the personal leadership development programme (PLDP) and assignments in P0- that INSEAD truly cares about the individual and their happiness. Before selecting or building on goals, they ask students to introspect and imagine how they want their life to look, both professionally and personally. I appreciate this approach as we, as ambitious humans, often forget to reflect and think about why we are doing what we are doing. I feel this makes for even more materially and purposefully successful individuals. In my research, I didn’t find other schools that put as much weight on this.
What course, club or activity excites you the most at INSEAD?
I’m eager to join the Consulting Club as I don’t have experience in formal consulting, but would like to learn more about the industry. I’m also looking to join the Family Business Club to learn from peers and exchange ideas and processes on managing generational wealth. Joining the Entrepreneurship and Women in Business clubs is a must as these are directly intertwined with my goals.
To balance the work side of things, I definitely want to join the Wellness Club and Dancead!
Finally, I am a major “foodie”, so I’m excited to create the first “Foodie” club at INSEAD to go hand-in-hand with their Wine Club!
(I don’t think I’ll have a chance to sleep during this MBA!)
What has been your first impression of the INSEAD MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far? Tell us your best INSEAD story so far.
This is an easy one. When you initially take your first steps into an MBA, you expect to be talking about work and corporate life – a lot. My first time getting to know INSEAD students was at a dinner and drinks event that we organised all together from a WhatsApp group made by UK admits. The pre-MBA months were so fun and proactive, and I loved this. At the event, we did not talk about work once, at least not in the stereotypical, ‘This is my role and this is what I do’ way. Rather, we talked about what inspires us, our vision, how excited we were to visit the Asia Campus, travel plans, family, partners, and more.
The first interaction I had was hearing about a fellow classmate’s side hustle alongside his software sales job: palm reading! I couldn’t believe that my first INSEAD moment consisted of me having my palm read and discussing how his predictions fed into my reality – the whole evening was so fun, filled with diversity, culture, and laughs!
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far.
I have had two very distinct careers.
In my business career, it would be hiring a team exclusively formed of minorities and together with them, building a company from c.a $100k to $1m in just under a year. I loved the level of empowerment I was able to bring to the job and the connection and drive of our team.
In my skating career, it would be becoming the first Omani woman to skate at the Royal Opera House in Muscat, Oman (my home town). This was an incredible feat, given the cultural norms, and it helped redefine the possibilities for the next generation of the Middle East!
What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)?
Plan A: Launch my company! Plan B: If I don’t feel ready to launch or decide that added experience, which exposes me to inspiring people and ideas, may be valuable, I hope to spend a few years working in a corporate environment.
What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into INSEAD’s MBA programme?
I wrote my INSEAD essays in five days. It took me weeks at other schools. I remember questioning myself as to why it felt easier and whether my input was, in fact, inadequate! But retrospectively, I was just authentic, wrote from the heart, and found a school that demonstrated a culture fit to me with the way they asked questions and what they wanted to know.
INSEAD values your happiness, growth, and place in the world alongside career acceleration. This is unique, and you should definitely keep an eye out for this ‘feeling’ in the application process.
My advice: Your superpower, in applications and life, is your story. Write it without hesitation and the right school will value it.
This testimonial was originally published in Poets and Quants.
