Knowledge is power and the EMC offers everyone the opportunity to look at a situation differently, evaluate it differently and ultimately choose to deal with it differently.
Benjamin Grosser

Benjamin Grosser

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Nationality/Passport: Swedish Year of graduation: 2023 Current Role: Project Manager

Can you tell us a fun fact about yourself?

For every flight in premium class with an airline that I haven't flown before, I ask the crew for a teaspoon as a souvenir. Reactions by the crews differs and therefore, each spoon has an inspiring, funny, interesting or exciting story and for sure it is a fun topic for visitors at my place.

Can you tell us a little more about your personal and professional career journey so far? How did you get to where you are today?

My career so far has been dominated by coincidences and I have always seized the opportunity in these moments. As a result, my career was not straight forward but for sure, always exciting.

I don't regret any of my choices, they have always made me surpass myself and as a bonus I get to see and travel the world. 

So, what made you decide to pursue the EMC, and why did you choose INSEAD?

Ever since I was young, I wanted to study at INSEAD (in Fontainebleau), but my deep conviction that education should be free (like in my parents' countries) made me reject the idea at the time.

During COVID-19, and due to my desire to keep learning, I began to seek educational challenges. I quickly realised that I wasn't interested in an MBA. In the end it was my partner who found and suggested the EMC at INSEAD.

The EMC is unique in its design and so far, I have not been able to find a comparable education somewhere else.

The high proportion of psychodynamic concepts and the understanding and application of them fascinated me from the beginning and promised a unique approach and solution to problems and challenges in organisations.

It took me a while to accept that I would pay for education this time, but I have to admit that so far it has been worth it, and I do not regret it so far. 

If you were to describe your experience so far on the programme what would it be? How would you describe your classmates, the courses, the professors?

If education were a zoo, then a normal student is the visitor looking at the lion enclosure from the safety and marveling at the lion. The EMC student, on the other hand, is in the enclosure and must first tame the lion in order to be able to look at it.

In short: A constant challenge for the intellect as well as for one's own feelings and emotions. The courses give us the tools to reach the goal, the fellow students are always on hand, but you still must tame the lion by yourself.

Has the EMC helped you in your career so far?

I had expectations that EMC would help my career. The disillusion is that this can certainly be the case one day, but in my current situation it only confirms insights I have already gained before the EMC.

Do you foresee the EMC changing your perspectives or outlook towards life?

I am convinced of that. Knowledge is power and the EMC offers everyone the opportunity to look at a situation differently, evaluate it differently and ultimately choose to deal with it differently. That alone changes the perspective.

What advice would you give to someone who might be interested in pursuing an INSEAD Masters programme?

The EMC demands honesty and openness towards yourself, which one cannot be fully aware of beforehand. If you are not ready to take off mask by mask from day one and dare to stand vulnerable and mentally naked in front of the others, then the EMC is not (yet) for you.

In the EMC you cannot pretend that you are someone other than who you really are. Be honest with yourself.