The Summer School lectures were some of the most enriching and captivating sessions I've had in years.
Daniel Saw

Tell us a bit about yourself—how did you get to where you are today? Any highlights, personal or professional?
I studied as hard as I could (mostly) and managed to find myself at the University of Bristol! I study aerospace, but whether or not I like it truly depends on the time of day, I suppose! In terms of highlights, I'd say somehow doing well on my IGCSEs and A-Levels would definitely be up there.
Any fun or quirky facts about you?
I'm a massive fan of Transformers and football, which isn't a very common combo. I've got over 200 Transformers figures and quite a few football kits too!
What motivated you to choose the INSEAD Summer School, and how do you think it will align with your future goals, even at this early stage?
I found out about it from my dad, who's always been a fan of INSEAD, even though he never got the chance to go. I did Business Studies and Economics in IGCSE and A-Levels, respectively, so I figured I'd put myself in a position to be able to use that knowledge while meeting people from around the world on the way!
I also wanted to learn how to be more effective in managing a business, as I figured this would carry over into my uni life and help me be more effective in managing projects and my time.
How was your experience at ISS? What did a typical day look like?
It was amazing. A typical day would be waking up early and grabbing breakfast before preparing for the day (unconventional, I know), followed by lectures, which were some of the most enriching and captivating sessions I've had in years, with a lunch break smacked in the middle. I'd finish the day with dinner and a quick piano session afterwards while hanging out and chatting with my friends!
Any memorable moments you’ll carry with you?
I'd say the Talent Show because it was my first time performing in front of people ever, and it was nerve-wracking because the songs I chose were on the tougher side. Going out clubbing for the first time (at the age of 21 as well!) after that was also really fun because I had a good time dancing with my friends.
It would be wrong to not include my speech as well, because that was not only fun to deliver but also gave me a heartache having to acknowledge our time together was coming to an end. I still rewatch that speech because it reminds me of the emotions I'd experienced throughout ISS.
What were your impressions of campus life, your classmates, and the professors? How did you find living in Fontainebleau for two weeks?
I was originally apprehensive as I can't speak a word of French, but I was excited at the same time. I was excited to live on campus and see the hotel, and I was thoroughly impressed with the campus.
This may come as a surprise, but I am actually quite scared of new social situations, but the initiative by others to be active on the group chat and how everyone greeted each other when they first met before classes started helped me settle in quickly. I was also excited to meet the lecturers, especially Adrian, having seen his profile and finding out that he, too, came from an engineering background.
Living in Fontainebleau was quite nice, getting away from the city and noise and just being in a safer, quieter town.
Could you share a little about your application process and getting to Fontainebleau?
I can't remember much, but I do remember putting on the worst possible jacket for my online interview! I'd say the best advice is to just be yourself. Also, prepare to spend money on the Uber to Fontainebleau if you're not taking public transport!
Any advice or words of wisdom for someone thinking about joining ISS?
I would say embrace it. Make the most out of it, meet as many people as you can and like Thibault said, it's not about how many people think you're exceptional, but how many exceptional people you meet.
Would you be open to future students reaching out to you for more info?
Definitely! I'd be more than happy to help out, especially future Malaysian students who might be scared to make the jump halfway across the world!