Dinesy Dayal

"For me INSEAD was sheer magic - it did not just give me an education but introduced me to a new way of life which I have been pursuing ever since. I chose INSEAD because I preferred the European alternative to the stereotype of Indians going to the U.S. as I was looking for a complete “life” experience and not merely a business education. A one-year course sealed the decision!

Never could I have dreamt of such diversity; an image I can never forget is seeing a Norwegian dentist in animated conversation with a Japanese banker, only at INSEAD. INSEAD pioneered group work. My group consisted of a French scientist, a Japanese-American airline executive from Oxford, an Israeli engineer, a British beer marketer living in Belgium, and a Dutch lawyer.

The first two months were extremely difficult during case discussions due to cultural differences. Somehow by sheer necessity and survival we made the group dynamics work. The results were a brilliant presentation and the reward was thunderous applause in classroom.

The incredible animation in the classroom was unique for me. The unforgettable professors and their catch phrases - "shall we dive in”, “no such thing as a free lunch”, the sheer excitement of bringing in guests who were the subject of the case, extracurricular activities such as wine tasting, rock climbing, organising the famous INSEAD parties, all contributed to my ongoing education.

The entire process at INSEAD clarified in me that I would like to function like an entrepreneur in an FMCG company and that I was cut out for launching a new FMCG business in Asia. It is with that clarity of purpose that I approached L’Oreal 24 years ago to set up their business in India. L’Oreal India is today the fastest growing subsidiary for the company with a growth rate of over 30% for the past 10 years.

The INSEAD Alumni Network in India which has over 380 members is extremely strong and close knit due to the shared experiences of members.”