Divyansh Gupta

Could you share a little about why you decided to pursue the MBA, and in particular, the INSEAD MBA?

My 6+ years of work experience have helped me find my ultimate goal. I wish to dedicate my life to working for a social cause.  However, I was quite aware that I lacked the required “business-related skill” to develop an organisation. Also, I lacked the “global outlook and network” required to create replicable and scalable solutions across the world.

To achieve these goals in a fast-track manner, INSEAD was the best fit.

Additionally, I always believed that diversity of experiences is the very key to success. INSEAD being the most diverse business school was thus best suited to pursue my MBA. Also, being a part of the LGBTQ community, INSEAD offered life in Europe which is much more liberating, easy, and inclusive. 

Can you share your thoughts about the class experience, professors, the curriculum so far?

I find the INSEAD curriculum to be quite relevant and important to make someone a successful leader irrespective of the field they are in. Coming from an engineering background and work experience in the public sector, I would have never gotten the chance to learn these extremely important subjects or topics. The INSEAD curriculum helps you develop a holistic approach to evaluate any business or problem statement - be it financial, people-wise, or process-wise.

INSEAD classrooms are a “social” lab for me where the diversity of people really helps me to look at the same problem from so many lenses and perspectives.

While I always valued diversity before, INSEAD actually taught me to leverage diversity to broaden my own thinking horizon.

Where are you located and what are you most looking forward to during your time on the programme?

I am currently based out of Fontainebleau, France, and plan to stay here throughout the MBA programme. Personally, in the second half-inning of my MBA, I am quite keen to strengthen some of the amazing relationships I have forged at INSEAD. Life stories have always excited me (there is so much to learn from people!) and INSEAD is a brilliant opportunity to connect with so many diverse stories and humans.

Professionally, I am quite keen to find a job in the technology space in London. In the next phase of INSEAD life, I look forward to connecting with alumni in the space and with their support and guidance, finding the right job for myself.

Have you learned any important lessons so far from MBA experience that has been especially useful?

At INSEAD, my most important learning so far has been if you really want to become a world leader, you should not be afraid to make mistakes.

If you aspire to always play safe or try to just work via your strengths, you will never find what are you best at. What are that one or two things you do, the way no one else can! And the only way to find your true calling is to try, fail and try again. Post INSEAD, I will not just associate leaders with successes but even dozens of failures they had before had the final ultimate success/es. 

Any tips for those who are considering an INSEAD MBA?

INSEAD is best suited for those candidates who believe most of their learning and growth comes from the diversity of experiences. So, if diversity and a fast-track environment excite you, INSEAD is the best b-school for you. In terms of the application/interview process, I would suggest people be very authentic with their life stories and bring the element of how diversity is a valuable asset for them.