Enrique Cuunjieng

Could you share something unexpected or a fun fact about you? 

I sang a cappella throughout high school and university, including with The Colgate 13, America’s third oldest a cappella group. Besides touring across North America, performing hundreds of gigs each year and recording studio albums, we sang the US national anthem at multiple professional sports games, including for my favourite team, The Los Angeles Lakers.

Tell us about yourself, and how you got to where you are today?

Born in Manila, I’m a third culture individual who feels most at home in the Philippines. Still, my identity has been moulded through my time and experiences living in Washington D.C., New York, Hong Kong and Singapore. I’ve also spent summers and semesters interning and studying in Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Yunnan, China. 

After two years with Google B2B and B2C Marketing as well as eight years in YouTube Content Partnerships and YouTube Music, I’m thrilled to be an MBA student at INSEAD as I complete my tenth year here in The Little Red Dot (Singapore).

What motivated you to choose the INSEAD MBA, and how do you envision it aligning with your future goals?

I chose to pursue my MBA at INSEAD for the diversity of its students, world-class faculty, innovative curriculum, and global alumni community. 

As an aspiring leader in Asia’s dynamic media industry, I’m ecstatic about the opportunity to hone my skills and build lifelong relationships at the world’s most forward-thinking MBA programme. 

No programme is better suited to help me reach my goal of continuing to use media and technology to provide greater digital and economic access for people around the world, especially in Asia.

What are your impressions of campus life so far and how did you navigate accommodation, and sorting out all the admin? Any tips for incoming students?

Campus life has been a breath of fresh air. I love our tight-knit community and am so thankful for how INSEAD’s faculty, staff and students support each other. Because I’ve been living in Singapore since working for Google and YouTube, I thankfully did not have to worry about all the admin that moving requires. 

My #1 tip for incoming students is to reach out to current students or INSEAD admissions team members as soon as you submit your deposit to get the inside scoop on all things Fonty or Singy. Invest the time needed for admin early on so you can fully enjoy your first weeks on campus and hit the ground running academically. P1 will begin (and finish) before you know it!

Could you share a little about your application process and securing financing?

I applied to a total of 12 MBA programmes, and while INSEAD’s application process was the most comprehensive, it also forced me to think critically about my goals and priorities for this year, which helped me get in the right mindset to return to school after ten years in the workforce. 

My two alumni interviewers were also incredibly helpful and thoughtful. They were generous with their advice, supported me throughout the application process and were the first to congratulate me after I was accepted! I’m also truly fortunate that I did not have to worry about securing financing, and I wish all prospective students the best of luck as they apply for scholarships.

You are starting your INSEAD MBA in Singapore. Are you planning any campus exchanges?

At the moment, I plan to be a lifer here in the Singapore campus for personal and professional reasons. With my wife based in Singapore and my recruiting efforts centred on Asia, Singapore is the place to be for me.

In your first few weeks, what aspects of the INSEAD MBA have stood out to you as unique or particularly appealing?

Two things have clearly stood out to me in our first month on campus. 

First, INSEAD’s commitment to sustainability is truly commendable. From committing to a 67% greenhouse gas reduction across our four campuses by 2035 to how sustainability has been woven into all our core classes, INSEAD preaches and practices its vision of “business as a force for good” every day. 

Second, the quality and tenure of all our professors have been nothing short of inspirational. Many of our Singapore campus professors have been tenured with INSEAD for over 20 years and have even become Singaporean citizens. I come to class every day knowing I’m in great hands and am learning from a true expert in their field.

Aside from your academic pursuits, what extracurricular interests or activities are you exploring at INSEAD, and how do you see them enhancing your overall MBA experience?

Professionally, I’ve joined the TMT and Sports Business Clubs, both of which are industries I am targeting for recruitment post-MBA. It’s great knowing that no matter what career path you choose, there are classmates and faculty who are willing to share their expertise with you, help keep you updated on exciting and relevant industry events, and ultimately support you all throughout this intense but rewarding year. 

Personally, I’ve spent a lot of time detaching from work by playing two of my favourite sports, basketball and tennis, with classmates in 25'J and 24'D alike. Singapore has a myriad of interest-based communities, and these have been the best ways to make new friends during my first month on campus.

Any parting words of wisdom, and are you willing to be contacted for more information by prospective students?

To any incoming student, my one piece of advice is to slow down and enjoy every moment because your one year at INSEAD goes by in the blink of an eye. I’m more than willing to be contacted by any prospective students, and I wish you all the best.