George Korakitis

Tell us about yourself, and how you go to where you are today both on a professional and personal level?

Having completed my undergraduate studies in Civil Engineering in Greece, growing up I thought my professional future would be in engineering design or construction.

After living for five years in the US, completing a MS degree at Standford and working based out of NYC, I realised my engineering background could be applied in multiple more roles. Therefore, I developed a strong interest in business, which INSEAD helped me further cultivate.

What excites me professionally is the intersection of sustainability, engineering and finance - getting involved in sustainability mega projects which push towards the energy transition and, from an entrepreneurial standpoint, helping the engineering/construction industry decarbonise.

On a personal level, I have been living in London for the past year, which allows me to remain much closer to Greece, my family and closest friends. 

What made you decide you wanted to pursue the INSEAD MBA, and why INSEAD in particular?

Having lived for five years in the United States, I wanted to combine a career change with a geographical move back to Europe (coming originally from Greece). Additionally, I had a strong preference for one-year programmes. INSEAD was the only top MBA programme that met all my criteria and enabled my relocation back to Europe! 

Which campus(es) have you experienced, and can you tell us more about any similarities or differences?

I spent around six months at the Fontainebleau campus (P1-P3) and around four months at the Singapore campus.

The campus exchange programme provided a great opportunity to experience two different cultures and meet as many INSEAD classmates as possible.

One key similarity across both campuses is how much INSEAD focuses on entrepreneurship - if you have a business idea, there are multiple ways to push it forward in both campuses: for example, by enrolling in entrepreneurship courses, participating in the IVC (INSEAD Venture Competition), and having access to a wide network of mentors and investors.

Are you a scholarship recipient? If so, could you tell us which scholarship you received and how you prepared for the application?

Yes, I received the INSEAD Leonidas and Eirini Los Family Award, for which I applied through the INSEAD portal and submitted any additional documentation required during my original application.

Could you tell us about your experience with the Career Development Centre (CDC)?

The CDC provides valuable resources to help students prepare for their next professional steps. These resources range from workshops to prepare resumes, cover letters and doing mock interviews, to coordinating company presentations on campus and virtually.

Additionally, MBA students get assigned a career coach who acts as a mentor and can be a great source of insight and support throughout the recruiting process.

Has the INSEAD MBA helped you in your career?

INSEAD creates a supportive environment that helps students make their next professional step.

First of all, courses allow students to explore new interests (e.g. entrepreneurship) and consider alternative career paths. Secondly, structured on-campus recruiting makes the whole process easier for students, allowing them to interact directly with companies they are interested in.

Finally, the CDC provides a number of resources to students and supports them throughout the job application process.

Has the experience helped you remain relevant after graduation?

The INSEAD experience helped me hone my business acumen, better understand and analyse industry trends and remain relevant in areas I am interested in - in my case, sustainability, energy and infrastructure.

What advice will you give to prospects who are still considering whether an INSEAD MBA should be part of their career plan?

INSEAD is a great place to broaden one's horizons, build a strong business foundation and develop an entrepreneurial mindset. I would encourage prospective students to be willing to step outside their comfort zone, as INSEAD provides a safe environment for students to challenge their assumptions, experiment, and explore new areas of interest.

Take advantage of the multicultural environment and vast amount of resources available on campus and consider alternative career paths in areas you are most passionate about.