Gina Markus

Tell us a bit about yourself—how did you get to where you are today? Any highlights, personal or professional?

My goal in life is to make an impact by helping people. This profound passion of mine led me to study medicine - hard work but incredibly rewarding. I am currently in my third year of medical school at PMU in Nuremberg, where I work as an anatomy tutor and serve as the head of our student council. This enables me to contribute positively to the university community and the broader healthcare field. 

Any fun or quirky facts about you?

At the INSEAD Summer School, we had a talent show where, amongst actually mind-blowing piano performances, push-up challenges and acts, “Gina and the Germans” delivered an incredible performance of “Griechischer Wein”. 

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 chose INSEAD Summer School because I wanted to figure out if and how I can combine medicine and business in my future career.  

I think it’s safe to say that I was not disappointed. I have gained experience in leadership, team management and business strategy and made amazing friends on the way. 

Through the INSEAD network, I’ve talked to MIM and MBA alumni and professors who advised me on career options and ways to make a positive impact. I am certain that these two weeks have taught me crucial skills that I will use throughout my career and also my personal life. 

How was your experience at ISS? What did a typical day look like? 

Every day was unique - in the first week, we had mostly lectures alternating with practical sessions where we got to practice and implement our new knowledge, whereas in the second week, the focus was on practical sessions. 

We had one day for the acquisition process of a company where we had to negotiate a good deal and then two days to come up with a business strategy for the next five years. In the evenings we went into town to play pool or grab a drink and got to know each other.

Any memorable moments you’ll carry with you?

On our last night, we were all lying in the grass on campus and watching shooting stars - in that moment I realised what amazing people I met the past two weeks and that this very short period of time changed my perspective on life completely. 

I am incredibly thankful for what ISS taught me and would recommend the summer school to anyone interested!

What were your impressions of campus life, your classmates, and the professors? How did you find living in Fontainebleau for two weeks?

The Fontainebleau campus is incredibly nice, but of course, most important are the people I spent these two weeks with. I would never have imagined forming such deep friendships and I found myself in awe of these people’s stories every day. What connected everyone was the urge to make an impact, and everyone was willing to work hard (and, of course, have a great time).

Working with an international team taught me a lot about the different approaches cultures have to problem-solving and what good teamwork is all about. 

Could you share a little about your application process and getting to Fontainebleau?

I applied in March and then I had a video interview a few weeks after submitting my application, and then in May, I was accepted into the Summer school! I arrived in Paris on the first Sunday and then took a taxi to Campus (1h ride).

Any advice or words of wisdom for someone thinking about joining ISS?

Absolutely! I would recommend the INSEAD Summer School to anyone who wants to learn how to make an impact and enjoys meeting new people. 

Don’t hesitate if you don’t know anything about business - it’s all about learning by doing and different approaches from different study fields are what create the amazing atmosphere at INSEAD.  

Would you be open to future students reaching out to you for more info? 

Of course!! Feel free to reach out if you want to know more about my experience there or the application process, or whatever might interest you.