Hannah Huibregtsen

Tell us about yourself. 

I’m Hannah, Dutch, 23 years old. I grew up in Overveen near Haarlem, played a lot of field hockey, and studied PPLE at the University of Amsterdam with majors in Politics and Law. I then completed a Master’s in International Relations. I’m now at INSEAD for the Master in Management. 

With a politics and law background, why add a MIM? 

I love international politics and law, yet I wanted something more challenging and practical before starting work. My goal is to build a company one day. Understanding how rules and the global environment are made is powerful, but I also want to know how businesses operate within that context. The MIM lets me combine both: big-picture political insight with hands-on business skills. 

Why INSEAD over other business schools? 

 The values resonated with me: “give, give, get,” real collaboration, and space to be yourself.  

A video on the site showed students in normal clothes, which sounds small, but it signalled authenticity and low pretence. I also sensed less forced competition than elsewhere. Here, the aim is to get the best out of yourself, help others, and enjoy the journey. That culture fit was decisive. 

How have your first weeks been? 

Even better than expected. People are far more social than I imagined. Fontainebleau is a village, so you naturally spend time together. There is always something happening: dinners, a big “Dash” day where we wear fun outfits to class, Oktoberfest plans, an Indian dinner and a party by the Château. It has been very community-driven, not only academic. 

What extracurriculars and clubs are you involved in? 

Women in Business, Impact Investment, and the Consulting Club. Through Impact Investment, we visited the IFC (International Finance Corporation) in Paris. I tried rugby training, and I’m organising the MIM’27 ski trip for December. We also have a Dutch dinner with MBAs and MIMs, which is a nice cross-programme mixer. 

How are interactions with the wider INSEAD community? 

Good, although programmes naturally follow different schedules. I live in Casa Victoire with about 30 people, roughly half MBAs and half MIMs, so we mix a lot at home. I have also met PhD students. Events like mixers, such as the Women in Business, Outsead and Vinsead (The wineclub), help bridge programmes. 

Any standout class or learning moment? 

In P0, Professor Ella Miron-Spektor had us use an online Culture Map. We plotted our home countries and our home group’s countries, then discussed how cultural norms shape communication and teamwork. For example, a teammate from an Asian culture shared that they usually only speak when invited. In the Netherlands, people jump in more spontaneously. Since then, I have made a point to invite quieter voices in, and the ideas that surface are fantastic. Laying that groundwork in week one changed how our group collaborates. 

What skills are you focused on building? 

Leadership, first. Then core business fundamentals: financial accounting, investing basics, bonds and loans, and market structures in a business sense. I know the macro view from politics; now I want the primary tools an owner needs to run a company well. 

How are you using the Career Development Centre (CDC)? 

I have had three meetings with my career advisor already. Also, a very useful activity so far was a small-group CV workshop: four MIM students exchanged CVs, gave line-by-line feedback, and challenged each other on priorities and phrasing. It made me rethink what to put at the top and what roles I’m really targeting. The CDC also sends job openings and panels, which I’m saving while I settle in; I’ll start applications in a couple of months. 

How are you contributing to the MIM community? 

By being active and helpful, and by taking on initiatives. I’m organising the MIM ski trip. I just started my own sustainable impact consulting company with a fellow MIM’27, and I want to help set up an Empowerment Fund to support people in less fortunate positions, including women, and to channel our network beyond campus. INSEAD can feel like a bubble, which is great for bonding, yet I want us to keep looking outward and create impact through things like impact investing. 

What is life like in Fontainebleau? 

I love starting here. Because the town is small, you meet everyone quickly and deeply. It is prettier than I expected: a beautiful château, a lively market, cafés, and some great restaurants. Beginning in a big city can make it easy to stick with your nationality or outside friends. Here you get the full INSEAD experience because you are really with the community. 

Looking ahead to Singapore? 

I have not been before, and I’m excited for the big-city feel, the food, and the international energy. I lived in New York for six weeks on my gap year and loved that pace. Doing Singapore with friends I have made here will be amazing. A group of us plans to run a half-marathon there, and I hope to travel around the region as well. 

Any advice for future applicants? 

Talk to real people who did the programme you are considering; that cut through the noise for me. Start the GRE preparation early. Visit if you can, or watch videos that show culture in action.

You cannot “read” culture from a brochure. I chose INSEAD because it felt like a place that builds responsible leaders who help each other, not just themselves.

A message to your future self, class of 2027? 

That’s a tough one!. First of all, congratulations, you made it! Use what you learned for something good. Keep seeing the broader world, not only the bubble.