No other MBA programme offers a student body and learning environment quite this diverse.
Isabel Wrubel
Could you share something unexpected or a fun fact about you?
I've lived across Europe and the US, with a short stint in Indonesia thrown in for good measure!
Tell us about yourself and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up in Silicon Valley sparked my passion for technology, which led me to early-stage tech investing. But my German roots pulled me toward Europe and eventually toward backing European founders. INSEAD felt like the natural next chapter: a place where both sides of my world finally converge.
What motivated you to choose the INSEAD MBA, and how do you envision it aligning with your future goals?
The international dimension, without question. No other MBA programme offers a student body and learning environment quite this diverse.
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?
Connect with current students before you arrive. They'll give you the real insider knowledge: the best houses, how to manage the inevitable P1 and P2 stress, and how to make the most of what is an incredible but very short experience. Don't wait until orientation to start building those relationships.
Could you share a little about your application process?
I started by talking to alumni from many years back to understand how INSEAD had stayed with them and how it shaped their careers and thinking even decades later. Once I felt confident in the qualitative fit, I shifted to the quantitative side and focused on getting a GMAT score I was proud of. After that, the essays came naturally, and everything else followed from there.
In your first few weeks, what aspects of the INSEAD MBA have stood out to you as unique or particularly appealing?
The diversity is extraordinary, and it's not just a talking point. It's something you feel every single day. Every conversation teaches me something I wouldn't have encountered anywhere else. It genuinely feels a little magical.
Aside from your academic pursuits, what extracurricular interests or activities are you exploring at INSEAD?
I played competitive soccer my whole life, and it even took me to college. I've been rallying the women on campus to play regularly, and the long-term ambition? Taking on the boys' team. And winning.
What were your considerations for choosing your starting campus?
Fontainebleau has a reputation for being close-knit, and that was exactly what I wanted. I didn't want the distractions of a city pulling me away from being fully present with my classmates. Starting somewhere intimate felt right.
You are starting your MBA in Fontainebleau. Are you doing an exchange, and if so, where and why?
Singapore for P4 and P5. I want to explore Southeast Asia properly, immerse myself in the culture, and honestly figure out whether it's somewhere I could see myself living or working long-term.
Any parting words of wisdom, and are you willing to be contacted by prospective students?
Absolutely, reach out anytime! And my advice: don't try to optimise every minute of it. You can't do it all! Conserve your energy, spend time with the people that give you energy, and most importantly, give yourself grace.
