Joana Borges

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

I grew up in Asia across Singapore, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Hong Kong, in particular, left a lasting impression on me, mostly for its energy, the beauty of the city, and its vibrant food scene. While my Japanese isn't as strong as it once was, I really enjoy connecting with my Japanese classmates and reminiscing about life in Tokyo.

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

I am French, Brazilian and British, but I grew up in Asia before moving to the UK for university. I studied Russian and Political Science at undergraduate and postgraduate level which, rather unexpectedly, led me to start my career at McKinsey & Company in their Africa office. 

There, I worked across several public and private sector projects before moving into venture capital at Antler and then into fintech. My roles have allowed me to work in various places, including Nairobi, London and even Singapore. This wasn't exactly the path I had imagined while at university, but in hindsight, I think it does reflect my genuine curiosity and a drive to experience new things. That same desire to keep learning is ultimately what brought me to INSEAD.

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

After exploring consulting, venture capital and start-ups, I felt it was the right moment to consolidate everything I had learned and fill in gaps I had never had the chance to address in a classroom, including in subjects like Accounting, Financial Markets & Valuation, Statistics and others. INSEAD stood out as the clear choice.

 The international composition of the student body, the breadth of the curriculum, and the fact that it's a focused one-year programme all aligned with what I was looking for.  

Looking ahead, I want to continue doing strategy work, and INSEAD is equipping me with both the business toolkit and the network to do that at a more advanced level.

Could you share a little about your application process?  

The application itself was fairly straightforward, though preparing for and sitting the GRE was a process that took several months. The application requires you to write a few essays, giving you space to reflect carefully on everything you've done before the MBA, which I found more meaningful than I expected. 

The video interview stage came next and required more preparation than I had anticipated. Finally, there was the admissions interview with two alumni, which brought the whole process together. I remember leaving those interviews feeling truly energised and convinced that INSEAD was the right school for me. My advice: give yourself enough time to tell your story well and don't underestimate the interview stages.

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? 

The Fontainebleau campus is very nice, and as we move into spring, the outdoor spaces are coming to life. The facilities, including the library, are excellent, and there's a social energy on campus that makes it easy to meet and connect with fellow students wherever you are. I genuinely enjoy it! The food is also great, which is a game-changer. 

On accommodation, I live in a shared house with three other girls, found through Fonty Housing - it's an alum's house, and we've all been very happy with it. I'd strongly encourage incoming students to consider shared housing as it's one of the best ways to build real connections with classmates beyond the classroom.

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

The diversity of the cohort is genuinely extraordinary. Every day, I interact with fascinating people from across the globe, many with multiple nationalities and remarkable stories.

Just to give you an idea, my study group is made up of a Pakistani, a French-Canadian, a Moroccan-French, a Czech and myself. What struck me early on wasn't just how international everyone is, but how willing people are to share where they come from and what they think - there's a real openness here, which I value a lot. 

Finally, alumni friends had warned me, but INSEAD is truly fast-paced, which also means that you deepen connections with people far faster than you usually would. For someone who loves meeting new people, discovering new cultures and perspectives, INSEAD feels tailor-made, and the friendships forming here already feel like they will persist well beyond the MBA.

What were your considerations for choosing your starting campus? 

I'm hoping to return to London after INSEAD, so starting in Fontainebleau made sense for building my European network, which is very strong. It’s impressive to see alumni across the continent in top jobs, a testament to the school’s calibre. Being French, I was also genuinely excited about spending time in France and being closer to family, and so it was a natural fit on multiple levels.

Are you doing an exchange to Singapore, Fontainebleau or Abu Dhabi?

I am looking to do an exchange in Singapore in the last period (P5).  

If yes, what is the reason for your location/s of choice?  

Although I'll be returning to London after INSEAD, I was keen to finish the programme alongside as many of my cohort as possible, as the social dimension of the MBA matters to me. I'm also excited about returning to a city I lived in and worked briefly in before, but this time experience it through an entirely different lens.

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? 

Outside my studies, I've been connecting with new people through the clubs I've joined, which has been a great way to step outside my usual cohort circles. One highlight was the VINSEAD wine trip to Bordeaux, a great opportunity to learn about wines from the Saint-Émilion region while spending time with MBA students I might not otherwise have crossed paths with. Despite being French, my wine knowledge is not as good as I would like it to be, so I'm making the most of being in France to improve on that.

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

From what I can see, a couple of months in, INSEAD is a genuinely unique place to do an MBA. I had been told this multiple times, but you must experience it to really appreciate it. The concentration of interesting, international people, the quality of the faculty, and the strength of the network in Europe, Asia and the Middle East are unmatched. I would encourage you to speak to as many current or former students of INSEAD to get a sense of the culture of the school. If you feel like it could be a good fit and want to take a year to challenge yourself truly, you should definitely consider applying!  

Yes, I am willing to be contacted by prospective students.