Jon Kastelan

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

My wife jokes about me being the biggest ‘participator’ as I often get involved in many quirky and unique experiences, including Guinness World Record attempts and cooking with Michelin-starred chefs.

I also play rugby union and have had the opportunity to compete and manage teams all over the world. I’ve tried to retire thrice but keep finding myself on the field. There is something really magical about the rugby community. It doesn’t matter where in the world you are. You can show up, and you will be welcomed immediately.

I’ve also found that playing rugby has taught me a few things that translate neatly into business. One of my favourites is that rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes – whether big, powerful, strong, small, fast, or evasive – the most successful teams have a good mix. I think it is a good reminder of the importance of building diverse teams in business for problem-solving and mutual collaboration. I also reflect on the importance of developing culture and alignment across the team on ‘how we win’, to continue delivering success.

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

While I was born, raised, and spent the early parts of my career in Australia, over the course of the past ten years, I’ve had the chance to live and work in Greater China, Southeast Asia, the USA, Canada, and now the Middle East.

I have over 15 years’ experience advising clients, customers, and partners at the intersection of public and private sector finance. Selected efforts I have led include capitalising on the rapid expansion of e-commerce and digital across Greater China; advising the World Bank on emerging technologies and AI adoption in government; assembling a research and funding consortium for women’s public health efforts; and supporting global mining companies to improve operations and accelerate energy transition.

My current role is as a strategic investments lead based in Abu Dhabi. I work within the government, overseeing several investments that help achieve scale, drive impact, and deliver financial returns globally.

My career to date is a direct reflection of my curiosity, consistent setting of ambitious goals, active seeking out of opportunities for growth, and, importantly, flexibility and keeping an open mind to the opportunities that present themselves.

I’d be remiss not to acknowledge the role my circle of sponsors and mentors has played in providing guidance, championing impact, and problem-solving over the course of my career. In recent years, it has been great to have been asked to play this role for others and help develop future leaders.

On a personal level, 18 months ago, my wife and I welcomed our son. As a dual-career couple, this has been a really interesting yet fun transition. I’m looking forward to them joining one of the upcoming modules and meeting the class.

What led you to decide to pursue an Executive MBA, and why did you choose INSEAD in particular?

The seed of attending INSEAD was planted a while ago.

When I was 20 years old, I did what every happy-go-lucky Australian does and travelled the world for a few months over the university break. When visiting Europe I did one of those tours where you visit ~16 countries in 20 days. 

One afternoon we had a stopover in Fontainebleau. I recall seeing the nearby INSEAD campus and got wind of what it was about. When I returned to my studies I started making more serious enquiries, and very quickly found myself putting INSEAD on my goals roadmap.

The overall appeal of INSEAD was about the global perspective, not just in the coursework, but the cohort and faculty. We truly represent various industries, nationalities, and all have unique personal and professional backgrounds. 

As for my choice of the GEMBA, I wanted to be able to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time – somewhat like my tour of Europe – and be able to immediately integrate my learnings into my day-to-day. The immediacy of impact is of course a commercially compelling benefit as you seek buy-in and support for your pursuit of the programme. 

How would you describe your experience so far? What is your impression of the faculty, the curriculum, and your fellow participants?

The programme has been incredibly welcoming, and reflective, particularly studying cases from many different sectors and markets. I found the teaching methods equally adaptive, with a mix of case learning and contexts of current high-profile deals and the different ways such deals could and should be evaluated from an executive standpoint.

In terms of fellow participants, everyone is excited to collaborate and share ideas--the diversity is extensive. There are highly credentialed participants from all over the world.

I’ve been able to have meaningful conversations with global thought leaders, scholars, startup founders, and other executives, which have all been impactful. The opportunity to meet and engage with so many different backgrounds and perspectives has contributed to learning, fostering an understanding and consideration of the art of the possible. 

There have been significant polarising shifts experienced in the world over the last couple of years, and the cohort environment helps consider new geopolitical realities and the importance of being able to anticipate and manage complexities and stakeholders within today’s international business environment.

What advice would you give to someone who might be interested in pursuing an INSEAD programme? 

I would advise them to think about what they could achieve by being part of the programme, take the first step, and reach out to the campus recruitment team. As professionals, we often look for a precise moment where personal, professional, and life challenges align for us. However, as your career and life advance, you often find that this “perfect” time is more theoretical than a reality.

INSEAD offers a variety of options designed to meet the needs of professionals no matter the phase of their career. They also have a very knowledgeable advisory team to provide guidance and support based on decades of experience enabling top leaders. 

Having a true partner able to guide you through the decision-making process with actionable insights and information makes a big difference along the journey. You will find (as I did) that everything has a neat way of falling into place.