Lola van Amelsfort

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

I am a philosophy student who tried law first but wasn’t really fond of it. I am someone who wants to think out of the box and doesn’t take anything we see in the world for granted. I like thinking about and asking big questions about our existence and about the human condition. 

After quitting law I made a leap of faith and jumped into my philosophy studies and am pursuing a master’s in philosophy now. I am from the Netherlands, Breda and have to admit, quite proud of my Dutch nationality. I love the colour orange and am a fan of our Royal House. By experiencing more international engagement, I am opening myself to international opportunities that are not tied to my little country anymore. 

Any fun or quirky facts about you?

My favourite meal is cheese fondue, so sometimes I even eat it on my own.

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?

My motivation to join the INSEAD Summer School was that I didn’t have a lot of experience in business. I don’t have a business background since my studies are in philosophy. By joining the Summer School I thought I could develop myself in different areas, other than which I am already familiar with. With the experience of being in a business environment, I wanted to bridge my theoretical and critical side with concrete examples and the world. 

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

The experience at ISS was the best, I could have easily stayed for another two weeks, even a month! A typical day would be knocking on my neighbour’s door at 8:10am. We would get up, have breakfast with a lot of choices and head to class.

In the morning we would have classes and during the break everybody quickly got coffee. During lunch, most of us would sit outside to enjoy the French sun and we would chat away. Afterwards, we still had some classes. Later we would have a longer break in which some would do sports and others would sit outside in the garden of campus and chill. 

The class before dinner was always one with an active professor to ensure everyone kept their focus. Together we would walk to dinner after the class had finished and sat outside with everybody to enjoy our food. 

A lot of us would go into Fontainebleau in the evening for some drinks and exploring, or we would stay on campus and chill in the garden or at the hotel rooftop bar. To summarise: you are never alone! Everyone stays together throughout the day to get to know each other and have fun. 

Any memorable moments you’ll carry with you?

There are so many memorable moments to choose from! One that stands out was seeing everyone gather around just after the closing ceremony. It wasn’t quite emotional back then – that would come later – but it was wonderful to see everyone so nicely dressed up and reflecting back at the two weeks we have had. 

I looked around at everybody and realised I had made friends for life, which gave me a very comfortable and warm feeling. 

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

Living in Fontainebleau for two weeks was quite luxurious! We stayed in a spacious hotel room which was cleaned every day. The staff was the sweetest and we were taken good care of. The campus is stunning as well. Only positive words for the incredibly inspiring professors, and amazingly smart and fun peers. 

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

The application process was quite easy. Everything is stated crystal clearly on the website and as you are taken through the steps you need to follow. Since I live in the Netherlands, it was super easy to come to Fontainebleau. I was dropped off by a family member who drove back to the Netherlands afterwards and picked me up when it was time to leave. Some of my friends went by train which was very convenient with good access as well! 

Any advice or words of wisdom for someone thinking about joining ISS?
 
I don’t know about wisdom, but I would say like Nike: just do it! The INSEAD Summer School was one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life so far. It was the most enriching experience. During ISS you make friends for life, you gain valuable knowledge for life, and you enrich your life with an unforgettable experience!

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

For sure, don’t hesitate to contact me.