Lorenzo Girola

Could you share something unexpected about you?

Usually people don’t expect that I have long curly hair, which can be very tricky in the summer.

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

I was born in a really small town in Piedmont, near Turin. To me, to gain international experience and to get where I am today was particularly hard because I did not have the support system a school or a big city could have given me. 

I was so fortunate to find a mentor who could point me to the right direction, give me insights, teach me English, and teach me the right discipline to bring out my best qualities and show others my full potential.

What motivated you to choose the INSEAD Summer School, and how do you envision it aligning with your future goals, even at this early stage?

I chose the INSEAD Summer School because of its very competitive two-week programme in which I could get a glimpse of what INSEAD is, its values, and what it really means to be “The Business School for the World”. 

The INSEAD Summer School gave me the right insights as to what I envision for my career, and gave me an even stronger discipline to face multiple challenges.

Tell us about your experience on the ISS – what was a typical day like?

The day was full. We started lessons early in the morning with a different INSEAD professor every day. In the evening there were usually different professional speakers who gave us real-world insights of their respective sector. 

During the weekends and at night we usually stayed all together and got to know each other also on a personal, more profound level. We built relationships which will last even after INSEAD.

Any memorable moments that you will take back with you?

I would say that the leadership session outdoors was one of the most memorable moments, as it was at the beginning of our experience and set the expectations very high for what INSEAD was, and what it could give me on a personal and professional level.

What were your impressions of campus life?

The INSEAD campus is the perfect place to work in groups, study, or socialise with friends. 

I believe that the campus life at INSEAD is an important part of the experience.

Could you share a little about your application process, and making your way to Fontainebleau?

The application was really straight forward, the different sections were clearly explained. A letter of recommendation is required, as well as an interview in order to get to know us better. Regarding my journey to INSEAD, I personally flew from Milan to Paris/Charles De Gaulle, and then INSEAD had arranged a taxi for me (but there are alternatives as well). I also suggest you to connect with your colleagues before coming to INSEAD so that you may share a taxi and save.