Employment reports, rankings and statistics are all important when making a choice, but what will stay with you at the end of the programme are the connections you made and the experiences you lived.
Margherita Mayr

Margherita Mayr

margherita
Nationality/Passport: Italian Year of graduation: 2022 Current Role: MIM Student

Tell me a fun fact about yourself!

I am that person who always ends a meal with dessert and yes, I have tried at least 20 different types of tiramisù – but the one I cook together with my friends remains the best. 

What were you doing before you joined INSEAD?

I grew up in Milan, Italy, where I attended the International School of Milan from my middle and high school years. Already since a young age I was exposed to a diverse environment, where my classmates came from all over the world.

Although I had many stimuli to study abroad, I decided to strengthen my roots and stay in Milan, where I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Finance at Bocconi University. This was a positively challenging academic journey that exposed me to the world of financial markets. I was therefore motivated to complete two professional experiences in the field, the first in private equity and the second in investment banking. In both jobs, I discovered that being open-minded and a team-player was pivotal.

This desire to further explore the dynamics of the “real world” is what drove me to INSEAD’s MIM, which is truly a school of life. 

And can you tell me why you decided to apply for the MIM? What are your goals post-MIM?

I applied to the MIM because of its international character and its innovative take on Management. The MIM offers numerous opportunities to explore new cultures and ways of living, from France, to Singapore and an additional three countries. But more than that, I knew that I would have been exposed to diversity from day one because of how the cohort was assembled: students have not all different backgrounds in terms of nationality, but also of what they studied, their age and personalities. It is this mix that fascinated me greatly.

Furthermore, the course is structured in such a way that it is very intense, but at the same time challenging. I liked the possibility to study multiple subjects per period, from quantitative ones like Valuation and Data Analysis to ones focused on Strategy and Ethics. The addition of courses like Machine Learning also showed me how up-to-date with the times the programme was.

Post-MIM I’m considering an experience in consulting or investment banking, to be able to combine my passion for finance and the one for working with people.   

It’s been a whirlwind first few months, how has everything been going? Memorable moments so far? First impressions, in one sentence?

The most memorable moment of the MIM was certainly the first week of the programme. I remember this as one of the most exhausting but beautiful experiences I ever had. During the first few days everyone was so energetic and motivated to meet others, that I completely lost track of days.

My life was a continuum of seminars, presentations, networking cocktails on campus and just being amazed by how interesting my future classmates and Professors were.

It was one of those moments where I felt I didn’t even need to sleep, because I was so eager to come back from campus in the evening and head out to an event or even just a beer at Glasgow. Needless to say that my first impressions were extremely positive. I knew from the first moments that this was a place where one could feel safe: no one judged, everyone supported. 

What are you most looking forward to during the rest of the programme?

I am looking forward to a big event we have planned for January, the “Funds for Good” Gala, an evening to raise funds to support women’s education. This is because INSEAD is about getting as much as it is about giving and using our personal and the school’s network to do good is always encouraged. This initiative, launched by some wonderful MIM female students, now involves a big team of MIMs and I am sure that it will become part of our legacy. I believe this encapsulates well what INSEAD is all about, which is supporting its students in making an impact in the world. 

Any tips for anyone who might be interested in pursuing a MIM in the future?

As with any Master’s degree, I recommend you thoroughly read the programme’s course descriptions and familiarise with its structure. This is because it is important that you feel that this is an experience that fits your personality and that it is the challenge you are looking for.

Being 100% motivated and energised since the beginning – even during the application process – is crucial.

There will be periods that are intense both academically and professionally and only if you are truly convinced that you made the right choice you will be able to make the most out of experience. Once you’re sure and believe that INSEAD is the right cultural fit for you, proving it will come out naturally. 

Parting words of wisdom?

Employment reports, rankings and statistics are all important when making a choice, but what will stay with you at the end of the programme are the connections you made and the experiences you lived.