Mostafa Allam

Tell us about your professional and educational background. What were you doing prior to joining INSEAD?

Prior to INSEAD, I was a management consultant for Strategy&, formerly known as Booz & Company, in the Middle East.  At Strategy&, I worked on projects for multinational corporations and government institutions in the areas of telecom, technology, logistics, construction, and transport.

Why did you decide to do an MBA and why did you choose the INSEAD MBA?

I decided to do an MBA in order to enhance my business skillset and to advance my career. Specifically I wanted to develop my strategy and entrepreneurial knowledge – both areas in which INSEAD is renowned for.

I chose the INSEAD MBA because I had seen the impact of the programme on my Strategy& colleagues who had completed their MBA at INSEAD.

I also wanted to broaden my international perspective by studying in Singapore and France - two countries I had never visited prior to INSEAD. To put it simply, with its multiple campuses around the globe, flexible curriculum, and diverse student body, INSEAD was the ideal platform for me to achieve my career objectives. 

How has the programme changed your life and/or perspective?

INSEAD has helped me broaden my mind by giving me the opportunity to interact with outstanding individuals from all over the world. Consequently I have also been able to forge international connections and build a professional and personal network that will serve me well for the rest of my life. 

What are your thoughts on the curriculum and faculty?

Firstly, the fact that INSEAD can fit 80% of a two-year MBA programme into ten months is incredible. I also thoroughly enjoyed the five-period structure because it allowed me to build a solid business foundation with the core courses in the first two periods and then branch out into various areas of interest in the subsequent three periods.

INSEAD’s faculty is also world-class. Despite the professors being thought-leaders in their respective fields I found them to be approachable, supportive, and genuinely interested in seeing MBA students grow within their fields of interest.

How has the programme helped you advance your career? 

The INSEAD MBA programme has given me a global, cross-functional perspective that will allow me to adapt to a variety of settings. Adaptability and versatility are essential traits for a management consultant, and my time at INSEAD has allowed me to sharpen them.

The programme’s focus on academics, career, and social life has allowed me to become a better-rounded individual and has taught me to manage my time better. Professionally, I believe that the managerial and people skills I have picked up during my time at INSEAD will be invaluable when I assume leadership positions. Last, but not least, the programme has given me the confidence and the network to make things happen. 

What advice would you give potential students looking to pursue an INSEAD MBA?

My advice would be that they should enter the programme with an open mind and be amenable to both personal and professional opportunities that come their way. INSEAD presented me with an abundance of opportunities for which I am very grateful. Learning to be open-minded to opportunities and to work hard to seize opportunities was perhaps the most important lesson I took away from INSEAD.