Ruo Yun Chong

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

I was on a working holiday in New Zealand after selling my business. I realised I wanted a complete career change and that an MBA would help. I chose INSEAD because it is so highly regarded and I liked the diversity. Also, doing an MBA is expensive, so the ten-month option was perfect.

Why did you do the CEIBS exchange?

I started in Singapore and thought about going to Fontainebleau, but in the end, I decided that CEIBS would have a very different culture. Also, China is such an interesting and growing market – and CEIBS has a very strong network, which should be very useful in the future. Although my grandparents are from China and I speak Mandarin, it was my first time in China, so it’s been very interesting on a personal level too. China is just so huge!

How did you find your job? And how did INSEAD or CEIBS help with that?

I got the job through my summer internship, which I found through the help of the INSEAD Career Development Centre.   

What is the key skill you think you’ll take from INSEAD into your career?

I’ve learnt how to work under time constraints – how to be more relaxed and efficient, rather than stressed, when the clock is ticking. Also, working in INSEAD’s diverse study groups will be very helpful when I’m working in a multinational company in a multicultural team.

Working in groups teaches you a lot about other people – and helps you understand yourself better. In a diverse team, everyone has different points of view which could hold you back, but INSEAD teaches you how to move things forward.

Finally what advice would you give future INSEAD students?

The experience is so intense. It’s a 16-month programme squeezed into 10 months. There’s always something to do at INSEAD, but you can’t do it all. Work hard, play hard, but it’s important to set your priorities.