Sahil Ahuja

Could you share something unexpected about you?

I still don’t know what consulting is.

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

The realisation of not knowing enough about the world and the possibility of not knowing enough by the end of my life has motivated me to be a lifelong learner.

INSEAD is a substantive step towards pursuing my professional passion for learning about the dynamic business world and personal passion of living out-of-the-box experiences in the form of moving to a new country.

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

I chose INSEAD to provide me with a highly rigorous and relevant learning environment that will help me equip with a deeper understanding of applied business practices that will further help me bring my ideas to reality.

What were your impressions of campus life so far and how did you navigate accommodation, and sorting out all the admin? Any tips for incoming students?

The campus is a different world all together. You won’t realise before you will be spending your entire day at campus jumping from one thing to the another.

The admin work related to the university itself is very hassle-free. People know how a lot of us are shifting our lives from different countries, so they don’t leave any kind of ambiguity in any processes, and help you get started with everything you should be doing.

Although INSEAD doesn’t offer on-campus housing, it has prevalent partners across the town that will help you find the right kind of accommodation you require from budget housing to museums/chateaus turned into houses for INSEAD students. A detailed guide with all the accommodations and providers will be shared.

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

If I were to summarise, the things that helped me through the entire application process were:

Clear motivation

Becoming a businessperson was never a doubt.  Also, I knew that what I studied at a top-tier business school wouldn't be much different from any top business school in my country, and I’ll learn how to do business by eventually doing it.

But It was the people and to elevate my life experiences that I wanted to attend a business school of such stature.

I was precise with my requirement of attending an A-grade one-year management programme.

Hence, I just applied and chose not to get admitted to a business school in the forthcoming session if I don’t get in. So, there was no "plan B" school.

Authenticity

The most essential and fruitful part of the application was not writing essays, taking the GMAT, or collecting references, but just sitting AND THINKING. It was gut-wrenching, to be honest.

I remember spending hours before starting with each essay topic and introspecting about myself to eventually pen down the most authentic portrayal of who I am.

I know my CV doesn’t define me as I am not the only commerce graduate with few internships under my belt who wants to make it big in life. It comes down to what lets you make those choices, what you did throughout, and how that will help you become the person you want to become.

I always wondered how I stand a chance against all these brilliant people with exceptional profiles, and the answer was simple: show who you are.

Right guidance

If you approach things the right way, there’s not much to the application process.

Be it talking to your friends who have already made it, watching the right content by creators across social media platforms, or taking the help of trusted providers, make sure to avoid the noise and understand what the Admission Committee is looking for in a candidate, as it is consequential.

I cannot emphasise this enough, but all you have to do throughout the application is highlight the impact that you have made in every aspect of your life, and it won’t matter where you come from.

About financing, if you get admitted to an institution such as INSEAD, honestly a lot of financing options will open up to you, and the INSEAD team is very kind to have a big enough fund to help out students with merit or need. They are always there to hear you out and help in any way possible.

Shifting to Fontainebleau - a little French town in the middle of nowhere (except Paris) - has been a journey in itself. Within the first few days, I accepted it as a home for the next seven months. You have beautiful scenery and skies to cherish, small bars and restaurants for that next comfort meal/drink, and a community to be involved in with amazing people around.

In your first few weeks, what aspects of the INSEAD MIM have stood out to you as unique or particularly appealing? 

The programme just overwhelms you with a lot of stuff as soon as you put a step on campus.

The INSEAD MIM can make you feel comfortable and uncomfortable multiple times in a same day. It challenges you every minute to be at your best.

Aside from your academic pursuits, what extracurricular interests or activities are you exploring at INSEAD, and how do you see them enhancing your overall MIM experience?

I am planning to make the most out of my engagements with the INSEAD Centre of Entrepreneurship, be it the INSEAD Venture Competition or Start-up Bootcamp. Apart from all of it, I am looking forward to organising the best International Food Festival that MIMs have ever seen 😛

Any parting words of wisdom, and are you willing to be contacted for more information by prospective students?

it’s a place for everyone, don’t change yourself to fit in. The world appreciates people who can stand out, so does INSEAD. I would love to help in any way possible 🙂