Sam (Minseok) Kim

What made you decide to do an MBA? 

My dream is to be a global business leader, managing and executing business strategy internationally. To achieve my dream, I thought I needed more experience in an international environment and further study in various aspects of business, including finance, accounting and strategy.

Why INSEAD?

INSEAD is the most international business school in the world, where students can experience the most diverse cultures and ideas. Also, INSEAD is famous for the quality of its faculty and the intensity of its one-year programme. So it was my first – and only – choice for an MBA.

Was INSEAD what you expected?

The main thing that I expect to find at INSEAD was diversity. INSEAD has offered me exactly what I wanted. I met people from numerous countries and diverse cultures – and exchanged and learnt different viewpoints on business issues. In every class, discussion or casual conversation, I realised that there are diverse opinions and thoughts. Each time, I find myself breaking through stereotypes and assumptions to become more open-minded. The experience broadened my vision and also my career options.

How has INSEAD helped you in your career so far?

INSEAD arranged several networking events to connect with various companies. Thanks to those events, I could meet people from companies which I was interested in, and also learnt about jobs and companies in detail. Furthermore, the name value of INSEAD was huge enough to convince companies of my ability as well.

What is one important lesson you learnt at INSEAD?

I learned to accept all experiences without prejudice. This is very useful to understand not only new people but also a new industry.

What advice do you have for future INSEAD MBA students?

Be open-minded and be positive. You will experience a very diverse culture, environment, and experiences in the year. The best way to enjoy this exciting journey is to experience and understand them as much as possible.