Simone Bhagat

Could you share something unexpected or a fun fact about you?

My first paycheck was from doing a voiceover for a Nickelodeon commercial as a kid!

Tell us about yourself, and how you got to where you are today?

I am fortunate to call many beautiful places home - I was born in Mumbai, India, grew up in Singapore and then lived in New York for eight years. I was very keen to spend some time in Europe and I am thrilled to now be living in France.

Professionally, my journey has been in media and entertainment, which has been my dream industry to work in since childhood. I was heavily involved with the performing arts, training as a dancer, actor and singer and attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Theatre programme for my undergraduate degree. I studied directing and producing too. 

Upon graduating in 2020, I founded an entertainment startup in NYC through which I produced a slate of individual short films. My most recent full-time role was as a Producer at Vox Media, a digital media company.

What motivated you to choose the INSEAD MBA, and how do you envision it aligning with your future goals?

I wanted to shift towards working on the business side of media and entertainment and believed that an MBA would give me the foundational business knowledge I needed. 

I chose INSEAD because it was a truly global school that brought in the most diverse cohorts, much like my high school, which followed the same philosophy (and which I loved!). INSEAD also offered me the opportunity to live and study in Europe. This unmatched global network would undoubtedly be invaluable to me for years to come.

Lastly, I was actually an INSEAD toddler and lived in Fonty and Singapore with my father when he attended INSEAD when I was two years old (around 2000!). Growing up on the campuses, I have long been mentored by my father's INSEAD peers. Seeing the profound impact this school had on my father's life made INSEAD an easy top choice.

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

It’s been just over a month and I’m happy to say I feel pretty settled in! But I’d be lying if I said that the cold, rainy January in Fonty, with everyone catching a flu, was a walk in the park. 

The campus is so beautiful and has such great energy that I feel like staying on campus all day long, which made it easier for me to get busy and stay optimistic while adjusting. There is always an event going on, people hanging out at Freddy’s, or an overall positive vibe on campus.

Before moving, I relied on the kind and generous help of recent alumni who walked me through all the shared houses available in Fonty, told me what to pack and bring, and what to expect from INSEAD in general. I was so grateful for their help and my advice to any incoming students is to shamelessly reach out to current MBAs or very recent alumni to get answers to all questions.

Could you share a little about your application process and securing financing?

I began the MBA application process by first attempting the GMAT- it had been ages since I had taken a test, and I wanted to get it out of the way! Once I had done it, I began to research a range of MBA programmes, attending fairs in New York and connecting with alumni. 

I made a list of the schools that offered me the best recruitment opportunities for my industry, but also noted down which ones would give me the overall unique experience I was craving. 

Once I had this dream school list, I was able to set aside a couple of months to work on essays and applications. The end-to-end process was long, but the acceptances were beyond worth it.

You are starting your INSEAD MBA in France. Are you planning any campus exchanges?

I am planning to be a Fonty lifer! As someone who grew up in Singapore, I personally want to fully absorb the France experience and make the most of 10 months in Europe.

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

First of all, the classes are incredibly engaging and even subjects that typically seemed dry to me (I struggle with enjoying quant subjects) are surprisingly a lot of fun to learn. 

The professors are both wildly smart and witty, so there is a lot to look forward to in the actual lectures.

Second, nothing could quite have prepared me for the level of internationalism at INSEAD. Even though I thought I knew what to expect, it was a surreal experience to have sections and study groups made up of entirely contrasting cultures and backgrounds. 

I attended an international school when I was younger, but in reality, it was still made up of students growing up together in the same environment with similar lifestyles. At INSEAD, an artist from NYC, like me, could be having lunch with someone who has spent their entire life in Morocco, working in banking. It is truly inspiring.

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

I am eager to remain connected to my performing arts background, so I immediately joined the club DANCEAD. I was able to connect with fellow dancers to find dance workshops here in Fontainebleau. 

Additionally, I simply had to join VINSEAD! When in France, one must drink fantastic wine. Having these extracurriculars and related communities is a perfect way to destress and take oneself out of the craziness of job hunting and studying while also getting to know peers outside of my section. 

I appreciate that anyone can join the clubs and get involved as and when they are free, which makes it flexible and relaxed.

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

Given that my father attended INSEAD 25 years ago, I was unsure whether the school would give me the experience I had built up in my mind over the years. 

However, it is only week six, and it has far exceeded all my expectations. INSEAD is intense, fast-paced and full of the most interesting people I have ever met. I cannot wait to see how this feeling evolves through the year.

I’d be more than happy to speak to any prospective student! The entire MBA process can be daunting, even through the first few weeks on campus, and I would love to chat about anything and everything with someone keen to join INSEAD.