Thomas O'Connell

Tell us a bit about yourself—how did you get to where you are today? Any highlights, personal or professional?

I have recently turned 22 years old and have just completed my Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Exeter. During my time at university, I completed 18 months of professional consulting experience, both working in strategy and change implementation. I now look forward to embarking on a ski season in Courchevel, France, this winter!

Any fun or quirky facts about you?

My quirky fact is that I have a non-identical twin brother.

What motivated you to choose the INSEAD Summer School, and how do you think it will align with your future goals, even at this early stage?

INSEAD was always a business school that I wanted to be a part of from the minute I first heard about it. After first learning about the school, I attended an MBA event in London last year, hosted by Nancy Blyth-Piacentini, and despite being too young for the MBA programme (and underqualified), I knew INSEAD was the school for me. I immediately resonated with the school's ethos and values, making it my ambition to join the school. 

While approaching my final year of university, I wanted to see what opportunities were available to me over the summer. By chance, I had a look at the INSEAD website to see if they had any programmes available, and I found the ISS programme! After reaching out to students from the 2023 cohort, I immediately knew that this was a unique experience that I wanted to be a part of. 

I can confidently say that this was genuinely the most rewarding two-week experience I have ever had! 

The Summer School taught me so many things, from leadership to entrepreneurship, and all the way through to managing across cultures. This programme has been truly invaluable in my development and it has equipped me with skills that I look forward to taking with me into the future work environment.

How was your experience at ISS? What did a typical day look like?

The ISS programme really squeezed a month into a two-week experience! A typical day saw most students go for breakfast at 8 am before heading to the first lecture by 8:30 am sharp. The morning consisted of a hybrid of lectures and group work, before breaking for lunch at 12:30 pm for an hour. 

After lunch, it was much of the same, often with more group breakout work, which would lead to presentations of the day's work at 17:30. We would then get an hour's break where students would either continue with some preparatory work for the following day or maybe play some sports with classmates and relax.

At 18:30, we would all return to the amphitheatre to listen to a guest lecturer on a topic that would often be unrelated to the day's work, before heading to dinner at the INSEAD restaurant at 19:30. 

The days at ISS were intense but incredibly rewarding. This fast-paced schedule really allowed you to connect with people incredibly quickly and has forged friendships that will last a lifetime.

Any memorable moments you'll carry with you?

Reflecting on my ISS experience, I often think of the first day's team-building exercises. This saw us all travel the short distance to Château de Courances to engage in challenges that really pushed us out of our comfort zones. It forced us to think carefully and logically to succeed in the challenges. 

I think this was the perfect way to start the programme, as it brought us all closer together and made us connect with our classmates.

What were your impressions of campus life, your classmates, and the professors? How did you find living in Fontainebleau for two weeks?

I knew from the minute I arrived at the Fontainebleau campus that INSEAD was a special learning environment. From our initial welcoming lecture, I could see that the lecturers were unique in their teaching style. They encouraged us to challenge their perspectives and regularly opened the forum up for debate. 

The continued engagement shown by the students demonstrated how interesting these lectures were, and all students felt empowered to share their opinions with the cohort. Everyone was so eager to learn. 

Fontainebleau was a beautiful, quiet town, which was home to a magnificent chateau. I can't see how you wouldn't like the town!

Could you share a little about your application process and getting to Fontainebleau?

The application process was straightforward. It simply required a CV and a motivational statement, which was then followed by some interview-style questions asking your motivation to join the programme even further. The questions were designed to see why you want to study at INSEAD and what makes the school unique. If you can express your desire to join the programme, then you will have no problem!

Any advice or words of wisdom for someone thinking about joining ISS?

If you are looking to really stretch yourself both personally and professionally, then this is the school for you. You will leave this programme with a fresh perspective on the world, an ability to communicate and connect with people from all different cultures and life-long friends! This has been the most enriching experience; do not hesitate to apply.

Would you be open to future students reaching out to you for more info?

I would be more than happy for prospective students to contact me! I would not have joined this programme had I not reached out to former students, so I would love to reciprocate that with future students.