Every good story has a start, a middle, and an end. However, when prospective students contemplate pursuing an Executive MBA, this thinking must be turned upside down.The decision about which specific campus or programme to pursue needs to start with the end in mind.One might ask questions such as, "What is my end goal? What am I trying to achieve? What will success look like?" The answers to these will help identify the right path forward.   

• Read more about Starting With the End in Mind

How was your experience at INSEAD? Was it worth it? – a question that many considering the MBA programme wonder aboutThis is my “why” and journey in pursuing an EMBA. I am happy to share it to inspire and help people decide on this large commitment.

• Read more about My GEMBA Journey and My Career Transition

Midway through a career trek in November, I received a message: “Sign up for the NIBC competition”, and mechanically clicked on it. The NIBC is the largest international investment banking competition, hosted this year by the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. More than 600 teams from 200 universities worldwide participated, and I saw this as a fun way to learn and have a good challenge. 

• Read more about Banking on Success: INSEAD MIM's Global Leap to the NIBC Finals

Embarking on the journey to Master Strategist Day (MSD) was like stepping into a whirlwind of exhilaration and purpose. While clinching victory was undoubtedly a moment of triumph, it was the prospect of weaving innovative solutions with meaningful impact that truly fueled our spirits.

• Read more about Afya on Wheels: Delivering High-Quality, Affordable Healthcare in Underserved Areas in Kenya

When asked who wanted to be an entrepreneur on the first day of the INSEAD MIM programme, 80% of the class raised their hands, I was amongst them. 

• Read more about Navigating Entrepreneurship at INSEAD: The Journey of Estate Bridge

Being accepted into INSEAD was a dream come true for me. I'd always dreamed of studying overseas at an international school, and suddenly, that opportunity was mine.However, paying for school and taking time off from work is another issue. I was barely making USD 2,000 a month in the Philippines, and suddenly, I had EUR 50,000 in tuition and living expenses for a year in Singapore to cover. Suddenly, that dream seemed beyond my reach.The thought of it kept me up at night.

• Read more about Giving Back

Halfway into my MBA, I am surprised by the power of holistic business knowledge the degree has brought me and my fellow 430 classmates in Singapore and Fontainebleau. Its strength lies in fostering a deeper understanding of the complete business landscape, essential for cultivating effective future business leaders and managers. As our operations professor rightfully pointed out, "you don't ever just have an operations problem - you have a business problem." 

• Read more about Top Learnings From the First Six Months of My INSEAD MBA

In today's fast-changing world, especially in business, keeping up is a challenge. Just last year, Generative AI completely changed how we think about the economy. Add to that the constant developments in geopolitics, technology, and the stakeholder demands, and it is clear how quickly things are moving.A couple of years ago, as an external lecturer at the University of Amsterdam, I was contacted by some colleagues who realised that most of the strategy textbooks used in class weren’t keeping up with these changes. 

• Read more about Strategic Management: A New Narrative

As a partner who joined my husband at INSEAD, I embarked on a journey filled with apprehensions and curiosity. My intent in writing this blog is to share my experiences and insights, particularly for those who, like me, have had concerns about what it means to be a partner of an MBA student at such a prestigious institution.Before our arrival at INSEAD, I often heard about the Partner Programme and its vibrant engagement in the INSEAD community. However, I couldn't fully grasp what this entailed. 

• Read more about Embracing the INSEAD Experience as a Partner: A Personal Journey

For me, the MIM programme is about constantly challenging myself and putting myself into new situations. That’s why with three of my peers we have decided to test ourselves in the most prestigious finance competition in the world called the National Investment Banking Competition (NIBC).

• Read more about How the INSEAD MIM Supports Future Talent in the Finance Industry