“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there”. These words were written by Rumi the 13th-century Persian poet. Did you know that these words were written after Rumi fell in love with a man in the later years of his life? These lines remind me of my EMC experience. 

• Read more about Rumi, Roger, and I

Business schools teach ‘business as usual’ topics. This is understandable as they are the tools that we use the most on a day-to-day basis. Typical courses in strategy, finance, accounting, economics etc. study how things work in ‘normal’ conditions.

• Read more about How Business Schools Will Change After COVID-19

“Are the firms still hiring?” “Should I still look for a job or should I just take a break from job search?” If these questions have crossed your mind, you are not alone.  Although hiring has slowed down, there is a general consensus among a number of professionals from different sectors that it has not completely stopped. 

• Read more about 8 Tips for Executives to Manage Their Job Search During COVID-19

One never forgets the delicious taste of freedom. For me, it was in the form of pizza. Fresh from the oven, topped with salami, olives, and cheese. Why pizza? Because that was my final dine-in meal, right before COVID-19 forced France into lockdown.

• Read more about A Fired Up Feast at INSEAD, Fueled by COVID-19

If you are a graduate or current student in a non-business major like liberal arts, in my case for example, you might also be the only one in your department to be looking at applying for a Master in Management (MIM). This fact only affected me once I realised that a large number of candidates to MIM programmes actually come from business backgrounds, or at least with business-related internships in their pocket. There is no need, however, to panic about being different.

• Read more about How I Got Into INSEAD With a Bachelor’s Degree in Drama

A handshake. Sitting in a classroom. Going to ‘Freddy’s’ bar. So many things we have taken for granted have now changed.

• Read more about The Silver Lining of the COVID Lockdown

When I was 12 years old, my dad launched a startup. After having closely analysed and researched the market, he had identified a gap. So, he quit his job, got a loan, recruited the best people, rolled up his sleeves and got to work. His entire team worked feverishly for months and months on the project: a sort of paper-based Craigslist with the revolutionary addition of CD-ROM content.

• Read more about What My Dad’s Failed Business Taught Me about Life

My only experience in the Middle East had previously been in 2014. I was heading to Europe for a vacation, and had stopped over in Qatar. There, I saw the sun – a flaming ball of red – rising over an endless desert. The locals breezed by in long, flowing robe-like attires that are mostly in hues of white or black. A kaleidoscope of accents greeted me as I entered shops and restaurants, indicating that a huge number of foreigners worked there as well.

• Read more about Finding “Gold” in INSEAD’s Abu Dhabi Campus Exchange

After nearly five years of working in an office environment at INSEAD, I’ve switched to working from home. Due to the COVID-19 situation, I knew it was the right decision but I’ve been surprised that letting go of working from the office would be so uncomfortable.

• Read more about Navigating Change and Ambiguity: Moving on Means Letting Go

As I write this, the 'circuit breaker' in Singapore has been extended to June 4, a big blow to the student and faculty morale. Invariably, this will be another post amongst the 1000’s detailing the disruption COVID-19 has caused albeit with a focus on leadership. Specifically, I will touch upon the ‘act’ aspect of leadership from my perspective of the faculty and students. Students

• Read more about A Call to Leaders