In September 2020, a group of almost 300 young men and women met for the first time on the doorstep of INSEAD's campus in the gorgeous town of Fontainebleau, France. With excitement reserved for first graders, we started exploring the bustling diversity of people who flew from all over the world and more than 60 countries to spend one year in a place that will shape and change their lives forever. As I received my diploma and became an INSEAD alumnus, I tried to think what is that one takeaway from this year?

• Read more about We Are Not the Future. We Are the Present!

• Read more about Viewpoints - Naomi Geita

• Read more about Viewpoints - Toru Nanami

Nationality: Filipino  Year Graduated: 2021 "I believe INSEAD is a wonderful holistic experience highly driven by a very important value: DIVERSITY. I am constantly evolving in ways that surprise me through the stories I hear and the connections I make in this community."

• Read more about Viewpoints - Broderic Dytoc

If I once imagined INSEAD’s academic courses to be intense, I must admit that learning by doing real-life projects is an even more demanding endeavour, but the learning and fulfilment is absolutely phenomenal.

• Read more about Venturing Outside the INSEAD ‘Bubble’ Through an Independent Study Project

What is the difference between diagnosing a dog’s health issue and offering a strategic solution in an MBA class? How can a former veterinarian doctor leverage her previous medical skills and knowledge as strong foundations to thrive in business? Those questions may seem odd.

• Read more about How a Veterinarian Applied Her Skills in Business School

Leadership is both science and art. It is so intangible and abstract just like the air, yet such an incredibly critical force that holds ambitious endeavours together like gravity.  Learnings about leadership are so embedded in the INSEAD experience that when I reflect back on my one-year MBA journey, I feel pleasantly surprised by the new leadership wisdom and capability I have developed.

• Read more about Becoming a Leader in the Supportive Environment of INSEAD

A friend’s daughter was getting moved into a more prominent role in the crisis at her accounting firm. In her early 20s, a bit nervous about the new role, I wrote her an email with five concepts she could be mindful of to make an impact as a newly minted leader. These tips are from the email that I’m sharing here after removing the personal details. If you are moving from manager to leadership, let me know if these tips resonate. If you are already a leader, what would you add to this list for a newbie? Be Worldly

• Read more about 5 Ways You Can Move From Being a Manager to a Leader During Crisis

I am a Vice President of the Private Infrastructure Asia Pacific Investment team for Partners Group. I was motivated to pursue the Executive Master in Finance (EMFin) programme because I wanted to equip myself with the knowledge and experience to be able to drive my firm's infrastructure investment in Asia in the future. I was drawn to INSEAD's small classroom interactions where faculty and participants could spend hours debating and talking about business issues and how each of us may approach the same issue differently because of our diverse backgrounds.

• Read more about Light Bulb Moments During the EMFin

As a Chinese student, I looked forward to INSEAD Chinese Cultural Week as an opportunity to showcase the highlights and joy of my culture with classmates from all around the world. After an intensive week full of cultural and educational activities, genuine discussion and much fun and laughter, I realised that the experience helped me to connect deeper with my Chinese roots and see my own culture from a new perspective.

• Read more about Connecting With My Chinese Roots at INSEAD