Is launching a business the best way to fulfill your purpose? Are you dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur, but you are too afraid of taking the risk?

• Read more about How to Overcome Your Fear of Becoming an Entrepreneur

When I thought about pursuing a Masters in Finance for the first time, I was working for a family-owned business in a regional role, responsible for the finance and administrative departments of different countries. Before that, I was working in Corporate roles at headquarters of German family-owned global players with different shorter stays abroad in different countries over the years, always with a focus on Accounting and Controlling.

• Read more about Takeaways From My Journey

I discovered the INSEAD Executive Master in Finance (EMFin) programme through my employer, Macquarie Bank. I interviewed past alumni at Macquarie and they all spoke very highly of the programme. Through INSEAD, they had gained the knowledge and skills to progress in their careers. I was also attracted by the global reputation of the EMFin. Although I have worked for two global investment banks, I have never worked outside the US, so I was excited for the opportunity to expand my exposure to global markets and the professionals in those markets.

• Read more about A Renewed Interest in Finance

One year ago, when I embarked on the INSEAD MBA, I thought I already knew everything about diversity. Nationalities, cultures, and genders – I thrive in environments with different kinds of people. Surely INSEAD’s environment would be no different. Confidently, I breezed through the school’s front doors on my first day. Little did I know that it was the start of a journey that would soon reveal my naivety about diversity.

• Read more about Things I Wish I Knew Before Joining INSEAD

Having gone through the 2008 financial crisis and now going through the COVID-19 crisis, I am convinced that one needs to adapt to fast-changing environments by acquiring new skills and challenging the status quo. Something that I strongly believe in, is that the Executive MBA (EMBA) programme at INSEAD will help me navigate not only this current crisis, but future ones as well. The programme will help me to develop the right mindset in order to anticipate and embrace changes in my industry and my work environment.

• Read more about Anticipating and Embracing Changes

When my husband, Nausherwan, got the acceptance call from INSEAD in March 2019, I felt a plethora of emotions. Ecstatic, because it meant that he would get to fulfill his MBA dream, which also brought a wonderful sense of pride and a buzz of excitement through my veins.

• Read more about Cheers To The Year That Was – From a ‘20J Partner

Very few industries have gone unaffected by the drastic changes that COVID-19 has laid upon the world in the past few months. Starting from shifting workplaces to shutting down vertical markets, most sectors have seen a loss in revenues, logistics, human resources, and infrastructure costs. Industry leaders have had to discontinue product lines, shut down retail stores, or send home hundreds of employees, all at an unprecedented rate.

• Read more about How Did COVID-19 Show Us the Path to a More Futuristic World?

For better or for worse, 2020 goes down in the history books as a watershed year. The global trade tensions, Hong Kong unrest, Black Lives Matter demonstrations, and of course, COVID-19 are set to alter the nature of work as we know it, and we are only half way through the year!

• Read more about Why I am Choosing to Do an EMFin This Year

Most religions in the world believe in one fundamental principle – ‘Do to others as you would like them to do to you.’ The so-called ‘Golden Rule’. For many years of my life, I was limited to understanding this principle in a narrow and local context.

• Read more about Together Apart: The Human Factor

I recently had the opportunity to discuss the value of an INSEAD Executive MBA (EMBA) with Rebecca Fountain of PWN Global – an organisation committed to advancing gender-balanced leadership in business, and a smart network for professional development. INSEAD has been partnering for a number of years with PWN, and it is an organisation we stand behind with full support. We discussed a whole range of themes, but if you’d like to jump to specific questions below is quick list:

• Read more about Developing Your Full Potential with INSEAD