As a 21J, having recently started my core courses at INSEAD, there is no question that we are learning how digital has had a profound impact on business. You only have to look at the companies that are surviving and thriving in the COVID pandemic to understand the power of digital strength on a company’s fortunes.

• Read more about Learning the Language of Digital, Fast

“Never again,” I told myself after the lockdown restrictions were lifted in Antwerp, Belgium, where I had been residing for the last three years. Never again did I want to live all alone in an apartment for weeks on end (felt like years) in isolation. I could practically see the wrinkles forming under my eyes each day as I woke up at 6:30am, worked out in my living room, showered and was on video calls starting at 8:30am for the rest of the day.

• Read more about Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice: Shared Housing Provides the Ultimate INSEAD Experience.

I have long heard that Fontainebleau is the most popular bouldering destination in the world and a must visit place for every climber, and that bouldering is very popular amongst INSEAD students. Although I've never tried, I feel that my MBA journey at INSEAD is very much about trying new experiences and discovering new adventures. My classmate Patrick gave me a bouldering lesson at the Karma Salle d'Escalade Fontainebleau, I learnt so much, and really look forward to venturing out into the forest soon!

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INSEAD MBA students are allocated into study groups, so that we may learn from each other, strengthen our teamwork skills, and use our collective intelligence to reach new heights. Study groups are a little like families - we sit together in class everyday, complete a significant amount of assignment together, and coach each other in our Personal Leadership Development Programme (PLDP) programme.

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Fontainebleau has many shared houses for INSEAD MBA students. I live at Club 16, which is right at the heart of Fontainebleau and 15 mins walk to INSEAD. My housemates are all very international and fun to be with, we love sharing our experiences and learning about each other's cultures. The great kitchen and dining rooms at Club 16 means we often cook and eat together, and invite over other classmates. Shared houses provide the perfect environment for us to strengthen our friendships and have fun!

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• Read more about Barbizon, Painter's Village

Before I came to INSEAD, I thought career planning was about perfecting your CV, cover letter, Linkedin profile and cracking interviews. I was wrong. During launch week, we learned that our career choices are deeply rooted within our values, beliefs, past experiences, aspirations and dreams. 

• Read more about Career Reflection Through 10 Pictures

Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunion in the Chinese culture. It is a particularly emotional time for me, as I miss my dear family very much. However, this year is special, because I celebrated it with my dear classmates in Fonty. We ate Chinese traditional food, including spicy hot pot and moon cakes! We admired the beautiful moon together, just like we would do every year on mid-autumn festival day at home! With so much warmth and joy, I'm so glad to have found a home away from home in Fonty!

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When I first talked to my husband about pursuing an Executive MBA, it was Autumn 2019. It was not a project; it was an idea thrown in a discussion, an unattainable dream.  My husband did some research and sent me tons of information to investigate the possibilities of an EMBA. Without him having taken this initiative, I would still have been at the “dream stage”. 

• Read more about An Intense Experience Even Before the Start of the Programme

My INSEAD journey started 12 months ago when I attended an information session conducted at the Singapore campus. My motivation at the time was to evaluate whether a Master's degree would help be a catalyst for my career. The obvious choice was the renowned Global Executive MBA programme, commonly known to INSEADers as the GEMBA, and the session really cemented for me the answer to the question – Why INSEAD?

• Read more about My INSEAD EMFin Journey