Meryem Belqziz Nationality: Moroccan, French Job prior to INSEAD: Senior Manager, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corproation Europe,

France What motivated you to pursue an MBA? I was at a point in my career where I was becoming too much of a banking specialist, and in the long run I also knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. In the short term I wanted some consulting experience to get a more strategic view of business. I was also looking for personal as well as professional experiences. Lastly, it was important for us to live as a family (my husband, baby son and myself) in an international environment. Why did you choose to attend INSEAD? It wasnt just about meeting international people, but also about gaining diverse perspectives on business. My husband and I once considered going on a world tour - but this is better! Diversity is subtle and powerful, but not easy. I came to INSEAD to question my own beliefs and to learn to manage working relationships with others at the same time. Thats what companies are looking for too: people who will adapt wherever they send them, citizens of the world. What do you think an INSEAD MBA gives you that other MBAs don't? It matters a lot that its a one-year programme. Since the crisis, the world is changing so fast that its more important than ever not to be out of the job market for too long, and the intensity of the programme teaches you how to cope with a fast-paced career. Learning to prioritise and work efficiently is essential to achieving work-life balance, which is something very important to our generation. How would you describe the classroom or learning experience? Diversity is the key again. In subjects like organisational behaviour or business ethics, we learn a lot through debating and listening. Even in a course like accounting, were exposed to examples from all over the world and many different sectors. I did business for my first degree but this is something completely different and much more practical. Describe how working in a group has contributed to the overall experience It was one of the main reasons I came here - and its even better than I expected. In my group theres a British guy with an Indian background, an American woman with a Chinese background, a Malaysian guy, an Israeli guy -and me, a Moroccan woman, who has lived in France, the UK and Spain. What career do you plan to pursue after graduating and how do you

think INSEAD has or will help you achieve this? In the short term, I plan to go into consulting, preferably back in Morocco, so that I can give something back to my country. And INSEAD is perfect for this. The emphasis on case studies and a broad, integrated approach to business explains why INSEAD is so well regarded by consulting recruiters. What is the key thing you will take away from INSEAD when you leave? Above all, sharpened business acumen and curiosity about the world, and an even greater awareness of global diversity. I learn all day every day, even at lunch. Can you share you experience on being a parent in the programme? I became a parent shortly before I arrived at INSEAD ... and it's been fine, thanks to the support of my husband and INSEAD. My husband is taking parental leave from his job in Paris - and Fontainebleau and Singapore have been great environments with a child. Kamm Kartchner Nationality: American Jobs prior to INSEAD: Territory Business Manager, Johnson & Johnson; Founder & CEO of Kartchner Brothers Inc. (family business) USA What motivated you to pursue an MBA? My primary motivation for pursuing an MBA was to expand my professional network. As an entrepreneur, having a broad and influential network can be the key to failure or success. Why did you choose to attend INSEAD? I chose INSEAD for three reasons. First, for the strength and breadth of the alumni network. I have an entrepreneurial past and am pursuing an internationally entrepreneurial future, and I wanted to be a part of a worldwide network that wouldn't confine me to a limited geography. This brings me to my second reason, which is that INSEAD is one of the few truly international MBA programs in the world. Many claim to have an international focus, but it is incomparable to the INSEAD experience. Third reason for me was the fact that INSEAD is a one year MBA program. As a husband and father of 3 children, the opportunity cost of two years as opposed to one really adds up. I'm also accustomed to working with very limited time constraints, and I think the one-year MBA program offers a better real-world experience. How would you describe the classroom or learning experience? I find that the learning experience is one of the most effective I've ever had in a school environment, perhaps because it's less like a school

environment than it is a corporate environment. The program is very intense as a result of the shorter timeframe - much of the content of a two year MBA is covered by INSEAD students in their courses. Learning from the books is part of the experience, but an equally important part for me is learning about balance. Because the program is condensed, I don't have time to read every text or participate in every activity while at INSEAD, and I'm learning to identify where I will get the maximum benefit for my invested time, both in class and beyond. What career do you plan to pursue after graduating and how do you think INSEAD has or will help you achieve this? I will pursue an entrepreneurial career after graduation. The entrepreneurship department at INSEAD offers more electives than any other department. INSEAD offers more entrepreneurial electives than most any business school in the world. What is the key thing you will take away from INSEAD when you leave? The key thing I will take away from INSEAD is the relationship that I have forged with my classmates. Can you share your experience on being a parent in the programme and if & how was INSEAD supportive? I am a husband and father of three. I started the program with two children; the third was born during P3 in Singapore. The support program for partners and families at INSEAD has been a lifesaver for my wife and kids. First, the Student Life department does an excellent job of helping navigate health exams, VISA appointments, and the paperwork that goes along with it. I couldn't have figured it all out without their help. It's also very nice that partners and children are welcome on campus; each campus has a family room where partners can bring the kids in to play. I am often able to eat lunch with my family or just catch them for a few minutes in between classes. And, as I am usually terribly busy with coursework, the partner network has given my wife an instant network of friends with whom she can relate. How did receiving a scholarship enable you to attend the programme? Because I'm supporting a fairly large family, I decided that doing a period in Singapore would be too difficult and too costly. I was fortunate enough to be chosen to receive the L'Oreal Scholarship. Receiving this scholarship solved the financial issues, which made it possible for me to spend a period in Singapore. Carmen Cucul Nationality: Romanian Job prior to INSEAD: Programme Director, NonGovernmental Organisation, Romania What motivated you to pursue an MBA? I had been considering doing an MBA ever since I graduated from university, five years ago. I have always been passionate thinking about

the world and the role I can play in it as a future global leader. As I didnt want to pursue an MBA as a fresh graduate, I focused my energy towards the not-for-profit sector first. In 2010, after five years of experience, I felt prepared for my next step in the journey and I applied for my MBA. Why did you choose to attend INSEAD? The decision to pursue an MBA and the choice of INSEAD happened simultaneously in my case. Five years ago I attended a student conference in Germany and one of the speakers was Chan Kim, the coauthor of Blue Ocean Strategy. I was impressed by the depth of the theory and the overall quality of his keynote and I realized then and there that this was the standard I wanted to achieve as a future global leader. The rest was just a matter of time. What do you think an INSEAD MBA gives you that other MBA's don't? Prior to joining INSEAD I valued it mainly in terms of academic rigor. While classroom learning is still very important, I have discovered the unique essence of the programme: it is a lifetime, leadership development experience, a combination of learning, sharing, daring, mistaking and trying again. It provides you with the perfect setup to experiment with things you never thought of for yourself, from simple rock climbing to (in my case) representing the entire student body in relationship with its major stakeholders. After one year at INSEAD I would argue that one cannot be the same as before. How would you describe the classroom or learning experience? Learning at INSEAD is an integrated process with classes, group assignments, conferences, business simulations, independent study projects, electronic resources and many others at your disposal. The curriculum is crafted to lead you naturally from basic quantitative methods (P1) to insights into corporate life (P2), then broadens up your perspectives about global systems (P3) while concurrently allowing you to pursue your own learning path (P3-P5). I personally found the entrepreneurship and strategy electives to be highly useful for my desired future career. Describe how working in a group contributed to the overall experience In my Singapore batch there were over 200 students of more than 80 nationalities with 4 to 10 years of professional experience in virtually all industry sectors. Such a diversity of cultures, backgrounds and personalities is hard to find outside INSEAD. To me, this is the most effective way one can get a true flavor of the world, not to mention the high chances of having someone in your group that had past experiences useful for the assignments. On a personal level, I found it particularly revealing to work and discuss with colleagues from the pharmaceutical industry, the sector I want to join after graduation. I also appreciated the diverse views of my group mates: consultants, bankers, government experts, corporate leaders and entrepreneurs ... Brazilians, Swiss, Israeli, Russians, Indians, Canadians,

Singaporeans and French on issues such as business ethics or market entry strategies. What career do you plan to pursue after graduating and how do you think INSEAD has or will help you achieve this? I intend to change all three pillars of my career: geography, function and industry. I used to lead a professional association in Romania and I am currently preparing my debut into the pharmaceutical industry through a rotational leadership development program. I have found a summer internship in the field with the help of INSEAD Career Services and I anticipate the same for my full-time placement. My colleagues from the pharmaceutical industry were an invaluable source of information about the real life in the sector and what I can expect once there. Last but not least, I got in touch with industry leaders through INSEAD`s Healthcare Club initiatives: they organised company presentations, career treks and a Pharma CV book that were very helpful. What is the key thing you will take away from INSEAD when you leave? Definitely a more confident, can-do attitude and the practice of walking the extra mile. Student Profile - Genti Miho Genti Miho worked with UNICEF from November 2005 until the end of Dec 2006. A humanitarian worker who had worked in emergency, war and disaster-struck zones with UN, CARE and Air Serv, Genti took some time out to share some of his experiences with INDEVOR. UNICEF is the largest humanitarian presence in Somalia and works with partners and communities to further the protection, survival and development of children and women. Some of the humanitarian assistance includes providing access to safe water which 65% of the population does not have, construction of primary schools, where most children cant go to primary school, vaccinations, food for people who are malnourished and advocacy for their protection in a country where 23 children out of every 100 will not make it beyond their 5th birthday. Genti was responsible for operations in Somaliland (self-declared republic since 1990, not recognized by the international community, commonly referred to as the North-West Zone of Somalia). In a day he could work on a campaign for the polio immunization of children, coordinating the distribution of relief supplies in response to floods or negotiate rates on cash transfers and make sure the financial controls are in place for the cash delivery to remote areas. He feels privileged to have worked with some of the most independent-minded, professional and dedicated people. Genti says I often found myself in situations that did not make sense and were out of the range of probability. When the impossible was the norm, I learned to increase my awareness of the environment and fast-

paced events rather than ask why or say this is impossible. In contrast to the business world where a well-thought out plan, boosted with a lot of confidence and determination to stick to it can be an asset and where there is no right or wrong answer, the biggest asset in Somalia for me was to manage change in a completely unknown territory. Regardless of the circumstances, my prime aim had to be to get the aid to people immediately, not just as quickly as possible. Sometimes you take the time to think more, or you face the consequences. Other times you may have to decide in a matter of seconds so you rely on your intuition, which you can never explain. You may need to work with a civil engineer and must understand the soil mixture of the ground before building a school or a mechanical engineer to ensure the repair of generators. You have to take time to listen, understand and think thoroughly, otherwise you face the consequences. For example, if the generator fails and the computers burn out, you have to take responsibility even if it is not your field of expertise. Everyday is completely different and you cant take anything for granted. This is a clich, but you have to love what you do. It can be stressful for some people, but exciting for others. When you travel on river beds and do not see a road for dozens of kilometres and stop because you are lost and the satellite phone does not work, believe it or not, it can actually bring out the best in you. Genti describes how some of the places he went to were like the world of 500 years ago, like in the movies or what I read in books, where there are no tourists. On the semi-desert, if you are lucky, you will meet a nomad with two wives who gives you some camel milk and shows you the right way to go. I often felt like one of the last explorers, if there are any left. Genti says his experience made him enjoy life more and worry less. On the other hand, he is more philosophical and sombre about life when in France, compared to when he was in Somalia. As we speak, there are people dying who could live. We have to do more. The business world has to do more. It has to gain a better understanding of the people in need and the environment where the humanitarian work takes place. The humanitarian world and business world need to meet. The humanitarian world needs to put a human face on the statistics, the efficiency, and the accountability of the business world.