End of INSEAD -- exiting and rewarding 10 months

So here I am – one year older, close to 500 cases wiser, and at least ?0,000 poorer. And yet somehow, there is something about being in INSEAD that has made me so much richer. It goes beyond the diploma I’ll receive to display my newly minted, hard-earned MBA. It goes back to that first day of orientation when hundreds of strangers from across the world piled into Amphi A with curiosities and aspirations, and found ourselves instantly linked by the same passion and a common experience that we were going to go through together. It is an experience equipped with a multitude of formals, team projects and competitions. It is an experience accompanied by study groups, teammates and friends. And it is an experience that has shaped us all, but in different ways.

With my memory flashed back to the time of August 2007, I realized how much I had been influenced and changed by this short experience of 10 months. It is difficult to pinpoint one or two key turning points. Nothing earth shattering took place. There is nothing earth shattering about meeting a new mate from a totally different background, getting to know a ‘new’ Guru in the Doriot library, learning about a new business, discovering a new way of thinking, being challenged by a new project and caught up in a heated discussion, or coloring the night of Fontainebleau with another brand new grand party… But somehow INSEAD has mingled these non-earth-shattering days and nights into a mind opening and shattering experience which has influenced me profoundly and will continue to influence me in the years to come.  

Someone used to ask me what INSEAD stands for. Today, I can say that for me it means ‘in the sea of diversity’, diversity in its programme content, in its people and culture, in the learning one could gain here. From day one, I have been learning about multiple business disciplines and getting exposure to a wide range of business topics. The broad exposure is one of the most appealing elements of the INSEAD MBA program. Its general management focus, the breadth and depth of topics covered in the courses benefited me greatly since my goal in school was to learn the most I could about how to solve a wide range of problems.

The brilliant and diversified individual is what I find to be INSEAD’s most valuable resource. Having students from almost every corner of the world and all different kind of backgrounds, INSEAD creates the best for learning through understanding and comprehending of difference. It is truly international and mind opening. Besides, most of my classmates have, on average, more than 5 years of working experiences prior to INSEAD. They brought valuable firsthand real-life examples and insights into all discussions, both inside and outside of the classrooms. The diversified environment has brought learning and reflection from all aspects, from business knowledge, to lifestyle and values.

If I recall my plan after graduation before stepping into INSEAD, it was to join a leading consulting company to devote myself to business with Chinese clients. Ultimately, I want to lead a world-class consulting team to help Chinese companies face international competition and to help build a fleet of world-class China-based multinationals. No doubt that the last 10 months at INSEAD was vital to my success of realizing my career aspiration. The environment here is supportive of gathering information, trying new things and taking risks. I know about more companies, more countries and more opportunities than I did before. It was with all these support that I reinforced my belief that management consulting is the right career path for me. By combining structured knowledge gained in INSEAD and the understanding of culture and management philosophy differences obtained from my previous work experiences, I will be able to help Chinese companies in developing business plan and assist in implementation and execution to bring them to success in the international market.

Finally, I have met lots of people with whom I will hold onto lifelong friendships. That is probably the most precious thing I will take away from INSEAD: the 82 section-mates around the world bounded by the INSEAD experience, the close group of friends I traveled with to Barcelona, the dedicated teammates that I stayed up with until 2 AM on a project, and the people with whom I am going to share mutual congratulations at graduation.

Approaching the graduation day, here I am, after the past ten months which have been mind opening and humbling, feeling extremely honored and grateful to have had such a terrific opportunity to be a member of INSEAD for learning of lifetime. I don't really know where the next path in life is going to lead me. But I believe in my heart that I can meet whatever comes my way head on, with the memory, strength, confidence and friendship the past ten months have given me.

用中文写会好读一点。

恭喜楼主。

Thank you all for the nice and warm words.

Back to Huafen's question, I will join one of the top MC companies in its Shanghai office.

Wish you all good luck!

K

not sure if it is you who text me on how to get to Insead campus, but anyway, congratulations for the graduation.

It is really a nice community of the insead campus.Yes, i've been there last Fri., fortunately to meet some guys, who join the MBA program in 1978 and back to campus for the reunoin.

Good luck