In The Know by INSEAD

By joining the INSEAD MBA, you choose academic excellence, a rich diverse community and extracurricular opportunities to enhance your overall student experience. As the world's future leaders, why not leverage these opportunities and hone your leadership skills by taking on an impactful leadership position? 

For example, be the voice of your section as a class representative, be a member of a club management team for one of the 40+ clubs, help recruit for future MBA intakes as a student ambassador, or represent and advocate for the student body as a whole by being part of the student council. 

So what exactly do these different roles involve? What impact can you make and what is some advice on balancing your busy student life with these responsibilities? In this podcast episode hosts Angela and Eva speak to two students from the MBA'23J cohort to learn more. 

Welcome to another episode of "Unlocking Career Opportunities with INSEAD Employer Engagement." Join us as we uncover more about the Career Development Centres Employer Engagement teams with the team Global Directors Zeynep Fouret and Henrik Jonson. We discuss the team's unique advantages including connecting students with local champions and global companies. Discover how the employee engagement team facilitates student-professional networking and the diverse types of engagements available with companies. Furthermore, we'll delve into the flexibility and timelines for joining Insead's clubs and the invaluable resource of its extensive alumni network. 

Our Guests

Zeynep Flouret Zeynep is a former M&A and project finance lawyer, Certified career coach, Financial services recruitment specialist, and diversity and inclusion champion. Zeynep is Passionate about leadership development, talent development, executive coaching, interview preparation, cross-cultural awareness training, and recruitment of future leaders. Henrik Jonson Henrik is a Business Development Strategist with 15 years of experience expanding territories and building client relationships across a variety of industries. Henrik has an extensive understanding of Education Management and business environment which has translated directly into new and add-­on business.

Content Covered

1. What is the purpose of the employer engagement team?
2. We are going to dive into the sector advisors in the next episodes. Can you describe the structure of the team? 
3. How does the CDC help students network and connect with professionals in their desired industries?
4. "What are the most effective ways to stay informed about the evolving needs and expectations of employers, and how can individuals proactively develop the skills and qualities that are in high demand?

In today's rapidly evolving world, where technological advancements and shifting global landscapes continuously reshape industries, the concept of lifelong learning has emerged as a beacon of success. Embracing a mindset of constant growth and intellectual curiosity, individuals actively engage in lifelong learning and position themselves for remarkable career advantages. This transformative approach to education not only fosters adaptability and resilience, but also opens doors to new opportunities, enhances professional competence, and cultivates a deeper understanding of the intricacies within one's chosen field. By embracing the philosophy of lifelong learning, individuals can navigate the ever-changing professional landscape with confidence, agility, and the unwavering ability to seize the future's boundless prospects.

Welcome to episode two of our INSEAD Career Development Centre mini-series. Join us as we explore the lifelong career management skills imparted by the CDC, as well as how the centre helps high-potential talent navigate the job market and identify suitable career options.

In today's episode, we delve into the world of lifelong learning and its indispensable role in shaping successful career journeys. We are joined by Larry Medina, the Director of Career Coaching and Education at INSEAD, joining us as our special guest. Larry will share invaluable insights on how INSEAD cultivates impactful learning experiences for their vibrant community, ensuring continuous growth and development. As we embark on this enlightening conversation, we will explore the strategies to embrace lifelong learning at any stage of one's professional journey and discover how it propels individuals towards their desired career objectives. Furthermore, we will unravel the secrets of navigating the twists and turns in the ever-evolving business landscape, all while upholding the principles of global citizenship and making a positive impact on the world.

Our Guest Larry Medina

Larry is the Director of Career Coaching and Education at INSEAD and a seasoned professional in Student Services, Finance, Human Resources, Accounting and Operations, with 30 years of professional experience in Asia (19 years), North America and Europe. Larry is passionate about helping others reach their career aspirations through hundreds of 1-on-1 sessions and career development workshops.

Timestamp

1:43 - What does the CDC do to ensure INSEAD continues to offer impactful learning experiences for the INSEAD community?

3:52 - What are the different populations at INSEAD and how do their career journeys differ?

6:53 - What are some effective strategies for continually learning and growing in your career, no matter what stage you're at in your professional journey?

10:37 - How can one navigate the various twists and turns in their career journey, and continually embrace the idea of lifelong learning, to eventually achieve their desired end goal or career objective?

12:32 - Is career progression for everybody?

13:35 - What steps can one take to build a successful career while embracing the principles of global citizenship and positively impacting the world?

Partners play a crucial role in the MBA experience, providing support, encouragement, and a listening ear throughout the intense and challenging program. They are often the unsung heroes behind the success of MBA students, offering a sense of stability and perspective during a time of significant personal and professional growth. From relocating to a new country to managing a household, partners have to navigate a unique set of challenges while supporting their significant other in pursuit of their academic and career goals. In this context, understanding the partner experience and providing support to partners is essential for the INSEAD MBA to cultivate a supportive and inclusive community. This episode discusses the experiences of a partner at INSEAD, a business school with campuses in Europe and Asia. Our guest Helen Willis shares her excitement about her partner's acceptance to INSEAD, and discusses her own decision to join him in Singapore. Helen provides advice for partners who are working remotely, including the importance of having a purpose and setting aside sacred time. The episode also highlights the support provided by INSEAD to partners, the responsibilities of a partner representative and the initiatives they organise. Helen also shares her favourite memory at INSEAD and summarises her overall experience in three words or less. Our guests: 

Dr. Helen Willis (Cognitive neuroscientist and an MBA'23J Partner) 

Our hosts: 

Angela Rachel (Student Life Officer, INSEAD Degree Programmes) 

Eva Laporte (Student Life Officer, INSEAD Degree Programmes) 

Timestamp:

 

01:15 - About the guest and her background 

01:45 - How did you feel about your student partner's acceptance to INSEAD?

02:35 – Decision to accompany Student partner to INSEAD 

04:13 – The INSEAD Partner experience

05:30 – How INSEAD fosters the community spirit among partners 

07:00 – Advice for Partners who may be juggling work

10:22 – INSEAD resources that are useful for personal and professional development 

11:55  – Advice for partners to maximize their time on and outside of INSEAD

13:40  – Opportunities and responsibilities of a Partner representative

16:20  – Favorite memory at INSEAD

Episode 1 - Unlocking Career Opportunities with the INSEAD Employer Engagement Team

Welcome to a new special edition series of In The Know. In this series, we will take you behind the scenes of one of the world's leading business schools, and its Career Development Centre (CDC). Join us as we explore the lifelong career management skills imparted by the CDC, as well as how the centre helps high-potential talent navigate the job market and identify suitable career options.

Today we speak with Rhoda Yap, the Global Director of the INSEAD CDC, who will give us insights into the role of the CDC and the responsibilities of the centre's career coaches, employee engagement specialists, and operations team.

But that's not all - over the next 12 months, we will be delving into the world of employee engagement, featuring the team, individually and collectively, to focus on the different sectors they cover. We will also explore how they interact with the market and recruiters to gain knowledge and provide opportunities for INSEAD students and alumni.

So, whether you're a student looking to kickstart your career, a recent graduate navigating the job market, or an employer looking to build relationships with top talent, this podcast series has something for everyone. If you are interested in hearing from the INSEAD Employer Engagement team as they discuss best practices, trends, and strategies for career development and employer engagement, then this series is for you. Join us as we uncover the secrets of career success and the value that the INSEAD CDC brings to the world of business.

Episode 1 - Rhoda Yap

0:12 - Join us as we explore the lifelong career management skills imparted by the CDC

2:21 - Introducing our guest, Rhoda Yap 

3:05 - What is the INSEAD Career Development Centre (CDC)?

6:50 - What kind of relationships and partnerships does the INSEAD CDC have with employers and recruiters in order to provide students and alumni with job opportunities?

9:25 - What can listeners expect to learn from the Employer engagement team?

INSEAD is one of the world's top business schools, known for its global reach, the diversity of its student body, and rigorous academic programs. And when it comes to preparing students for a career in consulting, INSEAD is second to none. From its strong connections with top consulting firms to its innovative courses and hands-on projects, INSEAD provides students with a comprehensive education that gives them the skills, experience, and connections they need to succeed in this competitive field. In this podcast, we'll hear from The career development centres resident consulting expert and a current sponsored MBA student from Strategy& who will share their insights on what makes INSEAD a top destination for aspiring consultants.

Guests: 

Stephane Ponce

Stephane is an experienced professional in the fields of partnership development, talent acquisition, talent development, campus recruitment, business advisory services, coaching and training. Stephane works with professionals around the world from a young high potential from our new Master in Management programme to the Managing Director of a reputed global organization.

Walid Haddad

Walid is an MBA’23J and consultant with Strategy&. Walid with other consultants including Johan, Virginia, Simon, Kevin, Tim and others have been working with the Consulting Club, joined forces with the INSEAD Consulting Club to create a mentor-mentee platform, by reaching out to all the consultants in their cohorts and try to match the consultants with mentees wanting to apply to consulting . Now, they are trying to standardize this matching system within a peer-to-peer learning system and include it in INSEAD’s current platforms. Timestamp: 0:01 - Waleed and Stefan’s Introduction. 2:57 - What inspired you to get into consulting? 8:39 - What is the difference between a good consultant and a good listener? 14:48 - Who are the major players in the consulting industry? 20:22 - What happens if there is a change in the market. 25:07 - How do you approach problem solving in the industry? What role does critical thinking play? 28:26 - How to prepare yourself for a career in consulting. 34:17 - How would you describe consulting to someone who has never heard of it before? 40:05 - What’s the future of consulting? 43:40 - Why Insead’s MBA programme is unique.

Committing to ongoing professional development is crucial for executives looking to thrive in today's rapidly changing business landscape. Without a dedication to personal growth, leaders risk falling behind their peers and becoming obsolete. To stay ahead of the competition, executives must stay informed about current trends, technologies, and best practices. In this episode, we're joined by Mike Wort, Assistant Director of Executive Career Development and Career Coach on the Europe Campus, to discuss the importance of investing in executive career development and the potential long-term rewards it can bring.

Our Guest

Mike Wort has made multiple career changes to his work countries, sectors, and functional roles and has worked with INSEAD for 10 years.

Mike holds a Certificate for Coaching for Leadership and Professional Development from the Tavistock Institute in London, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and BA in International Business and French. He is also an INSEAD alumnus having graduated from INSEAD’s Management Acceleration programme in 2018. 

The business world is often associated with stress and anxiety, but there is an increasing interest in mindfulness as a way to promote well-being in the workplace.

Mindfulness is about being present in the moment and paying attention to your thoughts and feelings without judgment. It can help you cope with stress, boost your concentration, and improve decision-making. There is evidence that mindfulness can be beneficial for both individuals and businesses.

For businesses, mindfulness can improve employee productivity and engagement. In addition, mindful companies are more likely to be creative and adaptable, traits that are essential in today's ever-changing marketplace. As more businesses begin to adopt mindfulness practices, it is clear that this ancient tradition can offer modern companies a competitive edge.

Listen on your favourite platform

   

Our guests:

Joa Scetbon  (Mindfulness Facilitator, INSEAD Psychological Services)

 

Our hosts:

Angela Rachel (Student Life Officer, INSEAD Degree Programmes)

Eva Laporte (Student Life Officer, INSEAD Degree Programmes)

 

Resources:

INSEAD Psychological Services

INSEAD has an international team of psychologists to work with students, staff and faculty in times of personal challenge or crisis. We offer individual and couple consultations, as well as Mindfulness groups, on the Fontainebleau and Singapore campuses. We also run workshops on various psychological issues for MBA students.

We work both in-person and remotely.

Appointments are completely confidential and free of charge.

 

Timestamp:

01:10 - About the guests and role at INSEAD Psychological Services

01:45 - What is Mindfulness, and why is it important to practice this in our daily lives 

05:55 - The difference between mindfulness and meditation, and some common misconceptions

09:38 - Common themes and why students and staff attend the mindfulness sessions at INSEAD

11:30 - How to adopt mindfulness practices in your personal and/or professional lives

13:26 - Practical ways to apply these practices to your life

18:35 - Benefits of learning mindfulness practices in person or workshops as compared to via digital apps

22:30 - Takeaway tips for those thinking of starting their mindfulness journeys, and sustaining these practices

In today's business world, it's more important than ever to have a strong online presence. One of the best ways to achieve this is through the use of NFTs, or non-fungible tokens. NFTs are unique digital assets that can be used to represent anything from ownership of a piece of digital art to a stake in a company. NFTs can be bought and sold like any other asset, making them a valuable addition to any business's portfolio.

Businesses are embracing this new technology and it will only become more essential to the way we do business in future. MBA students are looking to take advantage of their year here by creating knowledge, experimenting with technologies like blockchain and building networks of key movers in the technology.

Today we discuss The Savvy Salamander Study Club (SSSC), founded by five MBA friends and INSEAD looking to explore the intersection among fundraising, education and tech. The club vows that 100% of the net NFT sales will be spent on scholarships and the building of SSSC.

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Our Guests

Alex Berghofen, MBA'07D

Alex is a former McKinsey Consultant with 22 years’ experience. He now wears three hats: he runs an executive search firm, does HR consulting, and is a career coach.

He has 12 years' experience in placing Chief Strategy Officers and other C-Suite roles where a top-tier consulting background is critical. Alex focuses on high-impact roles where the risk of making the wrong hire is big. He helps companies improve their HR and esp. talent acquisition processes. He offers interim management, benchmarking, salary surveys, HR diagnostic and transformation. He is passionate about improving the candidate experience. He also offers outplacement services for senior staff.

Outside of work, he trades options, dances salsa and bachata and loves to try exotic foods. He tweets about crypto and blockchain topics.

Ferdinand Issels, MBA'22J

Ferdinand manages Government Affairs and Comms for Helsing, one of Europe’s fastest-growing tech companies in new defence. In previous roles, he has led communications and marketing for two of Germany’s most prominent industry associations (BDI, VDA) and rebuilt the brand of Europe’s largest automotive and mobility fair (IAA).

Together with Joning Lee, Jack Ni, Michelle Yu and Rodrigo Pérez Antolin (all MBA 22Js), Ferdinand co-founded the NFT club on campus. After the INSEAD MBA Programme, he moved back to Berlin where he enjoys his spare time with his wife and two-year old son.

Oktawian Zajac, MBA'09D

Oktawian is Head of BCG in Poland. He is an experienced international leader specialising in transformations and large-scale value improvement programmes across industries. He has helped leading players substantially improve their bottom line and accelerate growth across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas leveraging innovative approaches and cutting-edge technology and advanced analytics. Oktawian is the author of several innovative strategies and tools for improving the resilience and adaptability of companies in volatile market situations and highly competitive environments. Oktawian is also a husband, father of two, and motorsport and racing enthusiast.

The Savvy Salamander Study Club (SSSC)

SSSC is a collection of unique generative collectibles bred on the Ethereum blockchain. The club is a community of crypto pioneers that look to connect, explore, and shape the future of crypto and tokens while doing good. 100% of the net NFT sale will be spent on INSEAD scholarships and the building of SSSC. The Salamander NFTs work as a token for club membership that will grant access to member-only events and networks.

Resources

NFTs as a Force for Good: The Case of the Savvy Salamanders

A recent article on INSEAD Knowledge on How a group of MBA students built a community of crypto pioneers and a unique approach to fundraising. 

digital@INSEAD

Leveraging our team of leading academics researchers, corporate partners and global alumni network, digital@INSEAD probes this rapidly evolving space and offers insights, strategies, and value for individuals and businesses to thrive in today’s digital age.

INSEAD's Digital Programmes

Read more on INSEAD Master, Executive as well as Open and Customised Online programmes 

Web3 projects by INSEAD MBAs include:

• thallo.io (Hayley Möller) 
• altr_ (Jessie Fu)

Messari: Crypto Research, Data, and Tools

Gain an edge over the crypto market with professional-grade data, tools, and research.

DigitalBCG

BCG recognise that solving the world's biggest problems requires instinct and imagination. They are building the future of business by bringing together a broad set of data, digital, and technology capabilities.

 

Timestamp

2:26 - Tell us a little more about yourself, how did you get to where you are in your career today?

7:43 - Can you share one of your proudest career achievements with us?

11:57 - Can you describe the way you have been able to interact with the INSEAD network to help embrace the opportunities offered by blockchain?

13:48 - What are NFTs to you and what has been your experience with them to date?

17:45 - Can you tell us how the SSSC came to be and can you describe the moment that you and the team decided to make the club a reality?

24:23 - Introducing the Salamander NFTs and their function as tokens for club membership and the benefits of joining INSEAD’s crypto family.

28:56 - Can you outline how the net NFT sale will be spent on scholarships and the building of SSSC?

34:50 - On the topic of investments, what is the most meaningful investment you have made in the last year?

38:25 - How can businesses and individuals use NFTs to their advantage?

44:44 - What resources can you share with listeners who want to know more about the blockchain and NFTs?

INSEAD Student clubs are run by students and supported by the school. They play a vital role in the student experience.

Our clubs cover a broad range of topics from Professional, Social to Sports. A large proportion of the student population is honing their leadership skills by being the management team of clubs. There are 40+ clubs at INSEAD. 

Campus activities or on-line events are organised by MBA student clubs and help to sharpen your leadership skills and enable you to explore and pursue new interests or old passions by becoming a member.

Professional clubs 

A wide range of student-run professional clubs works closely with the INSEAD Student Life department and the INSEAD Career Development Centre. They organise regular networking and speaker events on campus, as well as webinars, competitions or "career treks" further afield. Some of the larger clubs also organise prominent annual forums and conferences, like the Private Equity Conference, the Women in Business Conference and the Global Luxury Forum. 

Non-Professional clubs

In addition to our gyms offering regular fitness classes on both campuses (and the squash court in France), we have many clubs offering a wide variety of sports and leisure activities to network and enable you to pick up valuable new skills. There are also opportunities to represent INSEAD at inter-business-school events, such as the MBA Regatta and the MBA Golf Challenge.

Our guests:

Amanda Michel (co-president of the INSEAD Women in Business Club)

Matt Disher (co-president of the INSEAD Football club)

Timestamp:

01:30 - About the guests and their career backgrounds

03:10 - Decision and motivation to pursue a particular club

05:20 - Becoming a club leader, including process and timelines.

08:00 - Important considerations when becoming a club leader and challenges 10:35 - Time management tips

13:20 - Benefits of joining a club and being an active member 16:25 - Key events organized and important takeaways

19:47 - Working with Alumni and types of support from the alumni network

22:08 - Collaborating with other participants (MIMs and GEMBAs)

25:00 - Collaborating with departments within INSEAD and types of support (I.e. Student Life, CDC, Centres of excellence) 27:35 - Describe your experience as a club leader