INSEAD information session - 8 June 2007

Just returned from INSEAD information session.

The best part of the formal information session was a Case Discussion by Professor Paddy Padmanabhan, INSEAD’s Chaired Professor of Marketing. We had a case discussion which gave us a glimpse of how a typical class would be conducted. Learning in a mind-stimulating process in itself is truly enjoyable. Of course, it could be very stressful when one is loaded with hours and days of it, and I have to learn to fight for more airtime should I eventually enroll into the program.

The friendly students really made the interaction enjoyable. It’s heartwarming to meet people who enthusiastically share their experiences because of their conviction that INSEAD is the best investment.

Here’s my summary after the session of why INSEAD could be the ONE ?
There is no right or wrong. Simply a matter of whether it matches what one looks for.

- 85% of an usual 2-year top MBA program is condensed into a 10-month program, allowing the student to return to the workforce quickly
- Could be a good demonstration of your competency and willingness to work hard since you either compromise on extra-curricular activity or sleeping hour
- Financial opportunity cost is much less for a 10-month process
- Should you choose to spend some terms (out of 5) in Singapore, the cost would be more manageable as opposed to studying in Europe & UK ( the Euro Dollar & British Pounds have been appreciating….)
- Thus it’s a wise investment decision with a faster breakeven and realization of returns. Suppose you invest €60,000 for the one year program, versus to almost double the cost, start with an average €80,000 post-MBA income package, the breakeven point could be (hopefully) 2-3 years after MBA.
(** For information on financing MBA, please note that many factors will affect the investment returns, particularly lifestyle, availability of cost-free funding and post-MBA employment package)
- INSEAD offers one of the most diverse and global class mix
- Since almost everyone is a minority and a foreigner ( French and Singaporean only made up around 16% of the class), the student community having to spend time together intensively is closely knit. It thus probably explains for its strong alumni participation.
- Internship is still possible provided you enroll into the January intake
- And of course, it is one of the top MBA worldwide.
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Other 2-year top MBA might counter the case with the followings:

- a 2-year period provides more time to establish stronger relationships with your peers and visiting alumni, who quite probably would be your colleagues, supervisors, business partners etc
- might have a better chance of building long lasting friendships since you suffer and play hard together for longer
- can afford to have (in terms of time, not necessarily of money) more career treks, seminars by prominent speakers, projects with companies, leisure travel etc
- internship is definitely possible and almost crucial if you aim for a finance/banking position
- given that most of us need to work a further 30-years, a 2-year career break in an exciting school sounds enticing
( well.. while one might achieve financial independence to retire earlier, working by choice is usually encouraged for health reasons)
- other geographical location might be more attractive



Some of us proceeded to have a drink with a fun-loving MBA student (…he’s youngest among us..argghh..). It’s great to know friends with the similar ambition and demeanors, and exchange information on different MBA schools.

In general, the feedback is that the European MBA culture is friendlier. Not that the key motive to get a MBA is to socialize with friendly people, but it will make the learning process much more enjoyable. Coming from an academic background of people so reluctant to share and learn together, I have been moved by the generosity of people who do not only care for themselves.

The information session exceeded my expectation. I was told that if anyone loves INSEAD, he would not like London Business School, and vice versa. The two offer quite different MBA experience. It’s an individual’s preference and there will be more to find out.