Can you tell us more about yourself?
My name is Alexandre and I graduated with a Master's degree in Business Management from EDHEC Business School. After my degree I went to work for Fortune 500 companies Orange in Japan, Havas Sports and Entertainment in France and Bouygues Batiment in Singapore. I love Asia and I love sports. I have also worked as an Operations Director at Singapore Sports Hub for almost four years of organizing major sporting events. I came back to France and began working for Bouygues to help use my expertise and work in the Olympics project to prepare for the Paris Olympics of 2024.
What prompted you to apply for an MBA?
Up till now, my job has been mainly in operations which is perfectly normal for someone my age and has very little work experience. But I want to accelerate my career and have a strategic and key management position in a Fortune 500 company. My goal as mentioned is to work in the Olympic project to prepare for the Paris Olympics of 2024 and I believe that my experience that I gained at the Singapore Sports Hub to do so. I already have a Masters in Business having already studied it for 5 years and I didn’t want to go for another two years of study. Added to that I am not looking for a career change and want to stay in the same sector at a different level. Apart from this, INSEAD has a campus in Singapore and as I want to stay in Asia for as long as I can, I decided that the INSEAD program would suit all my requirements as it is probably the best MBA in the regions.
What did you find the most difficult part of the application process?
Upon talking to other students I had assumed that the GMAT would be very difficult. But I didn’t need much time with Dr. Hubert Silly to get the 690 on the GMAT that I was aiming for. In two months of class, he gave me enough tips and knowledge that I could get the score easily. However, what proved more difficult was the application process itself. I had to explain why I needed another Masters from INSEAD when I already had a degree from EDHEC Business School and I wanted to stay in the same sector. Again, the job that I had was mainly in the operations sector and I did not have the opportunity to show much leadership. And except for the experience in Asia, my application was very average. Fortunately, Dr. Hubert Silly, who had been recommended to me by several of my friends who had been accepted to LBS, INSEAD, etc.was very essential in helping me build a profile and gain the knowledge that would convince INSEAD to take me.
What is life like at INSEAD?
Deciding to do my MBA from INSEAD Singapore was a decision I took after a lot of careful thinking. And I must say, I have not regretted it once. I really enjoyed the stay at the INSEAD Singapore campus and was impressed by the teachers and the facilities provided. The student body here is also very active in ensuring that there are programs conducted for the students throughout the year. This is a great place for building connections and I have been really impressed by what INSEAD has to offer.
What would be your advice to someone applying for an MBA program?
I have no problem saying that I needed a year for myself and this MBA gave me an opportunity to take the year to think of my future and what I wanted to do. People should not ignore that. It is recommended that after ten or twelve years of study and work people should take one year to think of what they want to do for the next twenty years of their life. I think it is perfectly normal and the MBA allows you time to do that. Many people see MBA as just a degree but it also allows you a place where you can develop yourself as you meet different people of various nationalities and ethnicities, different sectors, you have access to coaches and career centers and all these can help you in your development. The program at INSEAD spends a lot of time on personal development. This aspect of the MBA is also very essential and this was my main expectation from the MBA over the degree and the experience. You also have to understand that you need to study in a place and environment that you like most. I was pressured by my family to study in America. But I prefer Asia and that is what I choose to do. So visit campuses, see if the city appeals to you. After all, you will be spending a year or more there.
Finally, Dr. Hubert Silly was recommended to me by personal friends who had also been very successful in their application process. I was also very happy with my collaboration with him and can only recommend his services.