In The Know by INSEAD

Emmanuelle Lansari, Assistant Director and Career Coach, speaks with MIM’27 student Jacopo König about his bold transition from Italy to the heart of Asia. Jacopo discusses his passion for the booming robotics industry, his strategic shift from traditional consulting to tech and why he views Singapore as the ultimate launchpad for future innovation.

Discover his proven strategies for relationship building in Asia, the value of leveraging the powerful INSEAD alumni network and how the INSEAD Master in Management programme is helping him achieve his long-term career goals.

Episode Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction and welcome
01:04 - First impressions of Singapore and Asia
01:20 - Why choose INSEAD's multi-campus experience?
04:07 - A passion for robotics and the pivot from consulting
04:44 - Navigating the tech symposium and building connections in Singapore
06:53 - Networking culture in Asia vs. the West
07:40 - Advice to his Fontainebleau self: balance coursework with community
10:07 - Embracing Singapore's multicultural ecosystem
12:54 - Looking ahead: robotics, Europe and the five-year plan
14:27 - What the MIM brings to the tech and robotics space
16:55 - Personal growth and stepping outside the comfort zone
18:28 - Summing up the MIM experience in a few words
19:19 - Closing remarks and MIM programme information

Welcome to a special Student Life feature of INSEAD's In the Know podcast. 

In this episode, host Eva Laporte from the Student Life team on the Europe campus explores a side of the MBA experience that's rarely discussed: pursuing one of the world's most intense MBA programmes while expecting a baby.

Eva is joined by two inspiring MBA'25J alumnae, Sophie Delaye and Therese Langseth, who share their personal journeys through case studies, exams, recruiting and group projects, all while navigating pregnancy. From the shock of finding out, to managing morning sickness during exams, to receiving unexpected support from their cohort and their class officer, Elisa Duperry, Sophie and Teresa open up about the realities, challenges and joys of this unique chapter.

Tune in to hear how ambition, resilience and community came together to redefine what's possible at INSEAD.

Episode timestamps
0:00 Introduction: navigating MBA life while expecting
1:01 Sophie's background and finding out early in the programme
1:45 Teresa's background and an unplanned pregnancy before P2 exams
2:48 Did pregnancy make them reconsider the MBA?
4:42 Day-to-day impact in class and managing symptoms
6:36 Strategies and habits for staying on top of coursework
8:14 Navigating the social side: treks, ski trips and parties
9:20 Support from the cohort and standout moments of kindness
11:04 Practical tips: medical appointments, insurance and healthcare costs
16:02 Misconceptions about doing an MBA while pregnant
18:24 Advice for future MBA students expecting a baby
21:14 Closing thoughts: "My MBA while pregnant taught me..."

Welcome back to the second part of our conversation with Nancy Blyth Piacentini, Assistant Director of Recruitment and Business Development for Degree Programmes, and Carlijn Nijhuis, an INSEAD MIM'27 student. In our previous episode, we explored Carlijn's INSEAD Summer School experience and her journey through the admissions process.

Today, we pick up right where we left off as Carlijn arrives on campus to officially begin her Master in Management (MIM) programme. We dive deep into the academic structure, the hands-on practicals and the collaborative culture in Fontainebleau. Carlijn also shares what it is like to transition to the Singapore campus, how she navigated housing and why applicants without a business background should not hesitate to apply.

Tune in to hear all about the MIM student life and get Carlijn's top advice for future applicants!

 
Episode Timestamps

 

1:00- Arriving on campus as a MIM student
3:01 - Comparing the student vibe between the ISS and the MIM
5:02 - Academic pressure, exams and career prep
6:43 - The P0 online experience and career coaching
8:21 - The Fontainebleau curriculum and collaborative grading
10:20 - Putting theory into practise with hands-on practicals
12:29 - Transitioning to the Singapore campus and finding housing
16:02 - Advice for applicants without a business background
18:30 - Looking back and advice for future students
20:53 - Carlijn's standout INSEAD moment and final tips

Welcome to In the Know, INSEAD's podcast. In this episode, we sit down with Nancy Blyth Piacentini, Assistant Director of Recruitment and Business Development for Degree Programmes, and Carlijn Nijhuis, an INSEAD MIM'27 student, to explore Carlijn's experience with the INSEAD Summer School.

Carlijn walks us through how she first discovered the programme and what drew her in, before taking us inside a typical day during the two-week intensive programme: the interpersonal tools she picked up, the key takeaways that stuck with her, and how the experience shaped her decision to pursue the Master in Management (MIM).

Tune in to hear what makes the INSEAD Summer School such a formative first step, and stay tuned for part two, where we follow Carlijn onto campus as a MIM student!

Episode timestamps
0:00 - Intro and welcome
1:06 - Discovering the INSEAD Summer School
3:53 - A typical day in the two-week intensive programme
6:04 - Interpersonal tools and key takeaways
8:01 - The transition from summer school to the Master in Management (MIM)
9:34 - GMAT prep and navigating the admissions process
13:35 - Overcoming application anxiety
16:13 - What admissions looks for in MIM candidates
17:19 - Connecting with the INSEAD alumni network
18:27 - Outro and teaser for part two

Navigating the admissions process for a top-tier business school can be daunting. In this episode of the In The Know podcast, Jennifer Luo (Senior Director of Recruitment) and Larry Medina (Associate Director of Admissions) go behind the scenes of the INSEAD one-year MBA programme application journey to demystify standard testing requirements.

They address the common anxiety surrounding the GMAT and GREs by explaining how the Admissions Committee evaluates your scores within a holistic framework. The discussion highlights why candidates should not wait for a perfect GMAT or GRE score to apply, how strong professional experience can mitigate lower test results and why the video interview and personal essays are often the most critical components in showcasing your true potential for the one-year MBA programme.

Podcast Episode Timestamps: GMAT and GRE Strategies
0:00 Introduction
1:22 The testing anxiety
3:21 Defining holistic admissions
5:01 The role of standardised tests
6:31 Recommended ranges
7:50 Case studies: Success with low scores
8:39 Retaking the exam
9:13 Mitigating low verbal scores
11:18 Video interview tips
12:58 The optional essay
14:30 Lowest scores ever admitted
15:42 When to start your application
16:50 Business foundations safety net
17:38 Final advice and closing