Recognizing that a career in consulting would provide new opportunities and greater diversity in his career trajectory, Hendrik chose to make that transition from engineering. To facilitate this career pivot, he enrolled in the INSEAD’s Master in Management (MiM) program, which helped prepare him for the business and consulting world.
From his early days growing up in Belgium, Hendrik Gaens was always fascinated by aerospace and aeronautics. Following this passion, he earned both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology. However, he ultimately chose to make a career pivot and pursue a career in business consulting instead. Why the change?
Hendrik says his shift towards a career in consulting started during his time at Delft. “As I had to specialize more and more, [I realized] I didn’t see myself working as an engineer in the field… I’m someone who really gets energy from doing very diverse things, very diverse challenges… I wanted to broaden my scope a little bit more.” (01:16)
Understanding that a career in consulting would offer him the variety and new challenges he craved, Hendrik decided to pivot. To facilitate this career switch, he joined INSEAD’s Master in Management (MiM) program.
The INSEAD MiM is a 14-16 month program designed to be as international as it is intensive. It combines a rigorous academic curriculum with a focus on international exposure, practical application, and skill-based learning that thoroughly prepares students for life after graduation.
The program also strongly emphasizes career development. The INSEAD MiM gives students the support and knowledge they need to succeed in a variety of industries. From consulting to tech industries and beyond, INSEAD graduates have a proven track record of achieving great things, regardless of which career path they choose after graduation.
For Hendrik, the INSEAD culture was the true highlight of his studies. INSEAD’s international focus, global campuses, and diverse cohorts were some of the reasons that made INSEAD stand out among other schools.
The cohort’s diversity is one of the program’s greatest assets. “You come into a classroom of [back in the day] 95 people, with very different backgrounds, from an ethnicity and nationality perspective, but also from an education perspective…it really enriches the program…it is something that INSEAD values and that contributes to the quality of the program as well.” (04:25)
The INSEAD MiM program allows students to explore global perspectives through multi-campus learning in France and Singapore. Students also have the unique opportunity to participate in field trips to Abu Dhabi (UAE), China, or the USA.
Hendrik highly valued the international exposure that the program offered him. “I think what really attracted me was the extremely international approach and international scope… [I liked the] the unique setup of the program with spending half a year in France, and half a year in Singapore.” (03:34)
The INSEAD MiM experience broadens perspectives and challenges students to think and operate globally, making it ideal preparation for transitioning into international workspaces. This global exposure enriched Hendrik’s adaptability and cultural competence, which are crucial traits for a successful global consulting career.
At INSEAD, Hendrik immersed himself in a wide range of business topics and had the chance to network extensively with fellow students, alumni, and professionals. This experience was crucial in helping him gain a deeper understanding of the consulting industry.
He explains that aerospace engineering strongly emphasizes hard skills and analytical problem-solving. In contrast, he felt that the MiM program was much more multifaceted, allowing him to hone his soft skills.
He elaborates, “There are just so many more dimensions to some of the problems that you face and some of the assignments you get at INSEAD. There is more of a team element. How do you handle other people’s opinions? How do you solve conflicts? There is more of a real-world application, where you have to think ahead.” (07:35)
He describes the program as being interactive, holistic, challenging, and multidimensional. Beyond teaching students theoretical content, the program changes one’s mindset and equips one with the soft skills needed to succeed in a career such as consulting.
“That is something that definitely helps you in a career like consulting; your problems are not just analytical, but also you are working with people, there is a real-world impact.” (08:19)
Equipped with tailored tools and insights from INSEAD, Hendrik hit the ground running in his consulting career. He now works as an associate at Kearney, one of the world’s top global management consulting firms.
In fact, he uses the skills that he learned during his studies constantly in his current position.
Hendrik’s shift from aerospace engineering to business consulting was facilitated by his studies in the INSEAD MiM program. The MiM course helped him gain the skills and know-how he needed to successfully navigate his career pivot, giving him the boost he needed to achieve his dream career.
Discover more about the INSEAD MiM (Master in Management) program, renowned for its comprehensive curriculum, global network, and exceptional career prospects. It is designed to equip young professionals with the skills needed to thrive in the competitive business world. Explore our previous INSEAD articles to learn more about the school’s programs.
