Georges German always admired INSEAD, currently ranked the best business school in the world by the Financial Times Rankings 2021, so when the opportunity came to join the school’s Master in Management program, he didn’t hesitate to apply. He told MASTERGRADSCHOOLS about the steep learning curve he experienced in the program and why studying in the COVID-19 era is more important than ever.
For the first 19 years of his life, Georges German hardly left his native Lebanon. Four years, three continents, and numerous internships later, he had grown accustomed to what he describes as a “nomadic life” spent between Paris, Singapore, London, and Beirut.
It doesn’t sound like the worst lifestyle – but when the chance arose to study at a business school he had long admired, it was simply too good an opportunity to turn down. He was going from a nomad to INSEAD.
“I’ve always admired INSEAD and I’ve always considered it an amazing school,” he told MASTERGRADSCHOOLS. “I’ve always said I would apply to the MBA program, so when I saw they were proposing this MIM program for people who don’t have a lot of professional experience, I immediately decided to apply.” (00:43)
INSEAD describes itself as “The Business School for the World,” so it’s unsurprising that prospective students must display their multiculturalism and global perspective when applying. It’s just one component of a stringent admissions process for their MIM program, which targets students with less work experience than traditional MBA candidates.
“It’s a highly selective program,” Georges confirms. “I heard that during the admissions process but it’s really when you come to INSEAD that you see the level of the students is very high, so you really need to be able to demonstrate your academic excellence.” (02:14)
Georges is under no illusion that to get the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, he has to put in the work: “The opportunities at INSEAD are really infinite. If you really want to make the most of this program you really have to have the ambition for it and to work hard.” (03:05)
Georges had spent his undergraduate years at another prestigious French school – ESSEC Business School – yet the transition from undergraduate to postgraduate study meant greater responsibility, a steeper learning curve, and much more work.
“The level of responsibility is much higher in a master’s program [like this one], because, for example, what you’re learning in five to seven weeks is really the equivalent of one full undergraduate semester,” he says. “The pace is really fast and it’s really interesting because the learning curve is much [steeper] than in an undergraduate degree.” (03:22)
The INSEAD MIM is a one-year program, and despite its dynamic learning environment, is it really feasible to master all of the business fundamentals in such a short space of time? Georges stresses that the course isn’t focused on making you an expert in every subject, but on providing you with well-rounded business knowledge.
“We get equipped with different skills to become more flexible,” Georges explains. “Top management positions require so much flexibility, so in the long term I can definitely see why INSEAD is following this approach.” (05:39)
In a world that’s constantly changing, the skills required to succeed are also changing. Given the impact of COVID-19 on the world of work, Georges believes it is even more important to learn new skills in order to remain competitive in the global job market.
He says, “Learning in these times is really important because it allows you to get equipped with the necessary skills for the changing job market. In that way, you become more competitive, with the skills to be able to work in these times.” (06:37)
You could argue that there’s never been a better time to invest in yourself. Acquiring the skills to succeed in a changing job market might be the best way of adapting to the post-COVID landscape.
