IMD Calling all applicants Class of 2015-16 : MBA Archive

souvik101990 · 2013-08-26T05:36:39-07:00

Past Admitted Students Discussions. IMD MBA Interview with Current Student Vikas Menon Aiming for IMD? An Admitted Student Shares His Story and Advice Admissionado Chat Transcript - Tips for R3 and European School Applications.pdf IMD_Bschool,429685183566974976,600

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04 Dec 2013, 11:00

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: A mythical ending is on the horizon

kali̱méra (Good morning in Greek),

With a soar throat, a throbbing headache and a creaking body, I’m sitting in the class listening to my classmates comment on how we can improve the program for the next year. Yes, we had an amazing party last night and yes we are nearing the end of the program.

Last night we had a Greek party and we parted like gods, literally and figuratively. Many dressed up, but all partied till the late hours of the night in the foyer. The Greek food was to die for and the music quite interesting. Well we are on the home straight now. Most of us know exactly where they are going. We are also trying quite different types of activities. For instance last week I was in Brazil with a bunch of 15 classmates, learning about the political, social and economical climate of this amazing nation. Next week we will be having some cool leadership workshops – please watch the space.

Better concentrate more on the feedback session. Lets meet again next Monday.
Antio
Hammad

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04 Dec 2013, 11:00

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: One picture from the end

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04 Dec 2013, 11:00

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: The countdown is running...

Last week I wrote that our program was slowing down. This week have proved me completely wrong, and that is why I have to edit “the program is slowing down”–but certainly not the happening of things in the class!

This week has gone by in a blur... even though formally our schedule was flexible. Last classes on Monday and Friday morning, individual learning stream presentations from Tuesday to Thursday. I attended as many friends’ presentations as I could. Most of them were touching, inspiring, deeply reflective about the journeys each of us has gone through this year. We shared the moments of joy and pain, insights from learning, and many personal, emotional things that happened throughout our MBA year together. And almost each of us said "I owe every bit of learning to the 89 of you"...

These “straight from the heart" presentations got me even closer to many classmates, as their stories resonated with mine... I was overwhelmed by the feeling of privilege of knowing these folks. And I was exhausted by the mental and emotional work I had put in preparing and presenting my own story on Thursday morning.

Every evening we had a dinner or party, small or big, to cherish the soon-to-be-gone moments with friends from the class. It has been a wonderful week of deep human connection. And the time has accelerated, not slowed down.

The graduation is on Friday.

Warmly,

Natalia

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04 Dec 2013, 11:00

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: Jumping off a plane…a new drug!

There I was
at approx. 4000m above the ground huddled in a plane with two of my classmates –
Mathias and Thibault. And when I say huddled, I mean it….this was probably smaller
than the smallest plane I would ever dream of getting on…normally this would
sound like a scene out of my worst nightmare. I have the biggest fear of
heights and for years, I’ve dealt with the extreme uneasiness, clammy hands and
discomfort every time I found myself atop a tall building, a monument, a sight-seeing
trip, etc…..

So when my
French classmate – Steeve (who has sky dived alone only 35 times!!) – suggested
sky diving to me in September, he made sure I had a few glasses of wine in my
system and of course, inspired by wine, I said yes….back then December was a long time away and I
had completely forgotten about it until this past week when we started planning our trip to Sion!!!

But thanks
to Steeve and my classmates and my buddies on that plane…I made that jump and
here I am reflecting on one of the best experiences of my life….I’m quite sure
this was the first of a serious of sky dives for me….

The minute
we landed on the ground, Etienne, my tandem instructor who was latched on to my
back asked, “Vikas, what’s the most dangerous thing you have done so far?” …of
course, I answered this jump into the Swiss alps in Sion….to which he responded
– “No, the most dangerous ones are yet to happen…now that you have landed safe,
this adrenaline will become a drug and be the reason you do this again and
again”. I later found out that it was Etienne’s 2000+ jump….

But this is
exactly how a lot of us feel about life after this year at IMD….the drug is the
new found appreciation for introspection and learning but the good part is that
only great things can hopefully come out of this form of soul searching and ‘mind-diving’….

Cheers,

Vikas Menon

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06 Dec 2013, 12:40

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: Reflections from Brazil

Good morning,

Graduation activities are on the way but I feel that i haven’t shared with you some important reflections from our recently concluded trip to Brazil with 15 of my IMD MBA classmates accompanied by IMD Professor Carlos Braga. We spent more than a week in Brazil to learn more about its economic prospects. I could never figure out why going to Brazil always made people happy, but after reaching Rio I got the answer - the warm climate (and hearts), the relaxed environment and the care-free attitude are enough to cheer up even the most sombre of us.

One of the key goals of our visit was to understand how Rio is preparing for the 2016 Olympics. We met the Director General Operations of the Rio Olympic committee, who was extremely positive on the preparations. He said the key is planning— about how to invite investors; how to re-use, re-cycle or discharge the venues built for the games; and how to prepare the community for this event. Rio’s transport system is being upgraded, but the big challenge is accommodation – estimating how much is needed and attracting hotel chains to invest in the city.
The secretary of finance of Rio de Janeiro shared with us how the city’s finance department has made its operations more transparent over the past few years and even publishes the fund flows from its creditors and debtors online. He said the Olympics has speeded up previously planned projects by creating a sense of urgency and national pride.

To discuss the ease of doing business in Brazil, we met top executives from big Brazilian companies such as Vale, Petrobras and Brazil Agro. Although Brazil is becoming increasingly important economically, its complex legal and tax framework, labour laws and lack of infrastructure prevent the country from rising to its full potential. We also noticed the intricate relationship between Brazil’s national champions and the state. For example, the State uses tariff barriers to protect these companies but also influences them to adhere to government policies such as fighting inflation.

At the end of our trip we met Fabio Barbosa, CEO of Abril and an IMD alumnus. He inspired us all by showing us how financial success and doing good for society are not contradictory but are in fact complementary. This goes against the view of many corporate executives, especially in emerging markets, and also that of many social activists, who see corporate social responsibility as something that necessarily should be at the expense of evil shareholders.

Brazil has challenges, and a few more on the horizon, such as its ageing population – which will affect the consumption and labour force in future. But it has hopes too, notably in more productive agriculture and more investments in renewable energy. The other hope is that Brazil’s universities keep producing a rich talent pool of graduates, who, like Fabio, believe that financial success and helping society are two sides of the same coin.

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06 Dec 2013, 12:40

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: LESS THAN 24 HOURS LEFT!

As much as I cannot believe it... in less than 12 hours from now (by the time you will be probably reading this post), we will be IMD MBA 2013 Graduates.

We have been preparing ourselves since Monday. Four amazing workshops involving painting, martial art, improvisation and music helped us open up the emotional valve and release the feelings and creative energy we’ve been accumulating over the last few weeks... On Wednesday, a world-known IMD star, Prof. George Kohlrieser taught us to grieve and embrace separation. I will never find enough words to describe what we lived as a class on that Wed morning: the strength of bonding, the realization that something is over and we need to move on with a new, super strong secure base with the name "IMD".

Today was our last lunch as MBA students; in the evening we had a lovely dinner with families at the IMD restaurant. Lots of bonding and good energy, multiplied by the presence of families and friends around the tables. Oh! Before lunch a few of us (Yes I did it!), supported by a bigger crowd, dared a closing polar jump in the 4degree cold Lake Leman!

We have been preparing ourselves all this week–and yet I still don’t quite realize that... in less than 24 hours we will party like never again, at our Graduation Ball in Lausanne’s finest Hotel Beau-Rivage.

For once in a lifetime, ALL 90 EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE who made this year the most incredible tranformational life experience, the IMD MBAs 2013 will gather together... to celebrate this year, say good bye and see you again.

Wish us a great Graduation Day!

And tune in to watch the ceremony on Friday, December 6th, 11:00CET: https://imd.adobeconnect.com/_a844445848/mbagraduation/

Moved, deeply grateful and honored to be a part of the IMD MBA 2013 Class,

Yours,

Natalia

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07 Dec 2013, 17:00

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: 89 friends and me…

“It’s like attending a graduation where you know everyone…and
where you know their journey, their struggles, their joys…” said my wife after
our graduation ceremony yesterday…

I’ve been extremely lost for words or emotions in the past
48 hours…I can’t identify, explain or decipher half of what I am feeling…my
parents have been kind enough to come attend my graduation and yet, I feel like
my mind is severely preoccupied and I feel moderately bad for not being able to
give them my full attention even for a minute.

“We really liked your friends and how much you all share…”
said my uncle who attended graduation…a senior executive and a MBA himself from
the 90’s…. “you will meet them again and soon this will be another memory”…that
thought seems to depress me more than his planned intention of cheering me up…

After the fantastic graduation ball yesterday thanks to the
social committee, the music came to an end at 4 am followed by a group crying
session from 4-6 am…I woke up today feeling “blah” and telling myself that I
still have this last week for the final good byes…My best friend Ryan will be
visiting this week and later this month I will be meeting with my closest
friends travelling around Europe…this was the vacation I dreamed about the past
few months….how will I explain to my friends back home, how and why people I
know only for 1 year have become so close to me….what words can I use to
explain the intensity and strength of this experience that connects the 90 of us…I can’t…

Last night, a friend introduced me to her mom because her
mom wanted me to know how much she appreciated my blog and I said, that
explains to me the 2 readers I have – my mom and this friends mom – I wish I
could hold on to special moments like these shared with 89 friends…and I regret
every moment I had ever wished for this program to come to an end…

I know this is not the usual positive end or spin to my
regular blogs but this is also the first time I’ve felt this way this entire
year…

And I couldn’t have said it better than when my wife
described this graduation being one where you know every single person
graduating and where you want to be there to applaud and share this special
moment with every one of them!

Here's a video Truth and Dario put together for the graduation speech....

https://youtu.be/ffPTp4fIduE

Vikas Menon

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09 Dec 2013, 12:00

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: Parting of the ways

As we are now starting to leave Lausanne, be it to go back to our home countries or to our new countries of adoption, the photoblog team produced this image as a reminder of the memorable final week we spent at IMD.

So long, friends!

(you can zoom in to see each picture in detail)

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13 Dec 2013, 14:00

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: The week after

It’s been a week since the graduation and you’ve been surely wondering what’s life like when the program is over. Well, life is busy and tough, but in a different way than it was during the program.

Throughout this year, we have been trained in discipline, performance and accountability; we stretched our endurance and tolerance, pushed our boundaries, and pursued ambitious career goals. We (almost) went to hell and back, and each of us at some point wished it to be over... And yet when the program has come to the end, we seem not to know how to handle the fact that it is over and we must part our ways.

This week, after the graduation ball’s “crying session” still, I have said many good byes. In the IMD restaurant, where some twenty of us gathered on Monday, in the bars and pubs where those of us who are still in Lausanne would come every evening to share a moment together, in the dungeons, at bus stops and the railway station... Some have chosen to leave earlier, some have chosen to stay longer. It’s weird but I think I am learning to handle good byes better. Perhaps the separation hasn’t quite hit me yet.

Tomorrow I’m going to Saas Fee to ski with five friends from the class, and I will surely see other dear people on Sunday and Monday, before I leave for a five week trip to Asia on Tuesday. How will it be when I won’t see these friends who have become so dear to me for some time? I don’t know.

But I do know that, even though this chapter is over, a new one has just begun. It’s about keeping in touch, nurturing what the 90 of us have built and meeting each other next year.

Where...? When...?

Any time, all over the world.

And from now and forever, in the world of IMD MBAs 2013.

As one of our professors liked to say: Boom, Now Do It!

Yours,

Natalia

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15 Dec 2013, 11:00

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: and the nostalgia finally kicks in

Good morning/afternoon/evening,

There is a silence like I’ve never experienced in the dungeons. Not a soul here, just the smell of some cleaning products. The rooms are spic-and-span, with new, even bigger TV screens installed, eagerly awaiting the next batch of exceptional individuals. I am surprised that my access card still allows me in my room to be in there one more time, to reminisce all the action that it has seen over the past few months.

I came here this morning to write my final blog. I thought it’d be the best place to write my final one, but I’m not finding it easy. So far, I’ve managed my emotions quite well – when we built up the fantastic arch (again), at the graduation ceremony, and during the ‘eye-watering’ session at 5:00 a.m. after the graduation ball. But I started feeling emotional as I started on my final walk from my place, in front of the Olympic circle on the lake (see the view on the left from my balcony), towards IMD.

Now I’m just too nostalgic to write what I wanted to – the takeaways from this year, and will conclude it here. After all each one of the new MBA’s will have their own mistakes to do and their own lessons to learn. I’ll reserve my learnings for another blog here or on FT.

I shall miss so many things about this place having spent 90% of my awake-time here, but as one of my professors said, we all need to relinquish the old, say good-bye and welcome the new. It is not the end, it is not the beginning of the end, it is just the end of the beginning.
Good bye
Hammad

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16 Dec 2013, 04:00

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: Life after IMD…

So folks, here it is my last IMD MBA blog…riding the train
from Crans Montana to Geneva enroute Paris. I told myself that I would post a
few more entries before this last one but somehow between the apartment exit
inspection, the many last minute errands and the depressing good byes, I was
unable to spare a few minutes to post…

This blog has helped me put words to the many crazy feelings
and emotions I have experienced through this crazy rollercoaster ride! Thank
you my dearest classmates for reading, commenting and sharing these stories
with your friends and dear ones and thank you for those many encouraging
messages….thank you to my friends, family, partner and readers (my 2.5 readers J ) for taking the time
to see what the journey was about and for all those lovely comments and thoughts….thank
you IMD and Suzy Laurent for providing us this opportunity to share our stories
openly and publicly!

So what’s next – One year after the start of the program, I
now have the opportunity to change my industry, function and geography…something
I wanted to do prior to the program…IMD has helped me connect with companies I
could only dream off and secure opportunities that were far from planned or
expected….however, personally for me the career aspect is less than a fraction
of what I got from IMD.

The best part was, is and will always be the people – my classmates,
the professors, the IMD staff, the network. I cannot begin to express how I
feel leaving all this and Switzerland behind…We were at the mountains this
weekend with my classmate Emanuelle and friends and on my ride there, between
clicking a ‘selfie’ with him and between the many dinners and hikes this
weekend, I started thinking about life after IMD and about not meeting these
special people every day…but at the same time I realized maybe that’s not the
entire reality because in a month from
now many of us will be meeting in India for a classmates wedding, we will also
be meeting in Dubai prior to the wedding…..I will bump into some of my
classmates during this month as we travel around Europe and we already have
mini reunions and meetings planned everywhere….so whilst we might never get to
be in the Lorange auditorium as a class again, I can guarantee you that we will
be meeting in many arenas across the world reliving, thinking and dreaming
about this 1 year in Lausanne when a group of 90 exceptional….no, sorry, not
exceptional, but when a group of 90 special friends met to begin the journey of
their life’s, interconnected yet isolated, challenging but rewarding….but all
from the same home – IMD! What more do I need or do we need to remember that we
may be far but we are never alone or away from each other!

I will miss this blog and have decided to start posting
regularly on my private blog…details of which will be posted later! J

Real World. Real Learning…Real Friendships!

Much love

Cheers, Alvida, Ciao

Vikas Menon

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16 Dec 2013, 12:00

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: Life after IMD

So folks, here it is my last IMD MBA blog…riding the train
from Crans Montana to Geneva enroute Paris. I told myself that I would post a
few more entries before this last one but somehow between the apartment exit
inspection, the many last minute errands and the depressing good byes, I was
unable to spare a few minutes to post…

This blog has helped me put words to the many crazy feelings
and emotions I have experienced through this crazy rollercoaster ride! Thank
you my dearest classmates for reading, commenting and sharing these stories
with your friends and dear ones and thank you for those many encouraging
messages….thank you to my friends, family, partner and readers (my 2.5 readers J ) for taking the time
to see what the journey was about and for all those lovely comments and thoughts….thank
you IMD and Suzy Laurent for providing us this opportunity to share our stories
openly and publicly!

So what’s next – One year after the start of the program, I
now have the opportunity to change my industry, function and geography…something
I wanted to do prior to the program…IMD has helped me connect with companies I
could only dream off and secure opportunities that were far from planned or
expected….however, personally for me the career aspect is less than a fraction
of what I got from IMD.

The best part was, is and will always be the people – my classmates,
the professors, the IMD staff, the network. I cannot begin to express how I
feel leaving all this and Switzerland behind…We were at the mountains this
weekend with my classmate Emanuelle and friends and on my ride there, between
clicking a ‘selfie’ with him and between the many dinners and hikes this
weekend, I started thinking about life after IMD and about not meeting these
special people every day…but at the same time I realized maybe that’s not the
entire reality because in a month from
now many of us will be meeting in India for a classmates wedding, we will also
be meeting in Dubai prior to the wedding…..I will bump into some of my
classmates during this month as we travel around Europe and we already have
mini reunions and meetings planned everywhere….so whilst we might never get to
be in the Lorange auditorium as a class again, I can guarantee you that we will
be meeting in many arenas across the world reliving, thinking and dreaming
about this 1 year in Lausanne when a group of 90 exceptional….no, sorry, not
exceptional, but when a group of 90 special friends met to begin the journey of
their life’s, interconnected yet isolated, challenging but rewarding….but all
from the same home – IMD! What more do I need or do we need to remember that we
may be far but we are never alone or away from each other!

I will miss this blog and have decided to start posting
regularly on my private blog…details of which will be posted later! J

Real World. Real Learning…Real Friendships!

Much love

Cheers, Alvida, Ciao

Vikas Menon

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17 Dec 2013, 11:00

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: Reflection on reflection - last vblog for the IMD MBA 2013 leadership stream

https://youtu.be/dPNI51yxxe0

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17 Dec 2013, 13:00

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: The final words from your 2013 bloggers

I find myself completely wordless for this last blog...because you see IMD is like Sky diving...before doing it you are incredibly nervous, anxious and stressed....then you jump in tandem with the support of your classmates who are your parachutes and when you are in the air at 12000 ft, you feel alive again like we felt through the various challenges, intimate connections and long days at IMD. Finally when you land safely on the ground, all you can think of is jumping off that plane again because it was an experience of a lifetime...I would happily jump off that or any plane again knowing that I have the same classmates, family and friends by my side...thank you IMD for making me feel alive again and for helping me overcome my fears! "If you feel in control, you are not going fast enough!!" Vikas

...It is said that separation is best healed by new encounters, so I look forward to the new chapters of my life, starting with a long trip to South-East Asia. I will have six weeks to meditate about my IMD experience and reconnect with the world... Every day and bit of my journey at IMD was enriching, transformational, inspiring and–in the end–deeply connecting me to the others and myself. I feel stronger, softer, more self-confident and more humble at the same time. I have friends forever. It has been a priceless experience. Thank you IMD, for an incredible year...! And good luck to the new year’s class! Natalia

…A little more than a year ago I decided to take out a year off to learn more about myself (see my intro) but little did I know I would also have experiences that I will treasure all my life. I’m leaving with a safety net of 89 exceptional individuals who I can depend on for anything, and professors who I can call whenever I need advice. So if you are considering taking a break from your career (just when it seems to be taking off), don’t hesitate, take the plunge. An IMD MBA is a great way to prepare yourself for the next levels of responsibilities – by making you more aware of how you affect others, how others affect you, and how you can adapt to work with people as (or more) accomplished than yourself. For the new-joiners, I would say you have chosen well and you are in for one heck of a ride!! Hammad

This is what the 2013 MBA class said about “My IMD experience in one word”:
Super!
Strengthening
Intense
Liberating
Too short!
Kaleidoscopic
Wonderful
Unique
Mind-boggling
Tremendous
Unexpected
Exceptional
Over-the-edge
HUGE
Vroom!!
A bootcamp
Transformational
Awakening!
Wicked
Awesome

Your IMD MBA 2013 bloggers: Natalia, Vikas, Hammad; Photobloggers: Marc, Oscar and Agis; Videoblogger: Peter

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19 Dec 2013, 04:00

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: Saying goodbye

Each year, the members of the MBA team have the privilege of getting to know a group of 90 great people. They arrive excited about the challenge ahead, get tired and frustrated, fired up and enthusiastic. We get to watch their love stories and their families expanding, to see how they grow as individuals and as a group, and finally, as the year comes to an end, we wait with baited breath for their career dreams to be fulfilled.

I would like to thank Natalia, Vikas and Hammad for sharing their story with us from start to end; Agis, Oscar and Marc for giving us their creative weekly photo overview of the different activities; and Peter for launching our very first leadership video blog. It has been a pleasure working with them all and I hope that you, our readers, have enjoyed their contributions as much as we have.

I would also like to thank all of our guest writers who gave further insight into the different projects that took place this year, our readers who shared their comments, and our Japanese bloggers who shared their stories through the Japanese blog.

The campus is very quiet now - we have said our goodbyes, and are waiting for the next group of 90 to arrive. So while I take this opportunity to thank the 2013 bloggers, I would also like to already welcome our 2014 team of writers:

Ashley Silver (American), Marcelo Bertani (Brazilian/American/Italian) and Andras Pentek (Hungarian) - and to offer you a sneak preview of the first 2014 video blog entry - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axYj1q7cJ1w&feature=share&list=UUkBMxzz2KdnfitLC7Ki2Afw

This is the last blog entry for 2013. The 2014 blog will be launched on Thursday, 9th January 2014 - we hope you will keep reading and sharing your comments.

On behalf of the MBA Team, happy holidays and see you next year!

Suzy Laurent

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09 Jan 2014, 14:00

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: And we're off

The time has come for the class
of 2014 to converge on the IMD campus and kick off another year for the
MBA program! I’m sure all 89 of my classmates are feeling the same
anticipation, and maybe even a few butterflies, as we all prepare
to dive into what should be an incredible journey.

Today we had our first day of orientation, which was filled with information, introductions and an overall sense of excitement. For me, this day had been on the
horizon for a long time. One year ago I was already working diligently
on my essays, and making sure I would get my best possible application sent in
before February 1st. I still remember how happy I was when I
got those famous +41 calls with the invitation to come to Assessment Day, and
then the offer to join the MBA program.

For my first
blog entry, I thought it would be cool to highlight the top 3 things I *think*
will be my favorite, and least favorite things about the IMD experience. Then we’ll see as the year progresses whether these
will materialize!

What I *think* will be my favorite
things

#1 - The "A-ha" moments

It seems the program will really push me to understand myself better. I am expecting to have a few "a-ha" moments throughout the year when I see things from a different angle or connect experiences that may have seemed unrelated before.

#2 – The people

After getting a taste of the IMD
experience during my assessment day, I walked away extremely impressed by the
fellow candidates, current students and the faculty & staff. All those feelings were confirmed again at orientation today. Spending the year surrounded by such diverse, talented
people should be a phenomenal experience.

#3 – The lunches

Not gonna lie, the IMD restaurant
had to make this list, after having another one today, I can safely say those meals really are phenomenal. I think I will enjoy chance to re-fuel during lunch so I can crank out all that work!

What I* think* will be my least
favorite things:

#1 – Not having enough time with
my wife and my son

I'm a family man and love spending time with my wife. To top things off, our first baby was born just a week ago! So it will be very hard to be away from my family when the program is in full swing.

#2 - Having to deal with
uncomfortable situations

I am an easy going,
non-confrontational guy. I know that IMD will challenge me,
and place me in uncomfortable or difficult situations. These will lead to some valuable learning (hopefully!) but at times I may find the stress to be quite taxing.

#3 - The lack of sleep

I do enjoy a full night's sleep. Between the new baby and the IMD workload, I don't imagine I will be having many of
those anytime soon, and I know I will miss them!

-Marcelo

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10 Jan 2014, 15:00

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FROM IMD Admissions Blog: Arriving at the starting line

Dear Readers,

I'm very happy that I can share my experiences here on the IMD MBA program as a member of the 2014 Class.

Just as for Marcelo, yesterday was a very important day also for me. Last year this time I was just over the GMAT test and in the middle of preparing the essays for the application. It was not an easy process, but I very much enjoyed that I could learn a lot about myself during this process. When I received the so much wanted call from Lucy, I was extremely happy. I can recall the moment when I saw her number on my mobile at the corridor of our office building even today.

After this call the preparation time started which required more efforts than I thought before, as we had many pre-readings, exercises to be solved, tests to be completed, and of course collect all the papers which might be necessary. As I see from the discussions with my classmates, housing became harder and harder for the later rounds, so if you are hesitating whether to apply at an earlier or later deadline, I warmly suggest to go for an earlier!

We arrived with my wife to Switzerland at the end of December to celebrate New Year's Eve together with those classmates and partners who had arrived to Lausanne already. We came by car, and I was shocked about the amount of luggage I could push into our car. Maybe this could be added to the admission process as an optimization exercise, because it was not at all easy, but I could definitely use some out-of-the box solutions. Our New Year's party was a very nice event thanks to our host, Carmine and all the people joined. I immediately felt that this will be a really great class of very interesting people who have an extremely wide experience base. This feeling is becoming stronger as I get to know more people from the class, as it just happened during the first event of our „Wine Class”, which ended few minutes ago. We have spent great time together with some very good wines (and some nice stories about them) and Swiss cheeses brought by the participants.

As we have received very professional support from IMD MBA office colleagues, and everything works quite well in Switzerland (although all actions cost some money), we even managed to spare some time for sports before the program start. A committed running team led by Dennis was formulated and we tried several ski areas in the surrounding mountains. (Luckily, many good ski areas are in one hour driving distance from Lausanne. Although, I'm not sure if we will have any time for skiing after the program starts with full speed on Monday.) And certainly football also seems to be a clear common point, as I just arrived back from a great football game, where all of us played with enthusiasm despite the "far from optimal" winter conditions.

Yesterday we had a program opening, where Ralf Boscheck, our new Program Director introduced his ideas for the revitalization of IMD MBA to be competitive among the new challenges of the global business environment. I can say that after this speech I wait the start of the program even more.

Come and join our journey throughout the year!

András

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