Stipend for å studere ved INSEAD

I chose INSEAD because it was European (I did my undergraduate degree in the US), international and highly competitive. I also liked that it was structured as an intense 1-year programme. I learnt a tremendous amount from working intensively with very competent and competitive students at INSEAD. It was tough, but I really grew personally and it changed my ability to solve challenges and get ahead. INSEAD is very much a "work hard, play hard" place - we had so much fun, and I still stay closely in touch with my many international INSEAD friends.

INSEAD was always my first choice due to its truly global profile. I enjoyed working with and living with people with very different backgrounds. The INSEAD experience gave me a broader perspective on important business, organisational and societal topics. In addition, I believe it improved my ability to work and deliver in multicultural teams. I really enjoyed the year at INSEAD and would have liked to do it again!

When I was a consultant at McKinsey, I wanted to pursue a 1-year MBA to develop in all areas of business and leadership. In particular, I was looking for new perspectives on how to adapt to different settings and cultures. INSEAD was my top choice because of the international environment with more than 90 nationalities in a class of 500 and the world-wide alumni association. INSEAD offers deep business knowledge together with practical skills of teamwork and leadership. The fun part is that this is taught not only through theory but also with real-world examples, discussions and teamwork. Looking back, it was the year I developed the most, both academically and personally. I learnt how to effectively share my knowledge and thinking and develop strong long-term relationships. INSEAD was truly an international experience and it gave me the privilege to have friends all over the world. Most importantly, INSEAD gave me a better way to view the world and expand my horizons.

At INSEAD, I explored completely new disciplines as my prior education was a Master's Degree in Law from The University of Oslo. It was a truly stimulating environment with fantastic people from around the world, and I made friends for life.

INSEAD was for me an intense and inspiring learning period: I acquired new functional skills, better business acumen as well as a more international outlook. Working together with different nationalities and personalities in a hectic team environment also helped me understand more about other cultures as well as learning more about myself. INSEAD is also an intensely social experience, which I particularly enjoyed some years later when I accompanied my wife as a spouse (and father for the kids) when she took her MBA.”

INSEAD was a transformative experience – professionally and personally. The unique mix of international perspectives and entrepreneurial energy broadened my skillset and built life-long relationships. For me, it was also a turning point: moving from pure research in technology into leadership and strategy. In today’s complex and fast-changing world, the ability to combine knowledge with strategic flexibility is more important than ever – and INSEAD gave me the foundation for that journey.

INSEAD was a truly transformational experience for me personally. Coming with a business degree and consulting background, I felt that a 2-year MBA would be redundant, so I was delighted to join INSEAD for an intense 12 months. With its high-paced academic profile and its generous social life engaging with people from all corners of the world, I was immediately blown away.

It was a place very open to discuss bold ideas, and it fostered an entrepreneurial spirit. In particular through its legendary "Your First Hundred Days" course which puts you in a real-life setting as an entrepreneur and business owner and tests your judgement and problem-solving in unexpected ways. It spurred my interest in entrepreneurship well before it became cool to be a "Founder" in Norway.

INSEAD was the only school I applied to, as I wanted to explore opportunities across Europe, Asia and the Middle East—and I always found myself connecting best with INSEAD graduates. The program challenged me in ways I couldn’t have imagined, reshaping how I see the world. Being in a classroom full of people from truly diverse backgrounds opened my eyes to how interconnected—and yet how different—we all are, not only in our experiences but in our perspectives. It made me more rounded, curious, and willing to take on opportunities I wouldn’t have dared to dream of before. INSEAD also gave me the confidence and adaptability to live in different countries and move across industries and roles: from Consumer Goods to Tech, from Marketing to Product Management, and even into the world of startups, where I had the chance to help grow one into a unicorn. For someone who once thought entrepreneurship was too risky, this was a leap I would never have taken without INSEAD. Most of all, the community is invaluable—beyond the lifelong friendships, you gain an incredible network of smart, generous professionals, always ready to support and pay it forward.

INSEAD was my top choice because I wanted a truly international experience from a top-tier MBA programme. I believe that diversity fosters the best learning environment; INSEAD stands out in the diversity it promotes within the programme. An INSEAD MBA allowed me to change role, function, geography and industry in my career and gave me access to an incredible alumni network across the world. 13 years after graduating, the INSEAD network continues to be one of my greatest assets.

Since graduating from INSEAD, I have lived in Stockholm, Warsaw, Moscow, Seattle, Munich and Oslo and worked in media, software, semiconductors, energy, banking, consulting and research. The combination of great friends and a unique global perspective from my year in Fontainebleau has been invaluable to me along the journey.