Right... Without going through the details of INSEAD's language policy, the university requires that all students speak three languages before graduating... With Arabic and English under my belt, my logical choice for a third language was French, since I am already familiar with it from school...
I just sat for the DELF A2, which is the exam used to prove a Basic level of proficiency in French, and I have a feeling I did very well, given the fact that my only recent preparation was one course at CCF (centre culturel francais) and a nice pot of hot brewed coffee before the actual exam...
I must say that I advise anyone planning French as an exit language to sit for the DELF, instead of waiting to do the INSEAD test (a sample of which is available at MBA Connect) for several reasons...
1) Don't waste valuable party time at INSEAD studying for language courses
2) Don't wait till after you are done, and receive a blank paper when graduating
3) DELF is EASY! And by easy, I mean 3'd-grade-special-needs-style-easy... If the sample test I have seen on MBA Connect is 8 on a 10 level scale, then the DELF is easily a 3/10...
With this said, wish me luck... Results are out in about 3 weeks time...
PS, a blogpost about the pre-readings is long over due, but alas, so are the pre-readings themselves!
MooN
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Impressions: A Week After Open Day at Fonty
Impressions? Well, they can be summarized in one phrase: "I was excited before I went to Fonty, but now I just want to fast-forward to January!"... Chances are, you already heard this from me if we spoke or met after my visit... :)
Basically, the school topped my expectations from on all fronts; Campus, staff, current students, admits... and even parties, which started before the courses did, thanks to a wild night out at the Chateaux Villecerf around 30 mins away from campus...
Academics and extracurricular activities: Part of the day was dedicated to giving us a feel for what Amphitheater lectures would be like, and this did not disappoint! I felt the choice of lectures was tailor-made for my needs; One was about a subject I am very interested in exploring (entrepreneurship), while the other was a subject I would rather never be involved in (accounting).
Professor S. David Young, and American Professor of Accounting and Control took center-stage first, and held a very engaging conversation with everyone present on control and transparency issues at modern-day corporations, and the importance of Financial Accounting in giving investors correct information, that leads to informed investments, and thus creation of wealth, which ultimately results in furthering the interests of humanity... A great way to get many reluctant ears to open wide for a not-so-typical accounting lecture.
Professor Young made it very clear that financial accounting is undergoing a paradigm shift, and that GAAP and IFRS are converging to eventually merge into a form that incorporates elements from both accounting standards, rendering many things we currently study obsolete. Hmmmm… :$
Professor Young was also kind enough to give me some pre-reading tips when he answered a post-lecture question I had. I have a 50% chance of getting him as my Professor for the course, and I sure hope I do!
Professor Felipe Santos, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship, a Brazilian, gave an interesting introduction about his department, the courses it offers, and some statistics about INSEAD MBA's and entrepreneurships. Two of them stuck in my mind: First, nearly 80% of INSEAD MBA's experiment with an entrepreneurial venture within 15 years of graduation. Second, about 6-7% of MBA's immediately pursue and entrepreneurial venture post-graduation, most of which are already established entrepreneurs. I feel a middle ground between both statistics would be a good aiming point for my ambitions. I asked Prof. Santos about what proffession the entrepreneurs who constitute the former group (Entrepreneurs within 15 years of graduation...) came from, and the answer was that they represented various professions, but noted that consultancy was an unlikely route for entrepreneurs because of the skill set required for each field... Food for thought, and a question that will definitely make a comeback in my next visit to Fonty...
During the activity-packed day, a couple of fellow admits and I managed to visit the nearby rugby pitch to see the INSEAD Crocodiles thrash the LBS Samurai, which was a surprise defeat by a London team that boasts a very impressive record, and more importantly, a pro-status player in its ranks. It didn’t take much convincing me to join the team when I become a student, as I was so-inclined before I even went. ;)
Career services: The same Amphi witnessed a presentation by Ms. Shwarzer, Career Services Director at INSEAD... It was an interesting presentation that cleared up some misconceptions on what "career services" is, and isn't.
1-It is: A very important service available to students to help them narrow down their career options, best present themselves to potential recruiters (via CV and cover letter advice), secure interviews for them, help trains them for such interviews, and even negotiate some terms on their behalf...
Basically, the school topped my expectations from on all fronts; Campus, staff, current students, admits... and even parties, which started before the courses did, thanks to a wild night out at the Chateaux Villecerf around 30 mins away from campus...
Academics and extracurricular activities: Part of the day was dedicated to giving us a feel for what Amphitheater lectures would be like, and this did not disappoint! I felt the choice of lectures was tailor-made for my needs; One was about a subject I am very interested in exploring (entrepreneurship), while the other was a subject I would rather never be involved in (accounting).
Professor S. David Young, and American Professor of Accounting and Control took center-stage first, and held a very engaging conversation with everyone present on control and transparency issues at modern-day corporations, and the importance of Financial Accounting in giving investors correct information, that leads to informed investments, and thus creation of wealth, which ultimately results in furthering the interests of humanity... A great way to get many reluctant ears to open wide for a not-so-typical accounting lecture.
Professor Young made it very clear that financial accounting is undergoing a paradigm shift, and that GAAP and IFRS are converging to eventually merge into a form that incorporates elements from both accounting standards, rendering many things we currently study obsolete. Hmmmm… :$
Professor Young was also kind enough to give me some pre-reading tips when he answered a post-lecture question I had. I have a 50% chance of getting him as my Professor for the course, and I sure hope I do!
Professor Felipe Santos, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship, a Brazilian, gave an interesting introduction about his department, the courses it offers, and some statistics about INSEAD MBA's and entrepreneurships. Two of them stuck in my mind: First, nearly 80% of INSEAD MBA's experiment with an entrepreneurial venture within 15 years of graduation. Second, about 6-7% of MBA's immediately pursue and entrepreneurial venture post-graduation, most of which are already established entrepreneurs. I feel a middle ground between both statistics would be a good aiming point for my ambitions. I asked Prof. Santos about what proffession the entrepreneurs who constitute the former group (Entrepreneurs within 15 years of graduation...) came from, and the answer was that they represented various professions, but noted that consultancy was an unlikely route for entrepreneurs because of the skill set required for each field... Food for thought, and a question that will definitely make a comeback in my next visit to Fonty...
During the activity-packed day, a couple of fellow admits and I managed to visit the nearby rugby pitch to see the INSEAD Crocodiles thrash the LBS Samurai, which was a surprise defeat by a London team that boasts a very impressive record, and more importantly, a pro-status player in its ranks. It didn’t take much convincing me to join the team when I become a student, as I was so-inclined before I even went. ;)
Career services: The same Amphi witnessed a presentation by Ms. Shwarzer, Career Services Director at INSEAD... It was an interesting presentation that cleared up some misconceptions on what "career services" is, and isn't.
1-It is: A very important service available to students to help them narrow down their career options, best present themselves to potential recruiters (via CV and cover letter advice), secure interviews for them, help trains them for such interviews, and even negotiate some terms on their behalf...
2-It is not: a placement agency... a turnkey solution that guarantees employment...
The future career opportunities were classified as follows: Finance, Consultancy, Industry, and Entrepreneurship. There are two are the dates of interest for the start of career services for my intake (D10); January, and March. I know from the get-go that Finance is the least likely career path for me, so I do not have to worry about the January start date of career services for that field. Career services for the rest of the possible career outcomes start in March, giving me some more time to evaluate my options and undergo the career-building tests available on the INSEAD portal.
Students: A very impressive and diverse mix of very talented people ... And when I say diverse, I mean it in all senses of the word: nationalities, skills, backgrounds, professions, hobbies and interests. It was very nice to see a familiar face; Ghassan Khlat, whom I know from my days at MS&L, as the top Philip Morris guy at Leo Burnett…
Wow... What a mix... Meeting all these individuals is a very humbling experience. We were all told that all INSEAD admits were probably treated like very special individuals in previous settings, and that they should now be ready to feel very average...
Party: It so happened that the INSEAD student inhabitants of the mighty Chateaux Villecerf were hosting a Halloween party to coincide with our Open Day… So straight after the dinner hosted in the INSEAD cafeteria (which, by the way, whips out really tasty food), we headed towards the buses, doing a last minute sprint to catch the last one!
Needless to say, I had not packed a costume, but alarmingly, managed to put together one from my own suitcase, with the help of the receptionist at INSEAD’s Ermitage executive-housing! I will leave a couple of the pics do the talking…
My place: Another thing I managed to do during my visit was to check out 
the place I rented at Fonty… Literally a 5-minute walk from campus, as described, Royal Parc is a pretty neat apartment complex described that mainly houses INSEAD’ers. My place is currently inhabited by a Aline and Leo, Brazilian couple in their last period 
at INSEAD. They were both very helpful and even emailed me the pics you see in this post… And yes, i will be changing the colour of the bed-sheets...The apartment is on the ground floor, and has a nice little terrace to enjoy that nice January weather Western Europe is renowned for!
In addition to my trip to INSEAD, my adventure included two stays in Dubai, and London, during which I managed to see Amon Amarth, Paradise Lost, Katatonia, Engel, and Entombed live in concert, and most importantly, see my sister again, and catch up with some friends I am blessed to have (In London and Dubai)… But hey, more of that on Facebook soon… :) Thank you, and you guys know who you are.
MooN
Friday, October 30, 2009
First Visit to Fonty...
An eventful couple of days so far! After a fun-packed 14-hour layover in Dubai that witnessed a mass nostalgia session (for me at least) at Calabar, I hopped on the plane to Paris, and from there on a couple of trains to finally reach Fontainebleau (affectionately known as Fonty)...Although INSEAD does not offer full-time housing facilities for students, the on-campus Ermitage residence for the visiting executives/faculty were available for the student attendees of the Open day...
A quick walk around town revealed the charmingly simple surroundings I will be calling home for the next year or so, starting in Jan 2010... An ice-cold Chardonnay at the Grand Cafe did not disappoint... and so didn't the sumptuous dinner of Escargots a la Provencale, and Tartare du Boeuf at a local eatery, with a glass of Bordeaux... After all, I rumour has it that INSEAD stands for: I Never Stop Eating And Drinking... :)
My depleted energy levels ensured that I slept well through night... My first full 8-hours in a while... That was a well needed recharge that equipped me for the nexr item to cross off my to do list... And so, I rented a bike... 15 minutes was enough to reveal to me that I still needed to build up my fitness level to biking standards... I have wisely decided not to attach any images of me on a bike... it is not a pretty sight... :)
Having found only 1 out of the MBA program's required pre-reading books in Lebanon, I set out to find Footnote, the on-campus bookstore. I am now the proud owner of: Essentials of Accounting, Principles of Microeconomics, Finance for Executives, and Blue Ocean Strategy (an INSEAD bible authored by 2 prominent faculty members), in addition to The Basics of Financial Management, which I am sure by now misses me from my desk in Beirut...
The time just flew by in the common area while I was chewing threw smoothly through Blue Ocean Strategy, in the process realising how valuable the concepts in it really are... Close to campus lies the Blue Ocean Institute, in front of which I posed for a product-endorsement shot... :)I am supposed to visit my house-to-be in the next couple of hours... The Brazilian couple living there were very helpful and flexible, and so was the land-lad coordinating the process remotely from Paris.
More to come on Residence Royale Parc, and tomorrow's Open Day soon!
A very excited...
...MooN
Friday, October 2, 2009
Habib Foundation - INSEAD Scholarship!
It's been awhile, but it was certainly worth the wait!
I got awarded the Alexis and Ann-Marie Habib Foundation's scholarship to INSEAD :)
(www.habibfoundation.org)
One of my application essays to INSEAD focused on the importance of getting a liberal education, especially in Lebanon, and other 3'd world countries. The scholarship application essay continues that theme, and ties it to the foundation's goal, after a brief intro about yours truly.
Habib Foundation Scholarship Application Essay
Having worked for two multinationals in the communications function, in an international environment, thus realizing my midterm career goals, I am ready to take things to the next level. I believe attaining a degree from INSEAD will bolster my prospects of achieving my career objectives by further widening my skill-set through the practical teaching method it is renowned for.
The multinational experience of getting an MBA from INSEAD would also play a big role in further broadening my world views and global outlook, a continuation to a trend I have been actively experiencing in the past five years. In addition to that, it would provide access an invaluable business network of talented individuals keen on playing there part on the world stage as leaders, opinion shapers, and captains of industry.
My priority will be to hone my entrepreneurial skills, and re-equip my financial tool-box with skills I have not fully practiced in my current communications role. Hopefully, after attaining my MBA, I will aim at filling a senior position within the communications function in the automotive industry for four to five years. With this role will come more responsibilities, exposure, and most importantly business acumen.
When the time is right, after getting that necessary experience, and achieving both professional and personal objectives, I hope to make a transition to an entrepreneurial role. Part of me wishes for this transition to be expedited. I have always kept a folder of interesting business ideas, and am constantly researching their viability. The most appealing one to me so far is ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ :p (u thought I’d actually post it here??!!)--------------------------------------------------------------------------..
One of my life-long goals is to aid, in any capacity I can, the Arab-Israeli peace process. I now have a clearer understanding of the role I might be able to play; connecting like-minded, peace-seeking youth from both sides of the struggle in online forums, with a vision to create interactive experiences and workshops in Europe and the US. There are of course many challenges to overcome when aiming to implement this without breaking existing laws that govern the relations between warring nations.
To truly make an impact, I believe I have to continue the same path in following my career goals, and truly believe an MBA from INSEAD will accelerate this path by providing me with the right foundation to build upon.
I believe that my unwavering dedication to serve my country makes me an ideal candidate for the Alexis and Anne-Marie Habib Foundation Scholarship. I am a great proponent of liberal education, and appreciate the foundation’s generous contributions to open doors for the Lebanese youth, so Lebanon can prosper through the efforts of its most valuable resource: its people. Whether or not I succeed in securing this scholarship, I hope I can one day be in a position to extend my support to the foundation’s noble goals and promote the culture of supporting promising compatriots.
Happy and thankful...
MooN
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Student Visa - Step 1 complete...
Soooo.... Just my luck... The French Embassy has adopted a new, more rigorous procedure for student visas... Among other ridiculous requests from a very user-unfriendly site (http://www.liban.campusfrance.org/) I had to get my grades from the Lebanese Baccalaureate II (1999)!!!
Anyway, the hardship is now behind me, as my "dossier" has been "validee"... (yes, I am sitting for French courses...)... The gentleman who interviewed me was a very nice person who's son attended INSEAD as well (his family name escapes me though...)... He congratulated me on getting into INSEAD, and even drew me a little map of Fonty, and was very helpful in providing some tips on accommodation... now that is a whole other story I am sure I'll get to recounting soon...
My appointment at the Embassy has been scheduled for Friday the 25th of Sept... 9:45 AM... All my papers are in order, and i should get the visa stamped before the end of Oct... So I might be able to go to the INSEAD open day on Oct 31'st in Fonty...
Cheers
\m/
Anyway, the hardship is now behind me, as my "dossier" has been "validee"... (yes, I am sitting for French courses...)... The gentleman who interviewed me was a very nice person who's son attended INSEAD as well (his family name escapes me though...)... He congratulated me on getting into INSEAD, and even drew me a little map of Fonty, and was very helpful in providing some tips on accommodation... now that is a whole other story I am sure I'll get to recounting soon...
My appointment at the Embassy has been scheduled for Friday the 25th of Sept... 9:45 AM... All my papers are in order, and i should get the visa stamped before the end of Oct... So I might be able to go to the INSEAD open day on Oct 31'st in Fonty...
Cheers
\m/
An intro...
Hey there... If you are on this blog, you probably know me... If not, feel free to read on though...
To make a long story short, I have been admitted into INSEAD, and will start my MBA studies in Fontainebleau (Fonty), in France... I plan to use this blog to document (some of) my learnings and experiences as I embark upon a journey I hope will expand my horizon, and contribute to my personal and professional maturity... I will also be occasionally posting items related to my interests, hobbies, and extracurricular activities...
I ask of anyone who wishes to comment on blog posts to respect the limits of decency, as the primary objective is for this blog to act as a means of communication with my family and friends...
Cheers
\m/
To make a long story short, I have been admitted into INSEAD, and will start my MBA studies in Fontainebleau (Fonty), in France... I plan to use this blog to document (some of) my learnings and experiences as I embark upon a journey I hope will expand my horizon, and contribute to my personal and professional maturity... I will also be occasionally posting items related to my interests, hobbies, and extracurricular activities...
I ask of anyone who wishes to comment on blog posts to respect the limits of decency, as the primary objective is for this blog to act as a means of communication with my family and friends...
Cheers
\m/
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