How to Launch a Great Management Career
On 1 September 2020, the pioneering INSEAD Master in Management (MIM) class started their journey on the school's iconic Fontainebleau campus.
While INSEAD’s traditional master programmes are designed for experienced global professionals, the MIM programme targets a new group of post-graduate, pre-experience learners.
However, the MIM is not a new format in the market. With the growing demand for business education at a postgraduate level, such programmes have been successfully launched and are thriving at many other top business schools already.
So how does the INSEAD MIM differ from other schools' offerings, and how does it compare to the well-known INSEAD MBA?
We caught up with MIM Programme Director Thibault Séguret, himself an INSEAD MBA graduate from the class of 2012'J, to learn more about this programme.
In what way does the INSEAD MIM stand out compared to competitors, and how does it fit into INSEAD's portfolio of degree programmes?
Creating any new programme at INSEAD follows a well-thought-out and inclusive consultation process, involving faculty and the school board. We also took the time to consult recruiters to gather their feedback on what skills and knowledge MIM graduates were lacking today in the workplace, to make sure that what we want to offer is a cut above the rest.
This process led us to create a programme that answers in depth the needs of the graduate job market today. We offer a practice-oriented pedagogy and relevant skills, enabling students to launch a great management career in today’s complex world, and move it in new and exciting directions.
Last but not least, this new, innovative age group will enrich INSEAD’s community as a whole, increasing the diversity across generations, which will benefit all of us. As such, we see the creation of the MIM as an extension of the school’s mission, which is to bring together people, cultures and ideas to develop responsible business leaders who transform society and businesses.
How does the programme compare to the INSEAD MBA?
Although the INSEAD MBA and MIM programme bear some similarities (they are both full-time, and cover general business education) they are fundamentally different.
The MIM is designed for postgraduates with minimal or no work experience, who are looking to attain knowledge in general management and gain experiential learning before entering the job market and launching their career. Therefore, the INSEAD MIM curriculum is very practice-oriented, preparing graduates to be efficient and operational for their first job through simulations, workshops and group work.
The curriculum also features intensive, experiential blocks at the end of each period, where students apply their knowledge in real-life situation co-developed with recruiters. Each of these experiential blocks is designed around one or two typical post-MIM functions and will allow our students not only to gain hands-on experience but also to confirm where they want to start their career after the MIM.
The INSEAD MBA continues to be tailored for experienced professionals with around six years of work experience who are looking to make a career change, accelerate their careers, or willing to create new business ventures.
The two programmes cannot substitute each other as they cater to different needs, in various stages of the students’ careers. From an admissions perspective, we have created clear line: As soon as a candidate is eligible for the MBA in terms of work experience, he or she is no longer eligible for the MIM.
What does your ideal MIM candidate look like?
We are reaching out globally to top-performing graduates from any field of study. Same as with all other programmes, we carefully examine the candidates’ cultural fit with INSEAD’s values – intellectual curiosity, creativity, open-mindedness, and a demonstrated adaptability to different cultures. Candidates also have to show their desire to evolve in a global career.
The ideal MIM candidate for INSEAD may have lived in several countries already or been exposed to different cultures. He/she is looking to expand his/her professional perspectives by acquiring general management capabilities and in-demand skills while gaining a technological edge.
MIM participants come from a wide variety of study fields for their undergraduate degrees, thus creating this diversity of thought and different perspectives in the classroom that make our INSEAD experience so valuable.
How many intakes do you have per year, and what should interested candidates do next?
The INSEAD MIM has one intake per year, and the next cohort will start in September 2021. We have five admissions deadlines spread throughout the year, with the final date being 2 June 2021.
In the meantime, I invite you to learn more about the programme and join us at one of our events to speak with our recruitment team or hear directly from current students.
