You’ve made a mark.

You’re motivated.
You’ve hardly begun.

Executive MBA Programme

2008/2009
2007/2008
As one of the world’s leading and largest
graduate business schools, INSEAD brings
together people, cultures and ideas from
around the world to change lives and
transform organisations.

This worldly perspective and cultural diversity

are reflected in all aspects of our research
and teaching. In the course of a year, across
the school’s two comprehensive and fully
connected campuses in Asia (Singapore)
and Europe (France), 138 renowned faculty
members from 32 countries inspire more than 2
887 MBA participants, 117 Executive MBAs 4
and 54 PhD candidates. In addition, over 8,500 7
executives from the world’s leading companies
8
gain vital leadership skills through our 11
extensive Executive Education offering, 12
both
on our campuses and at our new centre 15
in
Abu Dhabi. Across this comprehensive 16
range
of programmes, our participants come 17
from
over 100 countries and represent all continents.
21
22
On both campuses and at research centres 25
in the Middle East (Abu Dhabi and Israel),
26
faculty conduct leading-edge research 29
projects
with the support of 15 Centres of Excellence.
31
The INSEAD-Wharton Alliance and our 32
partnership with Tsinghua University in China
further extend the reach of INSEAD business
education and research across three continents.

Today’s multinational, multicultural, multi-

connected business world needs leaders
with the knowledge and sensitivity to operate
anywhere in the world. This is why business
turns to INSEAD – to create the next
generation of transcultural leaders.

Welcome to the Business School for the World.

Frank Brown, Dean

 Contents

4 You could do even better

6 A faculty for inspiration
9 Many cultures. No dominant culture.
10 3 objectives.
13 Smarter manager. Better leader.
14 A rigorous education
17 Real world relevance
18 France. Singapore. Home. Work.
19 15 months
23 Learning by doing
24 Your company’s investment
27 One school. Two campuses.
28 A lifelong professional network
31 Admissions
33 Career services
34 Module dates

INSEAD EMBA 
You could
do even better

The INSEAD Executive MBA could be the

launching pad for the next phase of your
career. The programme will prepare you for
senior management roles and develop your
leadership skills and confidence. It will provide
a timely career boost as you encounter
broader, more complex, less familiar issues,
requiring a more integrated view of business.

During the programme, as you continue

your current career, you will apply the new
knowledge gained. Over 15 months, with
12 weeks on campus, our world-class faculty
will expose you to the latest business
concepts. Your assumptions and beliefs will
be tested. The practices you currently accept
will be challenged.

You will also be exposed to a diverse group

of experienced, talented fellow participants,
from over 30 different countries. This diversity,
which also applies to our faculty, makes
INSEAD truly global.

EMBA alumni tell us that studying for the

INSEAD Executive MBA is a career and
life-changing experience. To share in that
experience, join us.

Charles Galunic
Dean INSEAD Executive MBA, The Aviva Chaired
Professor of Leadership and Responsibility

 INSEAD EMBA
A faculty for
inspiration

Our excellent, dedicated faculty is the starting

point for the INSEAD EMBA programme. Chief Executive Officer
Ministry of Health Holdings Pte Ltd
Appreciating both theory and practice, they
Singaporean
accept that theories and concepts don’t
amount to insights and value unless they I wanted to experience
succeed in solving real business problems. teaching by faculty who
were conversant in best-in-
Our faculty are among the world’s leading class practices and thinking,
academic and business management learning with peers who
researchers. The faculty includes the had proven managerial
authors of Blue Ocean Strategy whose and leadership ability, and
worldwide bestseller is a guide to making exposure to as many cultures
the competition irrelevant by creating as humanly possible. And
uncontested market space. I wanted the programme
to be relevant and allow for
Our teaching and research staff are not simply classroom learning to instantly
world experts in modern management be applicable to workplace
techniques and entrepreneurial studies. performance. The INSEAD
They are also expert at passing on their skills. EMBA was the only
At INSEAD, our faculty’s inspirational talent programme that allowed me
in the classroom is as important as their ability to achieve all these objectives.
to prepare erudite research papers.

Their specialisations and fields of research

are also diverse, covering the major issues
facing international business. Not surprisingly,
given the school’s multicultural emphasis,
much of their work has a global dimension.
> For faculty profiles please visit www.insead.edu/emba

 INSEAD EMBA
Herminia Ibarra
INSEAD Chaired Professor
of Organisational Behaviour
We only have one life but many possible careers.
Challenging ourselves to find one that truly fits
is one of the most rewarding choices we make
as adults.
 Many cultures.
No dominant
culture.

Like you, each EMBA participant brings

33
different nationalities
a unique culture and mindset. Each has
an international outlook. Each is eager
to share best practices with people from
other cultures and other industries.
21%
women
Blend this multiculturalism with the open-
minded approach of our international faculty,
and an exciting learning environment is
created. At INSEAD, no single culture prevails.
Each makes a contribution.

EMBA participants are more senior and

experienced than regular MBA students.
With an average 10 years’ work experience,
they are seasoned professionals, able to
exercise sound business judgement and
to share worthwhile experience. As well
as strong analytical ability, participants
also demonstrate emotional maturity
and interpersonal skills. Their recognised
achievements give them the confidence
to handle testing business challenges.

INSEAD EMBA 
3 objectives

Leadership is your ultimate objective and our

priority. To achieve this goal, however, two Chief Financial Officer
Kuehne + Nagel
preliminary objectives must first be fulfilled.
Swiss

Managerial competence The INSEAD Executive MBA

Without mastering basic disciplines such as programme is a challenging
marketing, finance and strategy, your decisions yet outstanding educational
are likely to be flawed. Rigorous analysis and platform, covering the various
problem solving are part of the programme, aspects of successful modern
along with an emphasis on inter-personal skills. management.
You will also learn to take a generalist stance, In particular the balanced
viewing the business as a whole. composition within the
triangle of hard topics,
Global mindset soft topics and personal
Exploiting INSEAD’s rich international culture, development turned the
the programme promotes awareness of programme into an extremely
economic, social and political trends while satisfying and personally
encouraging curiosity and cultural sensitivity. rewarding experience.
The need for sustainable development also
features in the programme. It is not to be missed!

Leadership and personal development

You will learn how to harness your ambition
and drive innovation. Leaders must articulate
meaningful goals and mobilise the energies
around them, so organisational and team
leadership is a core part of the programme.

INSEAD’s EMBA is distinctive in its leadership

development; the next page explains how.

10 INSEAD EMBA
Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries,
The Raoul de Vitry d’Avaucourt Chaired
Professor of Leadership Development,
Director of INSEAD Global Leadership
Centre (IGLC)
 Smarter manager.
Better leader.

Our EMBA will boost both your management

Courses proficiency and your leadership skills. Gaining
confidence as a leader, you will learn to turn
a group of disconnected people into a strong,
Academic motivated team. You will acquire the skills to
Content shape collective ambition and infuse values
into your firm.
DP y
s

Teaching Da
L

To make all this happen, our Leadership

Development Process provides personal,
hands-on approaches to improving
A Leaders fo leadership skills, supported by our Global
B r
Leadership Centre.
EM

um

Live Our integrated curriculum will help you

Forums identify and develop your own leadership
style. A professional coach will help you
xe ng design a personal development plan with
e
E

cut
ive excha specific improvement goals based on a unique
360 degree feedback tool. Personal coaching
will then help you achieve these goals.
Building D
am- a
e This process will also be supported by
T

Interactive the Executive Exchange. You and a fellow

Coaching participant will observe each other’s
Experiences communication and management behaviour
and provide constructive feedback.
s

Issues relating to self-development and career

LD

P
es

Co oc
aching Pr management will also be explored in depth.

INSEAD EMBA 13
A rigorous
education

Focusing on the fundamentals, we offer these

core courses during the first five modules. Core Courses
– Uncertainty, data and
At the end of each core course, an exam will judgement
test your understanding of the concepts and – Leading people and
organisations
your ability to use them for problem-solving
– Marketing management
and decision-making. – Financial accounting
– Negotiation analysis
Later, during the July module, you will – Prices and markets
expand your business understanding by – Strategy
choosing from a portfolio of electives. – Process and operations
Management
– Accounting
At the end of the programme you will
– Macroeconomics
conclude with a computer-based business – International political analysis
simulation which will allow you to exercise – Finance
your general management skills and analyse,
over time, the effect and interdependence
of complex business decisions. The game Electives (sample)
replicates a set of international competitors, – Competitive supply chains:
each with multiple products. A value-based management
perspective
> For course descriptions please visit www.insead.edu/emba – The psychology of
leadership
– Industry and competitive
analysis
– Private equity
– Advanced applied
corporate finance
– Strategies for Asia Pacific
– Mergers and acquisitions
– Financial statement analysis
– Understanding consumers
– Making of strategy
– Management of services

14 INSEAD EMBA
 Real world
relevance

Executive MBA programmes at many business

Key Management Challenge schools take a limited view of corporate life.
Courses (sample) Focusing on the theory of management
– Your first hundred days at the expense of day-to-day practicalities,
– Product and technology they deliver a narrow, fragmented view
innovation of business dilemmas.
– Managing multinational
enterprise Here at INSEAD, we recognise that managers
– Entrepreneurship in the real world must cope with complex
– Information and situations as they occur, under conditions
communication technologies of uncertainty with incomplete information.
– Managing strategic change Building on our core courses, we therefore
discuss real business challenges, where
experience and judgement are as useful
as sophisticated business models.

We cover these issues from the general

management perspective. Reflecting
reality, these ‘Key Management Challenges’
can seldom be systematically and rigorously
solved. You are therefore encouraged
to share best practice and argue your
viewpoint with fellow business practitioners.

INSEAD EMBA 17
France. Singapore.
Home. Work.

Be warned. The 15-month INSEAD EMBA

is challenging and intense. Learning and
doing blend together in a fast-paced, highly-
charged and exhilarating environment.
This learning environment will include your
home and office, as your Executive MBA will
be gained whilst advancing your career.

You will balance your professional and

personal responsibilities with on-campus
study in Fontainebleau and Singapore,
in addition to off-campus assignments.
During the 15 months there will be 12 weeks
of on-campus work, 5 weeks of off-campus
assignments and at least 10 to 15 hours
of weekly homework.

To make the best use of your travel time,

the on-campus, in-residence modules in
Fontainebleau or Singapore include four
modules of one-week and four of two-weeks.
The on-campus modules are about six
weeks apart.

As well as working on campus, off-campus

assignments must be completed between
modules. Equivalent to around five full-time
weeks, these assignments include
implementation essays, reflection papers, an
in-company project and Executive Exchange.

16 INSEAD EMBA
18
15 Months

Oct Nov Dec

25th–8th Nov
Core courses
2 weeks
Fontainebleau

Jan Feb Mar

5th–10th 2nd–14th
Core courses Core Courses
1 week 2 weeks
Fontainebleau Singapore

Apr May Jun

4th–9th
Core courses
1 week
Fontainebleau

Jul Aug Sep

6th–18th 7th–11th
Elective courses Elective courses
2 weeks 1 week
Singapore Fontainebleau

Oct Nov Dec

19th–23rd 7th–17th
Elective courses Elective courses
1 week 2 weeks
Singapore Fontainebleau
Laurent Aymard
Chief Financial Officer
Yves Saint Laurent
Executive MBA 2004

My decision to undertake an Executive MBA

was motivated by the feeling that I needed
to get prepared in order to launch my career
to a next level. This meant securing a senior
executive position and developing the skills
necessary to succeed in a challenging and
a multicultural environment.

The combination of academic excellence

and cultural diversity at INSEAD appeared
to make it the place where that would happen.
Choosing INSEAD meant working with
top-level faculty, benefiting from their cutting-
edge research, going through innovative and
interactive teaching methods and diving into
the middle of a unique crowd of participants –
people coming from all over the world with
an exceptionally broad range of experiences.
By applying to other institutions in parallel
I was quickly convinced that INSEAD was
the right choice for achieving such an
outstanding experience.

Within just a few months after graduating

from the Executive MBA I landed the dream
job – becoming the CFO of a renowned
organisation with a worldwide presence,
Yves Saint Laurent.

My INSEAD experience played a significant

role in securing this position. It gave me
confidence. It developed me and prepared
me for a multicultural world, with the ability
to manage across different cultures and to
interact efficiently and respectfully.
Graznya Piotrowska-Oliwa
Chairman & CEO
PTK Centertel (Orange Poland)
Executive MBA 2005

I chose INSEAD for its great reputation –

and this was the experience of my life, in
terms of the excellent faculty and fantastic
peers. In addition I was at a point in my
career where I wanted to not only build on
areas in which I already had deep experience,
but it was also important to strengthen my
knowledge in some specific areas –
marketing, finance and organisational
behaviour. INSEAD lets you do both.

Furthermore, the programme was well

structured from a work management point
of view – one was able to study and work
at the same time. This was extremely
important to me as I still had great
responsibilities within my organisation.

After graduation from INSEAD I accepted

a position as Chairman & Chief Executive
Officer with a mobile operator which is part
of the FT/Orange group. I lead an organisation
of 3,200 people and an approximate turnover
of 2,3 billion EUR annually. Furthermore,
we are the leader in the Polish market with
13 million customers.

My INSEAD experience helped develop

and strengthen my knowledge which allows
me to manage a market leader in the tele-
communications industry with confidence.

Business Process Improvement
Director Europe
Tech Data
French
Learning, growing, exploring,
discovering... not only about
organisations but also about
people and about yourself.
This year has been for some
of us a stepping stone and
for others the beginning of
a transition. No matter what
our expectations were at the
beginning of the programme,
we are all coming out with a
feeling of having exceeded
what we wanted to achieve.
Learning by doing
We provide a bridge from theory to reality.
After all, intellectual rigour has little purpose
without application. Every day, as you pursue
your career, you will be able to apply the
conceptual tools you acquire during
your studies.
An applied team project makes up a major
part of the programme. An important career
development opportunity, this is not a case
study, but a real project dealing with concrete,
current business issues. This can be a new
venture, a major corporate innovation, or any
other idea that interests you. It will give you
the opportunity to weave together all the
elements you have learned.
In another application of your learning, you
will be asked to write three implementation
essays as part of your off-campus
assignments. Related to one of the core
courses, each essay will explore the
interaction (or clash) between business
theory and reality. You will also produce
a reflection paper on your take-out from
the Key Management Challenges course.
This will provide pointers to the way you
intend to use your learning back at work.
INSEAD EMBA 23
Your company’s
investment

As a business school rooted in reality,

we accept that all investments must produce Sample of
an attractive return. In return for giving corporate sponsors
a talented person’s time, sponsoring Deutsche Bank
companies achieve rapid, substantial EDF
payback. Over just 15 months, they develop HP
their managerial talent, providing the JPMorgan Chase
organisation’s future leaders. PricewaterhouseCoopers
SAP
From the start, we will work with you and your Shell
company to explain the content and goals UBS
of the Executive MBA programme and
encourage active use of the new skills
gained. Towards the end of the programme,
we will help you plan your next steps.

The short-term benefits include immediate

application of the new learning. As you
continue to work while you pursue your
degree, you can apply your newly acquired
skills each time you return from a programme
module. Our active learning methodology
incorporates implementation essays
and a team project to enhance return
on training investment.

Longer-term, the benefits include

strengthening of the company’s leadership
pipeline for years to come.

24 INSEAD EMBA

Regional Operating Officer
Member of the
Management Board
METRO Cash & Carry
International GmbH
British
A significant benefit of the
INSEAD EMBA is the two
campus approach. This
approach brings a number
of benefits; the diversity
of the students is improved
as you have a mix of students
bringing different cultural
approaches while spending
time in France and Singapore
also brings obvious
advantages of experiencing
‘old Europe’ and the dynamics
of the city state of Singapore.
One school.
Two campuses.
During your on-campus modules you will
not only explore new routes to leadership –
you will also discover some enjoyable
diversions. Fontainebleau’s proximity to
Paris, its many fine restaurants and its forest
walks offer re-energising possibilities.
Similarly, Singapore’s shopping and
sightseeing opportunities provide refreshing
off-campus interest.
At both campuses, you will experience our
high-tech learning facilities. In Fontainebleau,
you may spend productive time in the
Georges and Edna Doriot Library containing
45,000 books, 1,400 printed and electronic
periodicals and access to many database
resources. Twenty amphitheatres seat over
1,500 people and 130 specialised group
work areas are situated around the campus.
Our Asia campus, located in Singapore’s
‘knowledge hub’, is just 25 minutes from
the airport and 10 minutes from the financial
district. It has seven amphitheatres with
a total capacity of 500, an 85-room residence
and telecommunication links allowing
participants on both campuses to attend
lectures and discussions in real time.
INSEAD EMBA 27
A lifelong
professional
network

The very nature of the Executive MBA Number of countries with

programme relieves the pressure for post- over 100 MBA alumni:
MBA job searches. Competition within
the group is therefore much less intrusive.
As the focus is clearly on learning and
understanding, there is an emphasis
23
INSEAD
on the active exchange of ideas.

You and your fellow EMBA participants will

learn at least as much from each other as
9
Average of top US
from the world-class INSEAD faculty and the business schools
carefully designed curriculum. During the
15-month programme you will create a strong
professional (and often personal) international
network that will last a lifetime.
4
Average of top European
business schools
The richness of this network stems from
its cultural, geographical and professional
diversity. Members share issues in confidence,
benefiting from its deep reservoir of expertise.
Post-programme activities and events maintain
and further develop the network.

This powerful alumni grouping is present

in 136 countries and the INSEAD Alumni
Association is part of an active network
of 39 individual national associations with
over 30,000 members worldwide.

28 INSEAD EMBA
Admissions
How to apply
All applications to join the
INSEAD Executive MBA
programme should be
made online:
>www.insead.edu/emba/admissions
Please note the following steps
must be submitted for an
application to be considered
complete.
1. Application Form
Your application to join the
INSEAD EMBA Programme
should be made with the form
online.
2. Essays
As part of the application form,
there are six Essay Questions.
3. Two Letters of Reference
You are responsible for
securing two reference letters
(written in English) from
individuals qualified to comment
about your professional
achievements and your career
potential. One of the letters
should come from a direct
supervisor. The second letter is at
your discretion. The letters links
are available as part of the online
application form.
4. Official Transcripts of Grades,
Degrees and Diploma
Must be with Certified translation
in English – where applicable.
Photocopies are not acceptable
unless officially certified. These
should be sent via postal mail.
5. Original GMAT score
Report sent by the test centre.
INSEAD Executive MBA code:
INSEAD DL3-S8-14 Business
Programs, Executive MBA
Please note: If you have already
taken the GMAT in the past, your
score is valid for 5 years.
6. Original TOEFL/TOEIC/IELTS
Cambridge Proficiency score
This report (when applicable*)
is sent by ETS INSEAD Executive
MBA code: 7198
*This requirement may be waived if,
for example, you have worked, trained
or schooled in a country where English
is the main language.
7. Application Fee
This is a fee of € 200 (non-
refundable). Payment is made
by credit card only. Once you
have submitted your online
application form you will be
prompted to provide your card
details.
Application Deadlines
We operate a staged admissions
process involving four rounds.
The deadlines for OCTOBER 2008
(Class of December 2009):
1st Round: 24 March 2008
2nd round: 19 May 2008
3rd round: 30 June 2008
4th round: 15 September 2008
The Executive MBA programme
begins on October 25, 2008.
Graduation is at the end of
December 2009.
INSEAD EMBA 31
Career Services
Whether you are self-sponsored
and looking to change careers,
or company sponsored and
looking to evolve within your
corporation, we can help you
develop and implement a clear
and suitable career management
strategy. Over the 8 modules
of your programme we will
organise a series of activities
including workshops,
discussions and one-on-one
counselling sessions.
We have developed a clearly
defined three-step journey to
help you manage or re-define
your career. The journey begins
with Self-Awareness, moves on to
the formulation of a Professional
Development Goal and ends with
Implementation. As each step
represents an individual
progression, we encourage you
to adopt a tailored, personalised
approach.
Earn your MBA in
15 months
The INSEAD Executive MBA
programme is structured to
optimise participants’ travel and
maximise time spent on-campus
during the in-residence modules.
The programme takes place on
both the INSEAD Europe Campus
in Fontainebleau, France, and on
the INSEAD Asia Campus in
Singapore. For the complete
on-campus module dates, please
consult the calendar on the
next page.*
Tuition fee *
The tuition fee for the Executive
MBA 2008–2009 is €90,000.
The tuition fee covers teaching
fees, all academic material,
access to the school library,
all computing charges, lunches,
parking and selected dinners.
The tuition fee does not include
transportation, accommodation
and dinners. INSEAD does,
however, make all necessary
reservations for accommodation
either on our campuses or at
nearby hotels.
* Both dates and tuition fees are
subject to change.
INSEAD EMBA 33
 Module dates
On-campus modules
25 October – 8 November 2008
Core Courses
2 weeks
Fontainebleau campus
5 – 10 January 2009
Core Courses
1 week
Fontainebleau campus
2 – 14 March 2009
Core Courses
2 weeks
Singapore campus
4 – 9 May 2009
Core Courses
1 week
Fontainebleau campus
6 – 18 July 2009
Elective Courses
2 weeks
Singapore campus
7 – 11 September 2009
Elective Courses
1 week
Fontainebleau campus
19 – 23 October 2009
Elective Courses
1 week
Fontainebleau campus
7 – 17 December 2009
Elective Courses
2 weeks
Fontainebleau campus
34 INSEAD EMBA
Off-campus assignments
Implementation essays
1 week equivalent
Reflection papers
1 week equivalent
Projects and Executive
Exchange
3 week equivalent
Contact us
or visit us
Undertaking your Executive
MBA is a major decision.
We encourage you to visit
us on campus in order to have
an insight into where you will be
spending part of your Executive
MBA year. A number of Executive
MBA Open Day Events are
organised on both campuses.
These will allow you to learn
more about the programme,
ask questions, visit the campus
and meet with EMBA staff,
participants and faculty.
The INSEAD Executive MBA
department also conducts
information sessions throughout
the world, and we encourage
you to come along to these
when they are happening in
your region.
For more details on these events
and registration, we advise you
to go to the EMBA events page
on our website. To be considered
for admission to the INSEAD
Executive MBA, a complete
application file must be submitted
online – we do not accept e-mail
or postal applications.
The application form may be
downloaded from the Admissions
section of our website.
> www.insead.edu/emba
Notes

INSEAD EMBA 37
38 INSEAD EMBA
Notes

© INSEAD 2008 Photography: Robin Grierson, Henry Koh and Contextes Words: Howard Fletcher Design: NB Studio Print: PUSH
Europe Campus
Boulevard de Constance
77305 Fontainebleau Cedex, France
Tel: + 33 (0)1 60 72 40 00
Fax: +33 (0)1 60 74 55 00

Asia Campus
1 Ayer Rajah Avenue, Singapore 138676
Tel: + 65 67 99 53 88
Fax: +65 67 99 53 99

www.insead.edu