Kalèbe Kpan, Ivorian

Q: You're just under three months into the IMD program. Have you already added skills for your future?
A: I would point out two key skills. First, working very closely 20 hours a day with a group that is very culturally and professionally diverse, you truly learn to understand and blend perspectives – even if you came here thinking of yourself as open-minded ...

Marina Filippova, Russian

Q: You're a board member with the IMD MBA metals and mining club. Tell me about this.
A: I love the metals and mining industry, and I want to make a real impact in it. I plan to transition to the industry side after many years as a consultant in the field. We started the club to strengthen industry connections...

Andrew Wee, Australian/Filipino

Q: What motivated you to do an MBA at this point in your career?
A: Career progress. I was born in the Philippines but have lived in Australia since I was nine. I'd like at some point to go back to the Philippines and help manage a family coconut oil milling business that my grandfather established 50 years ago...

Sameh Rafla, Canadian/Egyptian

Q: You're a pharmacist and, as an entrepreneur, you grew a multi-million dollar business. Why do an MBA?
A: I co-own four pharmacies in the Toronto, Canada area and ran two of them, though I recently sold those two to free myself to be here. Being a pharmacist is enriching, but I feel I've reached the maximum I could.

Julia Neubauer-Babu, Austrian

Q: You have a background in finance, but you’ve spent much of your time with a not-for-profit that you co-founded. Tell us about this.
A: When I was 16, I earned a scholarship to the Mahindra United World College (UWC) in Pune, India, and volunteered in an orphanage there. I went thinking it would be cute. It wasn’t... When a UWC friend suggested we start a home for orphaned street children, I was right on board...