The first quarter at IMD: Discovery and self-reinvention

My arrival in Switzerland took place on January 1st. A new year, a new country, a new life. Looking back now at the end of this first quarter of the IMD MBA, I realized I’ve lived through an intense phase of exploring landscapes, both geographical and personal. It is a period of discovery, ranging from the awe of a new culture to the Herculean challenge of prioritizing/figuring out who we want to be in the future. It is a time for rediscovery but make no mistake: it is not a relaxing break of a sabbatical year. It is an active, accelerated, and, above all, deeply transformative “pause.”

From São Paulo’s energy to Lausanne’s silence

For me, a Brazilian whose longest previous experience abroad had been a couple of week-long vacations and a two-month exchange in Canada, arriving in Switzerland as a resident (rather than a tourist) brought fascinating contrasts. Coming from São Paulo, a metropolis that never sleeps and where convenience is a click away 24 hours a day, the Swiss pace required an immediate mental reconfiguration.

Here, shops close early, and the silence of Sundays is sacred. This forced me to develop a level of weekly planning that I didn’t practice as rigorously in Brazil. In return, however, nature offers a spectacle that compensates for any logistical adjustment. Lac Léman, with its vast blue expanse framed by the Alps, has become the backdrop for my moments of reflection (and quite literally the view from my bedroom window).

The transition from winter to spring in Lausanne marked me deeply. Suddenly, one random day, flowers bloomed with such vibrancy it seemed as though someone had strategically planted them overnight. This rebirth of nature served as a perfect metaphor for what I was beginning to feel inside the classroom: an awakening of new capabilities and perspectives that had been latent. The Swiss silence, once strange, became a pleasant companion for digesting so much new information.

“Childhood friends” in record time

The journey at IMD began with curious glances and a receptivity that transcends borders. In the very first days, I heard a phrase from an alumnus that stuck in my memory: “This MBA year will be the last time in your life that you will make childhood friends.”

At first, the statement seemed like a paradox. How is it possible to create such deep bonds in such a short time? Today, I understand that the intensity of the program acts as a catalyst for vulnerability. We spend the entire day together, facing tight deadlines, heated discussions over case studies, and deep existential reflections. These connections are essential to the journey. Although the path is incredible, it demands an internal transformation that takes time to manage. Having people from such distinct cultures and backgrounds by your side, all sharing the same “butterflies in the stomach”, is what makes the IMD experience unique. We are building a network that, I am certain, many of us will carry for a lifetime.

Vulnerability as a leadership tool

Being in a completely new ecosystem allowed me to discover a version of myself I didn’t know yet. In Brazil, I always relied on my communication skills and natural leadership. However, finding myself navigating a new culture and using a non-native language to discuss complex concepts, I felt those pillars become quite fragile.

It was at this moment of discomfort that I needed to reinvent myself. I had to put my vulnerability on the table and wholeheartedly embrace the role of a learner. In the group activities (the heart of the IMD experience) I learned to see collaboration through a different lens. I learned to listen more, not passive listening, but active and participatory listening, with the genuine intention of being a little better each day than I was the day before.

The triangle challenge: where to focus the energy?

One of the most useful concepts I adopted to better manage this phase is the “MBA Triangle” framework, whose vertices are: Learning, Career, and Social. The IMD schedule, especially at the beginning of the year, is relentlessly intense. It is practically impossible to perform at 100% efficiency across all three vertices simultaneously. You must consciously decide which weight to give to each.

For me, the prioritization in this first quarter was clear. First, Learning: I am passionate about what knowledge can provide, and I want to extract the most out of every class and assessment. Second, Social: I want to maintain the deep connections I mentioned earlier. I can already say I’ve found some new “childhood friends” here. Career, for me, emerges as a natural consequence of this learning and the rediscoveries I am making. I am directing my efforts toward possibilities that truly align with my personal purpose, for the “new Marina” who is blooming along with the Swiss spring.

Expanding frontiers and the Yin-Yang balance

IMD offers sophisticated tools for this expansion: from personality assessments to group dynamics that truly build a new leader, equipped with more resources to lead diverse teams. I have allowed myself to experiment industries and roles that were never on my radar before. Here, boundaries are stretched, and we are encouraged to constantly test the “new”. Who knows if I might discover a latent talent for an industry I had never imagined?

The first quarter is, in essence, a Yin-Yang. It represents opposite yet complementary forces: the delight of knowing the new and the inherent difficulty of accepting change. Growth hurts. Being away from our culture, our favorite foods (what Brazilian abroad wouldn’t miss Brazilian seasoning?), and the people we love is a constant emotional challenge. However, the process of metamorphosis is indescribable. Seeing how adaptable we are and how capable we are of learning and molding ourselves to different perspectives is incredibly rewarding.

I finish these first few months with the feeling that the soil has been prepared. The seeds have been planted, and the first sprouts are already appearing. I am eager for the next chapters of this journey in Lausanne. I am looking forward to the coming months!

Marina Muniz is part of our 2026 MBA class.

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