INSEAD MIM Interview: From Non-Business Major to Top School, ft. Ann

Updated 2026/10/16

Today’s guest is Ann (LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ann-yilin686868 / Instagram: @ann._.yll), a graduate of the Department of Southeast Asian Languages and Cultures at National Chengchi University. She talks about moving from a non-business major into business, how she found her strengths on a tight timeline after deciding to apply late, and what studying in INSEAD’s MIM is like.

Ann was one of the applicants I worked with last year who stuck with me most. Her background is varied (a cross-disciplinary application, volunteering, internships and more), and she was very clear about her goals. Under real time pressure, she made it through the applications and interviews at top business schools and landed an offer from INSEAD.

For another INSEAD MiM interview, see: A must-read for MIM applicants: winning an INSEAD MIM scholarship, nudging for an offer, essay strengths, interview prep, GRE tips and a school-selection timeline, ft. Sandra

About the INSEAD Master in Management (MIM)

INSEAD at a glance

INSEAD is one of the top business schools in the world, and it carries particular weight in Europe. It works closely with consulting firms such as McKinsey, Bain and BCG, with top investment banks such as Goldman Sachs, and with multinational companies, which gives students plenty of career resources. Top companies have long recruited heavily from INSEAD, and its alumni network is strong, so graduates find it easier to get referrals and help from alumni when they job hunt.

A strong start for an early career

The Master in Management (MIM) is an intensive business program built for new graduates and young professionals with up to two years of work experience. It gives you a solid management foundation early in your career.

When I looked into it, INSEAD’s graduate career numbers impressed me. Alumni and the Career Development Centre (CDC) play a big part in how graduates find work: 59% of graduates got their jobs through alumni or the CDC. By industry, management consulting is still the most popular choice at 40%, and top firms like MBB are common employers for this program. By region, the largest group, 53%, stays in Europe, 27% go to Asia, and a fair number (16%) choose the Middle East, a growing market.

Studying across countries and continents

One of the biggest draws of INSEAD MIM is its dual-campus model, with campuses in France and Singapore. Students get to immerse themselves in both European and Asian business cultures, and they have a wider range of markets to choose from when they look for jobs after graduation.

The MIM also includes a Study Trip. Each student picks one destination among Abu Dhabi, San Francisco, Singapore and the China campus, and uses the trip to get a quick read on local business trends and culture and to experience daily life there.

An intensive curriculum that builds business thinking

INSEAD MIM runs 14 to 16 months and the workload is heavy. The courses cover harder business skills such as data analytics, machine learning, valuation and strategic planning, with as much weight on practical application as on theory.

A truly multicultural classroom

INSEAD has long been known for the diversity of its students. At North American business schools, domestic students often make up 50 to 70% or more of the class. INSEAD students come from dozens of countries, and no single group is the majority. That environment helps students build a global outlook and adapt faster to international workplaces, which is good preparation for working across borders later.

If you are young, want to work for top global companies, want an international career and are ready for a demanding program, INSEAD MIM is well worth considering as a springboard.

From a non-business major to management: challenges and growth

Why did you want to switch fields and apply for a business master’s with a humanities background?

Alongside my foreign language major, I had always been interested in business, so from my first year I was “exploring on purpose.” The courses I took and the internships I did were all ways to find what I really liked and to see whether I could connect experience from different fields.

After my exchange semester in the Netherlands, I realized I was especially motivated in a diverse, international environment. My internships had also made me more and more interested in business, so I became surer that this was my direction. Applying for an MIM felt like a natural step, a way to turn the interests and experience I had built up into a fuller career change.

Did your non-business background make applying, or later studying in a business master’s, harder (for example, coping with tougher coursework)? How did you deal with it?

It did take some adjusting at first, especially with material I had never seen before, like valuation and microeconomics.

I watched YouTube tutorials, asked classmates and friends, and used ChatGPT to help me understand the concepts. I broke down the spots where I was stuck one at a time, then figured out a way to prepare for exams that worked for me.

That process taught me how to build my own methods in an unfamiliar setting, and it gave me more control over this cross-disciplinary learning.

Applying to INSEAD: strategy and finding your strengths on a tight timeline

Why did you decide to apply for an MIM relatively late? How did you plan your application timeline?

At first I was in no hurry to start grad school at that point, so I stayed open and explored different options. Then in January 2024 I went to an INSEAD MIM alumni event, learned a lot more about the program, and decided to apply. Only Round 3 and Round 4 were left by then, so I set Round 4 as my deadline and made a schedule. I checked where I stood on the GRE and my language scores first, then worked backward to set dates for my essays, recommendation letters and other application documents. Every step had a fixed slot, so I could finish everything in time.

How did you plan your time to finish the application so quickly?

I usually manage my time in small blocks, with clear deadlines and priorities. I checked my progress every day and adjusted as I went. The schedule was tight, but I deliberately left some gaps so I could focus on the most important, highest-impact parts, and I made sure I got enough rest so fatigue wouldn’t drag my efficiency down later on.

Pacing matters a lot to me. If you plan what each stage needs and then move through the items one by one, you can keep both the quality of your work and your own state in good shape.

How did you highlight, or “find,” your strengths during the application? Did you need to stress the advantages of a non-traditional background?

Look back at your experiences and note which ones gave you the most sense of achievement and the most passion. Those are your strengths!

Because my background spans several fields, I made a point of pulling together my experience in strategy and cross-cultural communication, and I explained how it helps me offer insights in a team that have depth and land well with people.

I don’t really see “non-business” as a weakness. I look at it from another angle, stress what makes me different, and translate that into concrete things I can do that are valuable in a business setting.

What helped you win over the admissions team in the interview? How did you prepare?

I think what makes you memorable is being genuine and knowing clearly who you are.

When I prepared, I first picked out a few core traits, such as my cross-disciplinary experience, my sensitivity to team dynamics and how well I adapt to new environments. Then I paired each with specific experiences that show it. That way the interviewer hears more than adjectives and gets a sense of who you really are.

I also practiced again and again so my stories would flow naturally and sound logical without feeling stiff. That makes them feel more alive to the listener and helps build trust.

Studying at INSEAD: international business education and personal growth

Which courses or activities at INSEAD had the biggest impact on you, and why?

The ones that stayed with me most were Machine Learning & Optimization and Macroeconomics.

The professor for Machine Learning & Optimization taught in a very logical, well-organized way, so we could get the core concepts down systematically in a short time. Even students like me with no engineering background could clearly follow the logic behind the models and where they apply. Macroeconomics gave me a more complete picture of how the global economy works, especially the links between market swings and policy decisions, and it helped me connect theory to real-world business judgment.

Were there any academic or extracurricular moments you especially remember?

On the academic side, the most distinctive thing was INSEAD’s Home Group and Period Group system. Groups are reshuffled every term, so we kept leaving our comfort zone and adapting to different team cultures and ways of working. It felt a bit strange at first, but because of it I built up a lot of experience working across cultures and gelling with new teams quickly in a very short time. Those soft skills will matter a great deal later on.

Outside class, the most memorable thing was the Ski Trip! It was my first time skiing. We practiced together in the mountains in France, rode the lifts up together, and then skied down from the top. It was a lot of fun, and I felt really proud of myself.

Was anything about INSEAD unexpected?

What surprised me most was how proactive and multi-talented everyone is. I assumed business school students would mostly focus on job hunting and networking, but at INSEAD almost everyone gets actively involved in all kinds of initiatives: organizing events, planning trips, starting clubs, and some people even run their own startups.

INSEAD puts a lot of emphasis on diversity. How did classmates from different cultures shape your learning?

People at INSEAD come from very different backgrounds, with different nationalities, professions and life experiences.

The most interesting part for me is that whenever we discuss the same problem, everyone thinks about it differently and brings different values. Those clashes taught me to look at things from several angles and to better understand the context behind each person, so the conversation goes deeper than surface-level differences.

What has been your biggest growth so far, and what are your career plans?

My biggest growth is that, in an environment full of uncertainty and change, I learned to adapt quickly and became more confident about finding my own rhythm.

In the short term I want to work in areas that draw on business insight, such as Corporate Strategy and Consumer Insights. In the long term I hope to do work related to social impact and use my business skills on things that are meaningful to me.

Career and study-abroad advice for students switching fields

What advice would you give students with a similar background who want to move into business?

Don’t worry about starting later than others. A cross-disciplinary background can be an advantage. If you find the connection that is unique to you, you can build a really interesting career path.

Be patient, too. A career switch takes time and won’t happen overnight. If you keep taking action and adjust as you go, you’ll find the process gives your experience more richness and layers.

If younger students plan to apply for an MIM, how should they prepare? What pitfalls should they avoid?

The most practical advice: start early! Especially for tests like the GMAT and IELTS. If you can get them done before you graduate, everything afterward is much easier.

Another small pitfall is recommendation letters. Build good relationships with your professors from the start, and strong recommendations will come naturally when you apply.

For INSEAD in particular, if you didn’t grow up with much international exposure, take part in international and multicultural activities during university. It makes your background fit better with the kind of student the school is looking for.

(Also, Round 1 has more scholarships, so apply as early as you can!)

How did you balance self-discovery, academics and career development?

I don’t think school and career are an either-or choice. You can explore both at the same time.

In university, I used internships, conversations with people from different fields, and chances I went out and found to try things and fail, all to figure out my direction. Every new challenge was another chance to understand myself better.

So I really believe in finding the answer as you go. You don’t need to be sure of everything at the start.

What advice would you give younger students about to study abroad? How can they make the most of their time overseas?

The most important thing is to work out your real priorities for your time abroad and not let FOMO drive you.

Life as an international student is exciting and full of opportunities, but if you try to grab everything, it’s easy to lose your way.

Decide early what you most want to develop, whether that’s academics, career exploration, travel or your network, and then spend your time and energy on purpose. That’s how the experience actually adds something to your life instead of just being a phase you passed through.