Andrew Glykys, INSEAD MBA Class of 2018D
Age: 30
Hometown: No hometown as I move a lot. My family is currently located in Dubai, UAE.
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Imperial College London, aeronautical engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience: 6 years at Rolls-Royce in operations, design, customer service, R&D, and strategy.
Why business school? Why now? To accelerate my career by merging my operational experience with a business education. Having gained relevant industry and management experience, I felt the time was right after six years to formalize my business education while having an appropriate wealth of experience to reflect on during class teaching.
Why INSEAD? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? Rankings, the collaborative nature of students, and the international footprint of alumni network. The strongest and most active international alumni network is at INSEAD. If you are a true international, travelling frequently and meeting people frequently, I would strongly recommend INSEAD.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2018D? In answer to that question I’ll offer this quote from George S. Patton Jr. : “If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.” Diversity in a group results in maximum variance and variability and leads to better outcomes. My background and experiences in Europe, the Middle East, and North America at a large industrial in various management positions adds to the group diversity, challenging, provoking, and sharing ideas.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? When I finish INSEAD, I finally want to go on a motorcycle tour of Europe.
Post-MBA career interests? I’m still exploring opportunities and industries at business school.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Talk to as many alumni as possible to understand the culture of the school and ask why they decided to pursue an MBA.
–One thing you would change or do differently? Get the GMAT out the way as early as possible and try to apply for the earlier rounds. This will help with scholarship applications, and it will also give you more time to prepare for the MBA program itself.
Greatest highlight so far at INSEAD? The students and professors are exceptional. I am really enjoying all the modules on organizational behavior and negotiations.
One thing about INSEAD that you didn’t expect before arriving? The intensity of a one-year program. You plan for it, but nothing can prepare you for it. Out of the three S’s (Sleep, Study, Socialize) you can only ever choose two.
The career services support here is very strong, and the opportunities available are overwhelming. I have just returned from the INSEAD Dubai Talent Networking Forum, where all top recruiters in the region were present, specifically to recruit from INSEAD.
Thing you are most anxious about at INSEAD? Not being able to do it all!
Thing you find most exciting about at INSEAD? Interesting people, shiny new things, and the exchange to Singapore.
