Jakob Johansson, IMD’s MBA Class of 2025
Age: 25
Hometown: Vårgårda, Sweden
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Chalmers University of Technology, Engineering Physics; School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, Business Administration. (I studied the two programs independently of each other at separate universities in parallel.)
Pre-MBA Work Experience: 6.5 years with Villeroy & Boch. The first 4 years part-time in parallel to studies (high school and University) with various support roles within R&D, operations, sustainability, and marketing. The last 2.5 full-time and within strategy and finance. My last role before joining the MBA was: Manager Operations Controlling Northern Europe.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I always planned to study a master’s degree after a one- or two-year gap from my bachelor’s degree. As I attained two bachelor’s degrees in parallel, one in business and one in engineering physics, for me it was a big choice which one to pursue further. It became quite clear to me that if I studied business, the focus would be leadership and not finance and/or consulting. If I would pursue engineering, the plan was a master’s degree in data structures and machine learning (AI).
After careful consideration and advice from others, I concluded that leading and empowering others was probably where I could create even more value than as an expert. Hence an MBA became the choice.
Why did you choose IMD Business School? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
IMDs clear focus on leadership in combination with its small class size immediately attracted my interest. After more intense research, I was drawn to the tight-knit community and closeness between both faculty and peers that the school offers.
Further, my interest has not been in consulting nor specialized finance, which, in general, are the two major career paths post MBA. IMDs slightly different profile, more catered towards manufacturing and entrepreneurship, therefore, also attracted me.
Lastly, the extreme international exposure was one thing I really looked for. Expanding my network and knowledge outside of the region where I grew up was something that made me pivot away from the top national universities at home, and IMD was also, in regards to this, a top choice.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2025?
I’ve always had a passion for learning and teaching. During some of our subjects that I had more experience with through previous work, such as accounting and finance, I started to study with and help some of my fellow classmates. I realized through this that my way of structuring and distilling ideas and concepts to their core makes it easy for others to understand. This became more apparent as the year went by. Closing in on the finals, our once smaller study group had grown, and many asked me to give a summarizing lecture in front of our Finance exam. I was humbled when close to half of the class showed up on a Saturday morning to listen to my summary. During the lecture I also realized even more how much I enjoyed sharing whatever I knew and helping.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
Before the MBA, I had a long-standing commitment to my local church’s youth activities. Through this, I spent more or less every Friday evening the past 6 years keeping the church open to the local teens. Giving them a safe space where they can have fun, develop and feel at home.
Post-MBA career interests:
I am an omnivore, and to me, anything with a good learning and development opportunity is interesting. However, I have found a deepening interest in sustainability accounting. My background as a finance and accounting manager, together with my natural appeal for structure and science, gives me a good foundation to stand on. During my year at IMD I have also delved deeper into the subject and truly believe in its importance to solve some of our times greatest challenges.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Travel to the Campus and talk to people and experience the environment on the ground. I took a weekend to come visit my top choices when I got accepted. Talking to people face to face, sitting in on a class, and experiencing the environment firsthand was crucial for me to make the decision.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
Get in touch with people affiliated with the school in the application process. Coming from Sweden and being used to an extremely algorithmic university selection process based purely on your GPA and SAT-equivalent, the qualitative part was, for me, very new. If I had understood better how the process worked and what the school was looking for, I probably would have produced a better application with less effort.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Writing all the essays was, as mentioned to me, very foreign. The work was also tedious as I had a hard time understanding what was expected. What really helped me get through it was that I had dedicated time to the work. Ever since university, I have had a habit of starting my day 1-2 hours before my main occupation. This time before school or work I dedicate to whatever to me is the most important, to make sure it gets done. During the application process, this simply was writing essays, studying for the GMAT, and similar. Having a dedicated time slot already in my schedule is really what made me come through it all.
What is your initial impression of the IMD MBA students/culture/community?
My initial impression was very much awe of the faculty’s expertise and also their ability to put on a show. At IMD, professors are deeply engaging and interesting in the classroom. Very early, it also became clear how tight nit the community at IMD is. Everyone knows each other and help is always just an arm’s length away.
What is one thing you have learned about IMD that has surprised you?
I was pleasantly surprised by the high level of individual attention each student receives. The support from faculty, career services, and the administration is unparalleled, truly focusing on personal and professional development.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I was never very anxious about the high academic pace and pressure, such as tests, essays etc. With my previous educational background, I felt that I had already pushed this and was quite confident that I would manage even the high-level IMD has. However, what I was anxious about was managing the wide scope of activities. At MBAs, and maybe at IMD in particular, the education is about so much more than typical academic performance. Juggling group work, networking, and working on projects with actual companies all at the same time was what scared me somewhat. Now quite a way into the program I think that my anxiety was very correct in its focus however with grit and thought its manageable and very developing.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I was most excited about getting to know and learn from all my fellow classmates. As the IMD class, in general, has a profile of more senior students within the cohort, there is so much expertise and knowledge to tap into. Whilst our professors have been truly outstanding, some of the best learnings I’ve had during the year have also come from my peers.
