Arianna Bisio, INSEAD’s MBA Class of 2025
Age: 28
Hometown: Milan, Italy
Undergraduate Institution and Major: World Bachelor in Business – USC, HKUST, and Bocconi
Pre-MBA Work Experience: 6 years, digital marketing consulting, Accenture
INSEAD Campus & Graduation Year: Singapore, Class of 25J
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Over the past years, I have worked hard to help companies scale through data-driven digital marketing, enhancing customer experiences by optimizing user journeys and boosting campaigns’ efficiency through personalization strategies. Throughout this time, growing as a consultant has made me yearn for the opportunity to drive change first-hand and lead more impactful projects that span across the different areas of a firm, enabling industry-wide innovation. An MBA felt like the natural step towards achieving my goal, refining my business knowledge while expanding my global network and developing myself as a leader.
Why did you choose INSEAD? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
INSEAD’s uniquely global outlook, paired of course with its excellent academic reputation, was the main driver of my decision to apply. I have been lucky to study and work across different countries over the past few years, which has fed my curiosity and drive to develop my career on an international stage. Besides the incredible opportunity of studying and living in Asia, INSEAD brings together a remarkably diverse student body, which I am confident will help me grow over the next few months by sparking conversations, challenging my assumptions, and allowing me to learn from people with different perspectives.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2025?
I think that because of my diverse set of experiences, both on a personal and professional level, I can bring a unique perspective to the INSEAD student body. I come from Italy, but have lived across the US, UK, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, which has taught me countless lessons about intercultural relationships and has deeply enriched my understanding of the world. At the same time, my professional background in digital marketing provides me with a set of knowledge and skills in a department that is often less represented among MBA students, thus allowing me to contribute to the conversation in a distinctive and meaningful way.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I am a huge fan of all things food and wine – I love cooking, eating, tasting, and discovering the local cuisine of wherever I travel. My friends and I have a yearly Masterchef-style cooking competition (of which my partner and I won the first edition), and a few years back I got my first WSET certification in wine. I look forward to exploring everything Singapore has to offer on this end, and one day, perhaps, to becoming an entrepreneur in the F&B space myself.
Post-MBA career interests:
In the short term, I am focused on taking on a role that allows me to work on firm-wide development and bring about real impact, so I am looking forward to a path in either strategy consulting or in the world of start-ups and scale-ups. In the long term, I am eager to dive into entrepreneurship by either becoming an entrepreneur myself or investing in up-and-coming companies through VC.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Be very honest about who I am as a person, my hobbies and dreams, and tell a story. I think doing this helps paint a clearer, more complete picture of yourself that goes beyond academic or work achievements, and ultimately makes you stand out from other candidates.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I only wish I had done it sooner! Applying at round 1 meant that 9 months went by between getting accepted and actually starting the program and in hindsight, I could have applied at round 3 or 4 of the previous batch too. I was afraid that would mean lower chances of being accepted, but I see now that many of my classmates applied later, so the point is don’t wait and don’t rush it – whenever you feel ready, just go for it.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The GMAT, of course. The task of reviewing proper mathematics while working full time felt daunting, but the worst part was getting started. Once I got past the first few batches of exercises, it became almost a pastime, like doing crossword puzzles. From then on, it’s just practice practice practice.
What is your initial impression of the INSEAD MBA students/culture/community?
I feel that I have so much to learn from everyone here: each person I have met so far has a unique personal story as well as exceptional ambition, and it just feels inspiring to be around them every day. At the same time, people are incredibly approachable, eager to spend time together and to become a part of that tight-knit INSEAD community that we have all heard so much about.
What is one thing you have learned about INSEAD that has surprised you?
INSEAD’s focus on leadership development is remarkable. It has only been 2 weeks since starting the program, and I have already received so many tools, lessons, and feedback in how to become a better leader that I am excited to put them into practice and look forward to all the learning in the year ahead.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I am only anxious about not having the time to do all the things I want to do on an academic, professional, and personal level. Everyone stresses how intense the INSEAD MBA is, so I know I will have to find a way of balancing my interests, prioritizing activities, and most importantly, finding the time to reflect on the amazing experience I am going through.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am most excited about building lifelong bonds with my classmates while going through this incredible ride together. This year will present us with plenty of opportunities to work together, support each other, go out, travel, and I cannot wait to see how our relationships will evolve and how each of us will have grown by the end of the year.
