Mohamed Eloudghiri, INSEAD’s MBA Class of 2025
Age: 25
Hometown: Moroccan but grew up in Jeddah, KSA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Management Science from University College of London (UCL)
Pre-MBA Work Experience: 3 years 8 Months, McKinsey & Co as a consultant out of the Dubai office, working mainly on PE/VC and new business build projects. Also, an investor managing my family investments in Micro-PE and VC across emerging markets
INSEAD Campus & Graduation Year: Singapore Campus, 25J
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I decided to attend business school in order to broaden my horizons and network with a diverse group of future leaders. I have always been keen on doing an MBA to also further my career progression and build further credibility to be able to achieve my ultimate goal, raising a VC fund in the next 2-3 years.
Why did you choose INSEAD? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose INSEAD because it embodies my core values, being a Moroccan, growing up in Saudi while attending a French school and then living in the UK for my education to then move and work in Dubai, I feel like I am a citizen of the world and INSEAD’s values and diversity resonate with my own.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2025?
I bring a very diverse knowledge of different cultures and experiences having worked in consulting but also managing my family’s investments. I am very well connected to the PE and VC ecosystem in the Middle East and I think this is something I can leverage down the line to help further the career of my classmates and the broader INSEAD alumni network.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
My first ever pet I got at age 11 was a crocodile.
Post-MBA career interests:
Interested in joining a prominent VC or PE fund in an emerging market to further my knowledge in investments and my network within the ecosystem before I launch my own fund.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would speak to different INSEAD alumni and network with them before I even joined the institution.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would stress less about my application and have more confidence in my capabilities and perhaps further display them in my essays.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have skipped the writing of essays but my eagerness to tell my story helped me push through, and thankfully, it has paid off!
What is your initial impression of the INSEAD MBA students/culture/community?
Great people from very diverse backgrounds and with very different stories, but yet have one thing in common, everyone is very skilled and extremely smart.
What is one thing you have learned about INSEAD that has surprised you?
The fact that INSEAD was started at a time when business schools already existed and were done over a period of 2 years, and yet the institution was created in the middle of a forest and decided to teach its program in only 10 month while striving to become the worlds best business school for future leaders.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
The thing I am most anxious about would be managing my time, as the program is quite intense and demanding.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Very excited to learn about other people in my cohort and build lifelong relationships through socializing and the occasional travels with other classmates.
