Wouw, it's already been seven months here in Lausanne, at IMD ! Time passes by incredibly fast, way too fast for my liking ! I really like it here and don't want to leave beautiful Lausanne. So, halfway through, and another 4 months to go; I think I owe many of you a little status blog post.
It all started back in January, when 90 students were dumped into the same class room. Combine a hectic schedule from day one with the insecurity I think most harbour to varying degrees, intense group dynamics, hectic deliverables - and you've got the recipe for why many today feel the first six months have passed by in a blur. Most people had warned family and friends that they shouldn't expect to hear much from Lausanne (kudos to those who have brought families; I can't even start to imagine how tough that must be !) - so the bubble quickly descended, and IMD became a little universe on its own, separated from the rest of the world. Again, no wonder many are now starting to joke that it'll be fun to get back into the real world some day.
Winter in Lausanne
The bubble descends on the crazy MBA’s…
We had a short break at the end of March, after the first semester exams, where we went skiing in France. Rumours had it that second semester would be lighter - but, at least in my opinion, it didn't. By the beginning of June, all we wanted was to get the last exams over and done with ! Four days, five exams - and we thought it was over....but there was another two weeks till vacation time. It was difficult to get the spirits back up, but we managed decently and finally went all our separate ways at the end of June, to many corners of the world, to finally be on vacation.
Spring is finally in the air
But Lac Leman is still a cold pleasure…
Some saw their families and new-born babies for the first time - I took a full week out just to be with myself, tried to digest what had happened the last six months. And to consider what is next; what am I passionate about, what could I imagine myself doing in my next work life - and how to get there ? It turned out to be a great week - and something I am certainly going to do again, at least once every year. Don't get me wrong; family and friends are important - but time with myself is equally important. And I think this is something we often forget to prioritize.... (comments are welcome).
Beautiful Lausanne
Contemplating life in the hammock – but the view is distracting !
After the vacation the whole class spent two weeks doing exciting project work in South Africa. We met in Johannesburg almost three weeks ago - and you could just see all the smiles and feel the energy. It was a funny contrast to the tired bunch having gone on vacation only three weeks earlier. We were allocated to work with small entrepreneurial companies in groups of 4-5 students, with the objective to assist them with whatever problems they might have by putting into practice what we'd learned the first six months at IMD. South Africa left a real impression on most of us, I dare say; it is an amazing country, so full of contrasts, of life and passion. Besides working with the companies and getting close to the people and the issues, the highlights were the great Umoja musical and the safari day at the end of the trip. Some even spent a part of their vacation in South Africa in the days before meeting the class. Most importantly, however, I think the trip served as a great way to meld together our class, laugh with each other in another way than the first six months in the dungeons (study rooms) at IMD had allowed us to do. Many friendships were formed or enforced.
Team Qinisa in South Africa
And that brings me to my only regret of the first six months (although I don't believe in regrets); that I haven't spent enough time, preferably face-to-face, with the many inspiring people in the class. There is so much to learn, so many friends or friends-to-be to play ping-pong with (literally and metaphorically), bounce ideas off - and just laugh with. I'm sure all previous MBA classes have felt the same way - and probably still felt that way, when they graduated. But I'll only go down fighting...! ;-)
In closing: how to change the world – with your feet up. A lesson to learn for the second half of our year at IMD…
