“It's amazing,” she says, smiling. “We’ve seen each other at weddings and small gatherings over the years, but this is the first time we’ve properly come together as a cohort. It really feels like we’ve come full circle.”
Emilie’s class graduated in the summer of 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. What was meant to be a whirlwind year of global travel and shared experiences became something entirely different: more constrained, but also more intimate and meaningful. “We didn't have a real graduation at the time,” she recalls. “Everything moved online. But when Europe reopened before Asia, many of us found our way back to Fontainebleau. It was an informal reunion of sorts - a testament to how much we wanted to protect and preserve our INSEAD experience.”
Originally from Switzerland, Emilie came to INSEAD after several years working as a lawyer in Geneva, specialising in corporate and technology law. “I found myself advising on major business decisions, but always from a legal lens. I wanted to understand the full picture, to see the other side of the table, so to speak.”
The decision to pursue an MBA was not taken lightly and it came with challenges. “INSEAD was always my dream school. But financially, it was a big commitment. Receiving the Swiss scholarship made a real difference. It turned a dream into something realistic.” Knowing the scholarship was funded by INSEAD alumni made the support feel deeply personal.
“It meant so much to know that someone who came before me had chosen to invest in my journey. That generosity stayed with me, and it’s what inspired me to give back. It just felt like my responsibility to pay it forward.”
Following graduation, Emilie returned to law with a new vision for her career. After a few years in private practice, she joined the Swiss digital bank Swissquote as Deputy Head Legal. She was drawn to Swissquote for its entrepreneurial mindset. “It’s a very different role from before. I’m now leading a team, thinking strategically, balancing legal risk with commercial opportunity. The MBA played a big part in preparing me for that.”
For current students and recent graduates, Emilie has three pieces of advice: “First, really enjoy the experience of being at INSEAD, it’s special. Second, don’t worry if your post-MBA job isn’t perfect. Careers are built in steps. And third, don’t be afraid to reach out. INSEAD’s alumni network is one of its greatest strengths. People are genuinely willing to help, you just have to ask.”
