Business Foundations Certificate

BFC PhD and Postdoc Workshops - April 2026

Join our free in-person workshops, From Research to Business: Leveraging your PhD for Innovation and Impact, on 2 and 7 April 2026 at the Sorbonne Jussieu campus.

Led by INSEAD professors, these sessions will equip participants with the tools to identify the business potential of their research, develop an entrepreneurial mindset, and apply their ideas to real-world challenges through case studies and interactive discussions.

Discover how to translate your research into innovative solutions that drive meaningful societal impact.

Open exclusively to Alliance Sorbonne PhD students and postdoctoral researchers

Register HERE before 26 March 2026.

BFC Online Masterclass Series

Join us online and discover how the Business Foundations Certificate can support your transition from academic research to the world of business.

We now host a series of online Masterclasses designed to give prospective students a deeper understanding of the INSEAD Sorbonne Business Foundations Certificate (BFC) programme. Each session focuses on a different theme and offers practical insights into how the BFC can support your academic, professional, or entrepreneurial journey. 

Upcoming Masterclasses

Session 6: From Trends to Value Creation and Capture - 1 April 2026

Our April 2026 Masterclass will be led by Professor James Costantini. This session will explore how to move from simply observing trends to using them to drive concrete value creation and value capture in organisations.

Professor Costantini will introduce practical strategy tools that help interpret emerging trends and turn them into viable business opportunities. The session will also show how these tools can deepen your understanding of industry dynamics, support the design of robust business models, and inform smarter career and entrepreneurial choices.

Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in a live Q and A session and hear from alumni who will share how strategic thinking shaped their experience during and after the BFC.

Session 5: Customer Centricity: Designing Products and Services that Truly Meet Customer Needs - 9 March 2026

Our March 2026 Masterclass will also be led by Professor Hilke Plassmann. This session will explore the principles of customer centricity and how understanding customer needs can transform ideas into successful products, services, and ventures.

Professor Plassmann will introduce key tools used in marketing and innovation to uncover what customers value, how they make decisions, and how organisations can design solutions that resonate with their target audience. The session will show why customer centricity has become essential for today’s entrepreneurs, researchers, and young professionals. 

Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in a live Q and A session and hear from alumni who will share how customer-centric thinking shaped their projects during and after the BFC.