The professors are top-notch because of their practical, diverse experiences in advising families, which nicely supplements their strong academic background.
1.What inspired you to join this programme, and what did you hope to achieve?
I was looking for a short corporate executive programme offering a refresh on corporate governance best practice to help me navigate through a transition phase in my career.
I opted for INSEAD for its recognised leading position in executive education. Within the vast array of programmes offered by INSEAD in this field, Value Creation for Owners and Directors was the one that struck me as the most appealing, whilst it also came with intriguing aspects. I found it hard to form solid expectations when you make your independent decision based solely on the programme description in a brochure. This is the reason why I embarked on this programme highly motivated but with modest expectations to avoid being disappointed.
2.In what ways has the programme shifted your perspective or influenced your approach to work?
What struck me the most with the programme is that it was naturally geared towards family-owned businesses and family-level governance. As such, the leadership and governance concepts presented during the sessions resonated very strongly because they were not dry and theoretical management classes, but rather very practical, real-life situations facing families, which often resonated with situations that I had been dealing with in my own environment.
3.Which aspects of the experience stood out most for you (faculty, peers, content, format)?
The professors are top-notch because of their practical, diverse experiences in advising families, which nicely supplements their strong academic background.
I also very much enjoyed the truly international and diverse backgrounds of the participants and their different roles (CEOs, board directors, family representatives, etc.).
What stood out most was the very dynamic format of the sessions, where everyone is invited to contribute without being forced to come under the spotlight in an awkward way. This format keeps you energised and on your toes throughout a very dense week. It also allows you to benefit from very personal experiences from your peers and helps put into perspective that, whilst our personal trajectories and job contents are all different, we are often facing similar challenges. Being able to discuss this collegially, especially in the sessions in smaller groups, was a very refreshing exercise.
4.Can you describe a moment or insight that particularly resonated with you?
I liked the mock-up session of a board meeting where each of us would, in turn, present a professional challenge of our own and then debate with the rest of the group to reach a decision. This was done towards the end of the week to allow each of us to put into practice some of the better board practices acquired during the week.
5.Would you recommend this programme to others? If so, what makes it meaningful to you?
Yes, very much so. In fact, the first person to whom I have already recommended the programme is the principal of the UHNW family which I am advising!
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