If you want to truly understand yourself and challenge your assumptions, while also gaining a holistic framework for leadership and life skills, this is the right programme.
Many careers are defined by change. Maricris Lojeda’s has been defined by how she has evolved within it.
She describes her career as unfolding in two distinct phases: her “consulting” years where she started out in the Big Four accounting firms which spanned over a decade, and her “industry” years, where she has continued to grow in SABIC. This intentional move took her out of her comfort zone not only professionally, but also geographically, as she relocated from Manila to Singapore.
“I was driven by curiosity and a desire to keep growing” she reflected. “The first major step was leaving home and relocating to Singapore where I had to build a new life and career from the ground up. Later, the transition from consulting to industry. Neither decision felt entirely comfortable at that time, but both proved transformative.”
Joining SABIC as a Regional Tax Manager, her role has since evolved into a global leadership position with a more strategic scope, reflecting both the company’s transformation and her own. Today, as the Global Director of Tax Planning and Risk Management at SABIC, she leads a global mandate spanning the development and implementation of global tax planning strategies; and the strategic management of tax risks and optimization of SABIC’s tax position in all countries of operations. Operating at an executive level, she contributes directly to value creation and protection, enabling optimized business growth and transformations while proactively managing tax risks and uncertainties.
At that point in my career, I was looking for my next area of growth. I knew I wanted to take on broader challenges, but I was still defining what that path would look like.
Having stepped into an executive leadership role, the increasing complexity of her responsibilities coupled with ongoing geopolitical and economic disruption, prompted a deeper reflection on her next move. “It was a period of transformation for the organization, creating both exciting challenges and a moment of personal reflection about how I wanted to continue evolving professionally and personally."
The Leadership Transition Programme provided Maricris with both structure and space to navigate as she looked ahead in her career. Designed for experienced leaders stepping into more complex roles, the programme combined rigorous reflection, coaching, and experiential learning to help participants re-examine how they lead and define success.
A defining factor in her decision to pursue the Leadership Transition programme was a supportive manager. Rather than treating executive education as optional, he actively encouraged it, working closely with her to evaluate programmes and prioritise her growth despite the demands of her role. “That kind of affirmation means a lot, it sends a powerful message that growth and development matter, even amid the demands of a busy role,” she shared.
I thought I would come out of the programme with a very clear step-by-step career path, but I actually got something more fundamental.
From the moment she arrived in INSEAD Fontainebleau campus, she made a clear commitment to be fully present. That meant stepping away from day-to-day demands and being deliberate about minimising work contact. The experience inside the amphitheatre matched that sense of momentum.
A particularly defining part of the programme for Maricris was the depth of reflection it enabled through coaching and peer discussions. “As both professional and personal life gets more demanding, there is limited time to pause and reflect on myself at a deeper level.” These conversations became a turning point. For her, this level of introspection was both unfamiliar and valuable. It surfaced underlying drivers that were directly shaping how she approached leadership and decision-making.
The learning environment itself reinforced this shift. Set within an international executive cohort, the experience brought together diverse perspectives, high engagement, and structured moments of reflection designed to challenge long-held assumptions about leadership.
She recalls being particularly struck by the energy and confidence of participants from different regions, which challenged her own ways of expressing and positioning ideas. The Leadership Transition programme emphasis on communication further highlighted how they convey message and presence as leaders. “It’s not just about expressing yourself,” she reflected.
It’s about understanding your audience and delivering the message in a way that resonates. That applies at work, but also in life.
“I understood myself better. It gave me greater clarity on what truly matters to me," Maricris reflected, sharing that where earlier in her career progression had been closely associated with upward movement, the program broadened her perspective. “I was at transition point not only as a leader, but also as a person”.
The programme helped her gain greater clarity on what matters most to her: meaningful relationships, both personal and professional, and the opportunity to help others grow and succeed. That shift in perspective, she explains, has had a lasting impact on how she approaches both leadership and decision-making. “I am more intentional now” she explained, “From driving outcomes to being more present, empathetic and creating value for others.” The result, she says, has strengthened her ability to connect, influence and lead.
“I don’t have every career question figured out,” she candidly shared, “but knowing what truly matters to me has given me a stronger compass. It shapes how I make decisions, where I invest my energy, and ultimately makes the journey more meaningful.” For those considering the Leadership Transition Programme, her message is simple: it offers not only practical tools for navigating complexity, but also the rare opportunity to step back, reflect, and gain deeper clarity about the leader – and person – you want to become.
Featured Programme
