Leadership

As a school, we celebrated the chance to reconnect and come Together Again as a community, thanks to the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. There were also optimistic signs for INSEAD’s financial situation as our programmes returned to full operation. Yet, we also had to confront the repercussions of the devastating war in Ukraine and respond to the disruption that continued to impact the global economy.

INSEAD has always been about the strong bonds and lifelong relationships forged between the diverse members of our global community. Yet, the strength of those bonds was sorely stretched during the Covid-19 pandemic as lockdowns and border closures made maintaining connections so much harder. While the school and community adapted remarkably, quickly shifting online to participate in virtual forums, webinars and reunions, there was no denying that the opportunity to meet face to face was deeply missed.

That explains the joy and relief that greeted the lifting of restrictions mid-way through this academic year. The school certainly made up for lost time, organising a host of different events and activities that breathed life back into our four locations and helped to reconnect our global family.

Staff were able to join faculty and students back on site, and the corridors and canteens were once again buzzing with colleagues catching up for lively debates and discussions. There is simply no way to replace the value of these impromptu interactions, which provide the chance for informal learning and offer fertile ground for developing new ideas and insights.

After the economic challenges of the past year, this was also incredibly important for our financial situation. As we welcomed a resumption of customised programmes, we were also able to see our revenues bounce back to reach pre-pandemic levels. This is testament to the hard work, dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of all our staff over the past two years who have had to go above and beyond in their efforts to keep Leadership From the Chairman and Dean the school on a steady course during the most challenging period of our 60-year history.

It was therefore refreshing this year to be able to shift from an attitude of survival to a focus on developing innovations, investments and initiatives that would ensure the school is well-placed to grasp future opportunities. This was underlined through the resumption of hiring for both staff and faculty and the launch or resumption of a number of key projects.

It was wonderful to see so many INSEAD alumni returning to re-engage with the school. Immense credit must also go to all the faculty, staff and suppliers who helped put together such an incredible series of events. It was a truly monumental effort but its impact on helping rebuild community connections was immeasurable.

The success of the reunions was even more remarkable when you consider that they were not the only gatherings taking place over the summer. June also saw an unprecedented six graduation and commencement ceremonies taking place in Singapore and Fontainebleau, two of them happening on the same day.

It was particularly special to see those graduates who had been denied an in-person ceremony by the pandemic getting the chance to celebrate along with friends and family in the summer sun amidst the beautiful setting of the Chateau Fontainebleau. Again, huge appreciation must go to all those who worked behind the scenes to make these memorable days happen. They were a clear and visible example of what we can achieve as a community.

Of course, it would be remiss to not mention that next year will see a new Dean of INSEAD co-writing this cover note. It has been an honour and privilege to have served the school over the last ten years and we are incredibly proud of what we have achieved together. Looking ahead to what INSEAD is currently working on, we remain optimistic about the school’s place in our future and are excited to see what The Business School for the World will achieve with a new Dean at the helm.

INSEAD is a truly joint project, and as the many events you can read about in this report demonstrated, we are, indeed, stronger by being Together Again, something that is definitely worth celebrating. It has never been more important that we remain united as a community during these disrupted and divisive times. By continuing to work together, we can achieve great things and continue to be a positive force for good in an uncertain world.

Thank you all for your continued support and dedication.