My name is Sheng Li, 李晟 in Mandarin. I grew up in a mountainous region of China and relocated to France in 2012. Since childhood, my parents have always encouraged me to pursue my dreams and have supported me unconditionally throughout my educational and professional journey. For me, a dream is not just a vision but a plan that requires preparation and determination.
I hold two bachelor’s degrees, one in French and another in communications. I went on to earn my master’s degree at Sciences Po Lyon, where I was the only foreigner in my class. After my studies, I worked in New York and London for a year and a half in social media and PR, before returning to France. This marked the beginning of my journey at INSEAD, where I developed an inclusive, diverse, and innovative mindset. Over five and a half years, I embraced every aspect of this journey with energy and enthusiasm and progressed from Program Coordinator to Operations Team Manager.
In addition to my full-time role, I consulted for sports brands and trail running events such as UTMB, Salomon, and NNormal. I have always been passionate about sports, initially practicing horseback riding and ballet dancing before transitioning to trail running a year and a half years ago. Since then, I have completed over 10 trail running races in six countries, including my first 50k race at the Swiss Canyon Trail in June. Endurance sports have taught me consistency, resilience, and focus, providing me with the sustainable energy to challenge the status quo. It also taught me how to expand my comfort zone while minimizing the risk – that’s what I’ve been practicing and what I want to offer to any organization or client that I work for.
Speaking of the MBA, it was a familiar concept to me given we discussed it regularly at INSEAD. However, my interest in pursuing an MBA truly gained momentum during the year I worked with MBA alumni within the advancement team. During that time, I met extraordinary individuals whose stories demonstrated the profound impact an MBA can have on a person’s life.
You might be wondering why I chose IMD despite my background with INSEAD. My goal was to immerse myself in learning as a student rather than as an employee. IMD’s small class size offers a more personalized educational environment, and its proximity to the Alps allows me to pursue my passion for trail running. INSEAD provided a solid foundation for my career, and the MBA at IMD is a complementary step to gaining new insights and experiences.
Choosing IMD has proven to be the right decision, as I am fully immersed in this enriching MBA program. Equipped with essential tools in finance, strategy, marketing, and accounting, I am clearer than ever on my post-graduation goals.
Inspired by sports, I strive to encourage others to push their limits while honoring nature and promoting sustainability. Let’s embrace sports as a pathway to respect and preserve our environment, fostering a healthier future for all.
