MBA student, Anne-Quiting, is packing a lot into her time at IMD, and through her ICP in Egypt, she's discovering what life is like on "African time".

It’s hard to believe we’re already in the final stretch of the IMD MBA. September flew by, and with it, a whirlwind of experiences that have profoundly shaped how I see business – and the world.

After wrapping up my internship in Australia, I returned to Switzerland for a week immersed in the Digital Analytics Lab with professor Amit Joshi. It was an exciting introduction to data analytics, an area I hadn’t delved into much before.

In today’s digital world, data is the backbone of decision-making, and it was eye-opening to see how critical it is across industries. With so many roles now focused on data, AI, and digital transformation, this lab provided a great foundation for me, even though my background is in luxury retail, operations, and customer relations.

One of the most valuable aspects of the IMD MBA is how it opens doors to areas outside your usual expertise, sparking new possibilities. As professor Goutam Challagalla often says, an MBA isn’t just about moving from a functional expert to a general manager, it’s about gaining a broader, integrated view of business.

In September, we headed to Buenos Aires for an expedition with our Dean, Omar Toulan, marking my first time in South America. Argentina taught me an unforgettable lesson in volatility. I was surprised to learn that, in a country famous for its beef, many people can’t afford it regularly because of inflation. Seeing how people live with such uncertainty made me realize how much we take for granted in more stable economies.

Everyone we spoke with had their own innovative ways of dealing with inflation, and their resilience and optimism were truly inspiring. When we visited Argentine steel giant Ternium, its executive Sebastián Martí joked, “In Argentina, everyone is an economist.”

After returning to Switzerland, we jumped straight into an intense two Career Weeks. Soon after that, my team and I headed to Egypt for our International Consulting Project (ICP). It is my first time in Africa, and the culture shock was immediate. From Swiss punctuality to “African time,” the difference was hard to miss. One moment that stood out was right after we left the terminal: watching a man squeeze seven people and a mountain of luggage into a tiny car – a real lesson in optimization!

Egypt’s first lesson: The art of optimization

Living in Egypt has been both challenging and fascinating. We often commute for an hour and a half across the desert for project meetings, and the driving here is wild ­– both terrifying and impressive. Without knowing Arabic, we’ve had to rely heavily on translation apps and local apps to navigate daily life, which has required us to be flexible and creative in finding solutions.

We’re staying in New Cairo, in a massive villa compound where 70% of the homes are unfinished and 90% are vacant. It’s a stark reminder of the economic struggles many developing countries face; inflation halts projects and leaves communities in limbo. On our first night, the water was out, so we had to use bottled water to shower. But instead of getting frustrated, our team found humor in the situation, turning it into a bonding moment. These moments have reminded me that this year hasn’t just been about business lessons ­– they’ve been about learning to connect with people and making the best of any situation, turning lemons into lemonade.

The daily commute: A glimpse of life in Egypt

Earlier this year we visited Silicon Valley, where we saw the future of tech in the shape of Tesla Cybertrucks, autonomous taxis, and VC-backed innovations. Now, in Egypt, the contrast couldn’t be more striking. While parts of the world are pushing the boundaries of technology, others are still working on basic infrastructure like water supply. It’s a powerful reminder that business isn’t just about profit. It’s about creating solutions that drive positive change on a larger scale.

During Egypt’s bank holiday, our group took a road trip to Dahab, a famous diving spot on the Red Sea. What should have been a straightforward six-hour trip turned into an adventure. Our driver showed up five hours late, and, after navigating countless checkpoints and crossing the Suez Canal, we finally reached our destination at 6 am. It was an epic journey that brought us closer as a team.

Greetings from the Red Sea! L-R: Abel Moya, Gianluca Perino, Pekka Tuisku, me, Amith Dayanand, and Gilles Anoma

As a free diver, Dahab’s Blue Hole is a bucket-list spot, but I didn’t get the chance to dive there this time. Still, scuba diving and exploring the underwater world with my classmates was something special. There’s an old Chinese proverb: “The wise find joy in water; the benevolent find joy in mountains.” This year has been about discovering both, literally and figuratively.

Diving deep into the Red Sea: Amith Dayanand, Abel Moya,and me

Our ICP project is progressing well, and we’re working closely with the COO of our client’s company. His extensive experience in business strategy has been invaluable, and it’s exciting to apply what we’ve learned over the past year. The earlier startup consulting project, case studies, and workshops have all prepared us for this moment. One of my teammates landed a consulting job offer last week, which shows how well IMD equips us for career shifts through hands-on learning.

Exploring our ICP client’s newly acquired asset

With graduation set for 13 December, there are about 60 days left. In that time, we’ll complete our ICP project, wrap up electives, and for many of us, focus on job hunting. I’m determined to make the most of these final days at IMD and can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next.

Anne-Qiuting Zhong

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