Ronald Omores shares how friendships, shared experiences, and alumni support create lasting personal and professional bonds during the transformative IMD MBA journey.
Whoever has experienced the IMD MBA journey knows that this program is not just about academics or career transitions. It is about people. It is about how a group of strangers from around the world becomes a source of strength, growth, and belonging.
As we reach the halfway point of this intense year, I reflect on what makes this community so powerful, and particularly, what makes our cohort feel so deeply connected. A few key moments stand out.
One of them was MBAT 2025, a three-day inter-MBA sports competition in Paris. Our entire class traveled together, not just to compete, but to support, cheer, and lift each other up. Under the blazing sun, we stood by each other through every match, race, and game. What surprised me most was not just the cohesion within our group; it was how other schools noticed it too. I remember a few MBA participants from other programs approaching us to say, “There is something special about your group. I love the energy you carry.” And they were right. How many cohorts rally together to cheer for another school’s final match, simply for the spirit of it? Not many. But we did.
That same energy showed up again, thousands of kilometers away in Bali, where almost half our class joined a weekend trip organized by our Indonesian peers. It was a time to reconnect, discover, and share joy outside of the classroom. Wherever we went, people asked who we were, curious about the warmth and unity we carried. Far from business cases and deadlines, I realized something simple but powerful: we are not just studying together, we are growing together. That kind of growth often comes through challenges, moments of play, trust, and belonging.
But the strength of the IMD community goes beyond simple camaraderie. It is built on an entire ecosystem of support that surrounds us, from faculty and staff to alumni who continue to give back. A great example of this was during our Future Lab in Singapore, where we met leaders like the CEO of Singapore’s public transport system, the Minister of Health, and the President of PayPal International, all IMD alumni. Despite their demanding roles, they made time to meet us, share their leadership journeys, and engage in real, honest conversations. Why? Because they understand what this journey feels like, self-doubt, ambition, transformation. Their presence reminded me that the IMD community does not end with graduation. It continues, grows, and evolves through mentorship, inspiring talks, and shared purpose, to pull the next generation forward.
That is the power of our community. It is not transactional. It is not just about networking. It is about people who show up for each other, on the sports field, in career decisions, in moments of vulnerability or celebration. It is in the quiet messages of encouragement and the loud cheers from the sidelines. It is about knowing you are not walking this path alone.
Whether it is classmates, alumni, faculty, or staff, you are surrounded by people who understand the journey, see your potential, and want you to succeed. That is something I will carry with me long after this program ends.
