I never planned to do an MBA until two years ago, let alone one in Switzerland, considering I was living in Qatar and my first choice was Italy. But here I am. And it’s been the most transformative experience of my life so far.
An architect by education, I worked at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for a couple of years after graduation before making a bold decision to move to Qatar, where I dove into the fast-paced, male-dominated world of large-scale construction and spent five years on military projects, construction sites, and later managing luxury retail projects. While it taught me a lot about resilience and adaptability, something started to shift.
I remember coming across a quote from Jeff Bezos: “Discomfort comes not from the problem itself, but from knowing you’re not doing anything about it, especially when you could.” That struck a nerve. It was time for change.
Choosing to do an MBA was not just a career move; it was a personal statement. A decision to step into the unknown, to leave comfort behind. It started early in the year with Robin de Haas’s Executive Presence class. Having someone dissect the way you show up in a room, speak, pause, and use your voice, felt vulnerable but powerful. That’s what IMD has been for me: a mirror and a microscope, and being asked, “What is your life purpose?”
This wasn’t a question I was used to hearing, let alone answering. In Turkey, your path is often laid out for you. If you’re capable, you’re pushed toward certain professions. No one asks what you want, and at that age, it’s hard to understand exactly what each of these jobs entails.
At IMD, I faced this question directly, and it rattled me. For many, an MBA offers a second chance to explore one’s interests more intentionally through numerous case studies and real-life examples. For me, it provided a second chance to decide my career path. I believe this is one of the strongest features of an MBA.
My expertise was more technical, grounded in project management, design, and operations, with little background in finance or accounting. But I found myself deep-diving into discounted cash flows, balance sheets, business models, macroeconomic forces, the 4P’s, and AI. It was overwhelming but fascinating how things like executive presence, sustainability, storytelling, and geopolitical shifts all weave into one’s or a company’s story.
Perhaps not knowing helped me stay in learner mode. Every day felt like an adventure into the unknown. I had to let go of perfectionism. Juggling trade-offs between daily rest or networking, assignments or internship applications, forced me to ask what I truly value.
The Leadership Lab supported this well and taught me to be vulnerable. I understand now why alumni speak about it with a certain reverence for the intense Personal Development Analyst (PDA) process, which turns the lens inward, confronting habits and patterns, looking for root causes. As Professor George Kohlrieser says, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
The Venture Award pitch is another unforgettable moment for me. After stepping onto the stage to present a business idea – one that I’d been shaping in my head for days – I felt so proud. Not because I nailed every point, but because I showed up.
However, the true highlight so far was the Future Lab in Singapore – and a long weekend in Bali. I flew in with no expectations but left with a sense of belonging I hadn’t anticipated. With its lush greenery, cultural diversity, and vibrant pace, Singapore City captured my heart. That balance of ease and energy felt very “me.” Living together with my cohort, we also became closer and know each other more deeply now.
So, has IMD lived up to my expectations? It’s gone far beyond them. Now, sitting in an office in Frankfurt for my two-month internship, I feel a deep sense of pride and gratitude. It’s been less than a week since we returned from Singapore, and looking back, this experience already feels even more profound. I’m grateful for every choice that brought me here, and I’m looking forward to returning to Lausanne after the summer.
The IMD experience has challenged me so far in ways I didn’t expect, both professionally and personally. It gave me tools and perspectives, but more importantly, it is helping me rediscover my voice. I see, once again, it wasn’t just luck. It was the choice to leave the known behind and embrace growth. And that, I believe, is the kind of luck we get to create.
