Imagine trading your office for the sights, sounds, and tastes of France. That’s exactly what 25 Executive MBA students did recently, swapping their day-to-day working lives for two intensive weeks in France, including three days at the globally renowned business school, INSEAD.

Throughout the program, students tackled genuine strategic issues facing major organisations, including the global beauty brand and program partner, L’Occitane. Balancing both academic and practical content, students were given the opportunity to reconcile opportunity with responsibility during this time. “You’re taken out of your environment and given a real, future-facing problem, so you work with your executive within a group of people from different industries,” explains Dr Ru Karen Kwedza – a 2025 EMBA student and participant in the EMBA strategy module. This module included the 3-day INSEAD course, Creating Value Through Strategic Insights.

This diversity of thought didn’t go unnoticed by industry partner L’Occitane. “Partnering with the University of Sydney has been a powerful experience for us as the EMBA students brought a rich mix of professional backgrounds and diverse perspectives that challenged us to think differently,” says Pierre-Emmanuel Joffre, Managing Director of L’Occitane Australia. “Their assertive, thoughtful questions often pushed us beyond conventional thinking and opened up new avenues for growth on key strategic projects. It's been a strong return collaboration for the company.” This partnership also created a unique learning opportunity for students who were able to apply their theoretical knowledge to practical business challenges. “Receiving that direct feedback from company leaders, and gaining hands-on experience, sharpens their impact as future executives,” adds Pierre-Emmanual.

For Dr Kwezda, the intensity of the program proved transformational. “It’s real – it’s high pressure but it’s mind-blowing because in just two weeks, you’re testing the things you’ve learned” she adds. “It was a major shift in mindset for me.”

Diving headfirst into real-world strategic challenges alongside global industry leaders – the INSEAD experience was transformative for the EMBA students, who were each able to expand their business acumen and reimagine their approach to problem-solving. Recognised as one of the leading and largest graduate business schools in the world, INSEAD equips global thinkers with the tools, skills and knowledge to face future challenges and build a better world. From exploring innovative learning methods such as virtual reality and AI in case discussions, to networking with 165 renowned faculty members from 41 countries, participants were immersed in cutting-edge education and insights.

Omar Khan, an alum of the MBA program, had the opportunity to participate in the 3-day INSEAD course, joining the EMBA cohort for the experience. He found profound value in the opportunity for pause provided by the program. “You get busy in life and there’s rarely a chance to stop and clear your head,” he says. “You don’t get to consider how you’re thinking about problems, how you’re looking to solve them, or really have the chance to look from above – this course offered just that.” The face-to-face learning environment at INSEAD proved particularly powerful for Omar. “I still value direct face-to-face learning, so being able to collaborate with others who are on a similar journey was great – there’s a shared experience, which in itself is quite unique.”

For Kelly McJannett, CEO and co-founder of FoodLadder, the exposure to international insights and markets was particularly enticing. “It’s so important to get out of your own backyard and into an international view, especially for Australian students,” she says. “Having a global lens is vital, particularly as we’re going through a pace of advancement in the world – the more access we can get to the international market, the better.”

Kelly, also an alumna of the MBA program, joined the EMBA cohort to expand her global perspective in life and business. She considers this a non-negotiable for modern executives. “Education is cultural, so this was a real pulse-check on other parts and regions in the world,” she says.