INSEAD MBA Essays: Analysis & Tips for 2025-26
When it comes to business school applications, INSEAD stands out for its thought-provoking essay prompts that compel applicants to reflect on their journey and values deeply. Known for its fast-paced 10-month program, global reach, and cultural diversity, INSEAD is one of the most renowned and competitive MBA programs in the world. And they seek candidates with clear career vision who demonstrate a global mindset and ability to contribute to the diversity of the class. In this post, let’s look at how to approach the INSEAD MBA essays for the 2025-26 cycle.
Note that INSEAD has reduced the number of essay prompts this year by combining some of the older prompts into shorter ones. However, the writing effort for the new prompts remains the same and they still demand deep introspection from applicants.
Career Essay 1: Career Summary
Provide a summary of your career since graduating from university, explaining the rationale behind your key decisions and career progression. Include a description of your current (or most recent) role, covering the scope of your work, major responsibilities, employees under your supervision, budget size, clients/products, and any notable results achieved. (500 words)
What INSEAD wants
A clear, logical explanation about your career trajectory that reflects growth, leadership, and decision-making skills. You are not expected to rewrite or expand on your CV here, instead this is the narrative that explains why you made each career choice.
How to approach it
- Start with a high-level hook: The opening line should capture the essence of your professional journey. Example: I have built my career at the intersection of technology and social impact, leading projects that improved access to clean energy across 23 districts
- Chronological, but selective: Move through your roles in order, but instead of recounting your achievements, focus on the skills you developed through each role
- Focus on results: For each role, set the stage, explain what you did, and quantify your achievements
- Rationale behind choices: Show that each step was deliberate and intentional aligning with your post-MBA goals and long-term aspirations
- End with your current role: Include scope, metrics, and achievements to showcase your readiness for INSEAD
Avoid technical jargon, acronyms without explanation, simply describing daily responsibilities, and missing numbers that show scale or impact.
Need Help With Your MBA Application Essays?
Career Essay 2: Career Goals
Describe your short and long-term career aspirations, including your target geography, industry, and function. How do you plan to bridge the gap between your current position and these goals, and how will INSEAD help you achieve them? (300 words)
What INSEAD wants
Career vision anchored in realism. They want to know you have researched your industry and what you expect from the INSEAD MBA.
How to approach it
- Short-term clarity: State the target roles, companies, industry, and geography. Example: Post MBA, I aim to join a top-tier strategy consulting firm in Southeast Asia, focusing on digital transformation projects for the healthcare sector
- Long-term ambition: Describe your bigger picture impact in 8–10 years; be ambitious but credible. Your long-term vision must be a natural extension of your short-term goals
- The gap: Explain which skills, networks, and experiences you still need, and how they connect to your goals
- The INSEAD fit: Mention specific courses, professors, clubs, and recruitment stats relevant to your goals
Avoid vague aspirations, unrealistic pivots with no skill transfer, or generic mentions of “network” without context.
You might find this article on how to define career goals in your MBA application useful.
Motivation Essay 1: Self & Leadership
Give a candid description of yourself as a person and a leader, emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses you recognize in yourself. Explain how you are actively working on your development, sharing key experiences that have shaped you, providing specific examples where relevant. (500 words)
What INSEAD wants
A self-aware candidate who embraces personal growth and has leadership potential grounded in authenticity.
How to approach it
- Balance strengths and weaknesses: Pick 2–3 strengths that have directly contributed to your achievements and 1–2 weaknesses that are genuine and addressable
- Concrete examples: For each trait, give a brief story that shows it in action. For example, a strength of “cross-cultural communication” could be shown through leading a project with teammates across five countries
- Growth mindset: For weaknesses, show that you are actively improving – seeking feedback, developing skills through training, building habits using resources like books or podcasts. Be honest and vulnerable
- Blend personal and professional: Share experiences that shaped your values, even if outside of work
Avoid clichés or strengths disguised as weaknesses like ‘I can’t say no,’ or ‘I am too detail oriented.’ Moreover, don’t focus the essay only around your professional life; the whole point of this essay is to get to know your personal story.
Get Your Profile Evaluated
Motivation Essay 2: Stress Management
Describe a highly stressful situation you faced and how you managed it. What did this experience teach you about yourself and your interactions with others? (400 words)
What INSEAD wants
Candidates who can handle pressure with composure, adapt to challenges, and learn from adversity.
How to approach it
- Pick a high-stakes situation – could be professional like a crisis at work or personal like a medical emergency – that tests multiple skills
- Show vulnerability and agency: Share your emotions, but focus on the choices you made and actions you took
- Highlight collaboration: Show how you engaged others, especially across cultures or functions
- Reflect deeply: Explain not just the outcome, but what you learned about yourself, your limits, and your approach to working with others
Avoid stories with no real stakes, heroic narratives, or reflections that feel shallow.
Optional Essay
Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee? (300 words)
Optional essay allows you to provide context for genuine gaps or additional information not covered elsewhere.
How to approach it
- Address gaps (employment breaks, low GPA/test score), unusual recommender choices, or significant achievements
- Keep it factual, concise, and positive
- Close with how you have addressed any issue or why it’s not a concern
Do not be tempted to fill the essay with achievements or content repeated from other essays. If you feel that there is no additional information you need to provide to complete your candidature, you can skip this essay entirely.
KIRA assessment (Video essay)
Shortly after submitting this application form, you will receive a link to a video interview. This video component is required to start the evaluation of your application. Please submit the video interview at your earliest convenience and no later than 48 hours after the deadline to which you are applying. Once submitted, the video interviews cannot be modified. Therefore, please ensure that you carefully test your devices before starting the exercise.
We are keen on getting to know you better and believe that through a video you can come to life, so be spontaneous, be creative and be yourself!
INSEAD uses this video essay to assess your communication, presence, and ability to think on your feet.
How to approach it
- Expect multiple questions with 30–60 seconds prep and 60–90 seconds to answer each one
- Practice for common themes: leadership, teamwork, diversity, and motivation
- Use a STAR (Situation – Action – Result – Reflection) format to structure your responses where applicable
- Maintain eye contact, energy, and warmth, and present a confident picture
Avoid over-rehearsed answers, monotone delivery, or poor technical setup
Final Thoughts
INSEAD isn’t just admitting people with strong CVs. They are looking for people who will thrive in an intense, multicultural environment and contribute meaningfully to their cohorts. Across your essays, aim to:
- Tie experiences to cultural sensitivity, adaptability, and leadership
- Show both career clarity and personal depth
- Be authentic, the admissions team can tell when you are trying to pander to them
- Treat the essays as a storytelling exercise rather than a recap of your achievements. Be vivid, honest, and reflective of your unique journey
Read these articles on INSEAD acceptance rate and what INSEAD looks for in applicants to build a standout application.
Have More Questions?
