Which MBA?

Hi there,

Both INSEAD and IESE are excellent MBAs, and you can’t really go wrong with either—especially for consulting. But the differences do matter depending on your priorities:

Consulting outcomes:

• INSEAD is historically the strongest pipeline into MBB globally. Middle East offices in particular have deep ties to INSEAD and recruit heavily there, with large on-campus hiring teams each year. If consulting in ME is your top goal, INSEAD gives you the widest reach and alumni network
• IESE also places very well into MBB (especially Europe), and you can absolutely land MBB Middle East from there, though the pipeline is smaller and less automatic than at INSEAD. You may need to put in more networking effort

Other considerations:

• INSEAD: 1-year, extremely international, intense, very consulting-oriented, strong alumni base in ME and Asia
• IESE: 2-year (or 15–19 month), more time to explore, strong general management reputation, case-method heavy teaching, excellent FT ranking, better if you want time to test different career paths beyond consulting
• Lifestyle: INSEAD = Fontainebleau or Singapore, very fast-paced. IESE = Barcelona, longer program, more community feel

Bottom line:

• If consulting in the Middle East is the clear priority → INSEAD is the safer and more direct bet.
• If you value more time to explore other industries and like the 2-year format, IESE is still a strong platform and you can get to MBB ME from there—it’s just a bit less of a “consulting machine” than INSEAD.

Happy to help you prep – feel free to reach out.
 

Best,
Evelina

Hi,

INSEAD 19D here… 

First of, good to be you! Both schools are great. While INSEAD has the stronger historical track record with consulting, including in the Middle East where alumni presence is very dense, IESE also places well into MBB. You would not be at a disadvantage coming from IESE.

The real difference comes down to the program experience: INSEAD’s 10-month intensity, international class, and global alumni footprint vs. IESE’s longer format and strong Europe focus. If you want maximum flexibility and global optionality, INSEAD might be slightly stronger; if you want more time to explore and a tighter community, IESE can be the better fit.

So I’d make the choice less about “will I get into consulting” (you can from both) and more about what kind of MBA journey you want.

Happy to further bounce ideas.

Best,

Lukas

Hello :)

Both schools are excellent, and either will open doors to MBB in the Middle East. INSEAD has the strongest consulting pipeline globally and especially in the Middle East, with very established recruiting channels. IESE is also highly regarded, particularly in Europe, but its direct recruiting footprint in the Middle East is smaller compared to INSEAD.

If consulting is your clear target, INSEAD gives you the most straightforward path. If you value a longer program with more time for internships, reflection, and broader career exploration, IESE can be a great choice. Both are top-tier, so the decision really comes down to how much you prioritize speed and global consulting reach (INSEAD) versus depth of program and campus culture (IESE).

best,
Alessa :)

Hi there,

Q: Will I find a job in the middle east (MBB), and is it as good as they say or is INSEAD really just better at everything?

INSEAD is generally considered stronger for consulting exit opportunities.

You can get a more specific, data-driven answer by checking the track record of the programs in terms of exits. You can do so as follows:

1. Go to LinkedIn
2. Add INSEAD and IESE as "School", one by one (if possible, target the MBA only)
3. Filter by each target company you have (eg MBB) as “Current company” for your target geography
4. Check how many school alumni joined your target firms
5. Normalize for the size of the MBA intake (if available)

Good luck!

Francesco

You need to gives us more detail on your long term goal.

Insead will help you get the consulting job you want in the Middle East.

It will also give you a certain network... with a given geographic footprint.

Your consulting role + that network are relevant in helping you land the next job after consulting. At that point the Insead brand is less relevant.

So unless IESE is providing you a network better tailored to the role and location you want afterwords, it wouldn't make sense to go for Insead. 

My doubt here is on the thought process... if your consulting gig in the Middle East is not the best thing to help you land the following role... is that really the path you want to follow? Because if it is indeed the best intermediate role... there's no doubt here.