Mastering Leadership With Intention at IMD in Switzerland
For many senior professionals, the path to the C-suite is paved with technical expertise. However, true career advancement often requires a deeper shift in mindset. Sharon Anderes, a graduate of the IMD Executive MBA Class of 2024, exemplifies this transition.
Originally from South Africa and now based in Switzerland, Sharon’s journey through executive education highlights how a top-tier program can refine leadership skills. Before joining IMD Business School, she transitioned from journalism to corporate communications at the World Economic Forum. Her story provides a roadmap for those seeking new EMBA career opportunities through intentional personal development.
Beyond the Technical: Personal Development as a Leadership Foundation
The decision to pursue an IMD Executive MBA is rarely just about adding a credential to a resume. For Sharon, it was a deeply personal quest to understand the type of leader she wanted to become. She initially spent three years weighing the decision while navigating “outside voices” that questioned if it was the right time.
However, the immersive reality of the IMD classroom experience eventually drew her in. Sharon recalls, “From the moment I was in the classroom… it felt so real. It felt tangible. I felt like I was really in that business scenario that we were given.” (01:22) She realized that leadership cannot exist in a vacuum or a silo.
The program focuses heavily on personal development, pushing students to look beneath the strategy and technical aspects. Sharon describes this as a “360-degree approach” that forces you to reflect on your unique contributions to a professional context. “Going through the program actually made me realize… what uniqueness I bring to each situation within the professional context.” (17:13)
This introspective work ensures that when you reach senior roles, you are not just a manager, but an intentional leader who inspires others to grow.
Navigating Global Complexity: Lessons From India, Japan, and Silicon Valley
One of the hallmarks of the IMD MBA and EMBA experience is the Global Immersion Weeks. These modules allow students to dive deep into cultures that shape global decision-making. Sharon’s cohort traveled to three distinct hubs, each offering a unique lesson in leadership skills:
- India: She experienced an entrepreneurial energy and resilience that thrives within complexity and ambiguity. She said this helped her to embrace imperfection as part of the process.
- Japan: This immersion focused on precision, respect, and long-term collective thinking. She said this insight into the collective mindset taught her patience and discipline.
- Silicon Valley: Here, the culture of boldness and speed reframed “failure” as a necessary step for innovation. Her fears dissipated, replaced with a growth mindset.
These experiences challenged Sharon to adopt a “systems thinking” approach. It moved her from a point of expertise to a point of curiosity.
Diversity as a Learning Mechanism in the Classroom
In addition, learning from her peers contributed to her overall transformation: “Peer learning at IMD was indeed transformative… you’re not just learning from success stories, but from lived experiences across markets.” (05:14) The depth of knowledge she encountered was itself a teacher.
She further explains, “What I found was that the answer that I had in my mind and the answer that I thought was the ‘right’ one was often challenged… having that opportunity to dial in and lean into other people’s perspectives… was mind-blowing.” (04:28)
The Global Immersion Weeks and peer learning resulted in a new perspective on leadership: “Moving between these three contexts [India, Japan, Silicon Valley] made me realize that there is no single right way to lead.” (15:20)
By seeing the interconnectedness of global challenges, she solidified a fresh mindset focused on impact, legacy, and the broader role of business in society.
When seeking out post-EMBA career pivots, the strength of your network is your greatest asset. However, Sharon views the IMD ecosystem as more than just professional networking. She describes it as a global community of “my people”. This bond is built on intense vulnerability and trust developed during the program.
Since graduating, Sharon has remained deeply involved in this community. She currently co-leads the “Women in Business” group within the Inclusive Leadership Alumni Community. This role allows her to “pay it forward” and support other women in their career advancement journeys. The goal of such groups is to provide tools for empowerment and to ensure that no leader operates in a bubble.
Elevating Women in Leadership: The Impact of the IMD Scholarship
Financial considerations are often a hurdle for those exploring EMBA career opportunities. Sharon admits that the financial commitment is significant, joking that while others buy Ferraris, she chose an EMBA. Winning the IMD Women Leader Scholarship was a pivotal moment for her. It helped her overcome inklings of “imposter syndrome” and validated her status as a woman leader.
The scholarship also instilled in her a sense of responsibility to pay her opportunity forward. She reflects on how she felt at the time, “I’ve been given this opportunity, and I’m going to lean in. I’m going to really put myself in this journey and give it my all. And when I come out on the other side, I want to be there for others.” (08:55)
Sharon felt that this recognition was a sign that IMD believed in her potential. This validation provided the confidence needed to balance a “120%” workload as a professional, a mother, and a student.
Strategic Positioning for C-Suite Success
In competitive, senior leadership roles, the reputation of your degree matters. Sharon notes that when you mention the IMD EMBA, “heads look up”. She believes that “it’s a testament to the [E]MBA program that has gotten so much respect because of the depth of the program… faculty members who are just exceptional… [and] a multicultural melting pot of
senior leaders in the room that you’re learning with.” (18:12)
The program is recognized for its depth and its ability to produce “solid” graduates who are ready for high-stakes environments.
While Sharon did not pursue the degree simply to climb the corporate ladder, the program has positioned her for C-suite success. By focusing on her internal growth first, she has ensured that she will be ready when the right opportunity arrives.
Your Journey With IMD Toward Intentional Leadership
The IMD Executive MBA is more than an academic program; it is a catalyst for profound transformation. As Sharon Anderes discovered, the most significant career advancement comes when you align your professional goals with a clear sense of personal intention. If you are a professional ready to challenge your own perspectives and step into a global community of leaders, IMD offers the tools and the network you need.
You have the power to define your own leadership legacy. Do not wait for the “perfect time” that may never come. Instead, embrace the ambiguity of the global market and lean into the growth that only a world-class executive education can provide. Explore the IMD Executive MBA today and start building the foundation for the leader you want to become.
Want to study at IMD? Take our eligibility quiz to see if you qualify!
You might also like…
The IMD GPT: An MBA in Your Back Pocket
Discover how IMD is leading the charge in integrating AI into MBA programs. Omar Toulan, PhD, Dean of the MBA program, discusses innovative tools like their IMD GPT, their unique focus on transversal skills, AI-enhanced decision-making, and leadership development. Learn how this forward-thinking approach sets IMD apart.
Read more
