The IMD MBA essays are a window into your leadership potential, personal values, and readiness for an intense, transformative journey. IMD asks applicants to reflect on who they are, what they’ve learned from life’s key turning points, and how they plan to grow next. These prompts call for clarity, honesty, and thoughtful introspection. You’ll need to show what you’ve accomplished and who is the authentic you beyond the facts and figures of your achievements.

In this guide, we’ll break down IMD’s current essay questions, explore what the admissions team is really looking for, and offer tips to help your application stand out.

What IMD Admissions Looks for in Essays

IMD’s MBA program is small by design, with around just 100 participants per year. That intimacy means the admissions team is highly selective, seeking not only professional talent but also strong personal fit. Your essays are a crucial tool to convey both.

The IMD MBA admissions team places a premium on:

• Leadership with impact – IMD wants applicants who’ve stepped up, taken ownership, and made a measurable difference – not just in title, but in action.
• Global and cultural awareness – With 40+ nationalities in the classroom, cultural sensitivity and international perspective are vital.
• Self-awareness – Can you reflect honestly on your journey? Do you know what drives you? Can you own your missteps as much as your successes?
• Motivation and clarity of purpose – IMD is a one-year, high-intensity program. The best candidates arrive with clear goals and the drive to pursue them from day one.

These qualities should anchor your entire IMD MBA application. The essays are your opportunity to bring them to life through your story. Let’s examine how to do this in each essay. 

How to Approach the IMD Essays

Essay 1: Tell Us Your Story (400 words)

Prompt: Tell us your story. (400 words)

This first essay is your opportunity to go beyond your resume and bring your life experience to the forefront. IMD isn’t asking for a chronological biography – they want a story. That means reflection, growth, and emotional clarity.

The most effective responses focus on 2-3 defining experiences that shaped your values, perspective, and leadership approach. These could come from any part of your life: a formative family moment, a professional challenge, a relocation, or even a personal failure that taught you something important.

What matters most is how honestly and thoughtfully you reflect on those experiences. What did they reveal about you? What changed afterward? And how do those lessons shape the person who’s now applying to IMD?

Try to avoid listing accomplishments. This isn’t the space for metrics or name-dropping. Instead, focus on who you are and why you are that way. Remember, IMD is looking for authenticity, introspection, and a willingness to grow. If your story feels vulnerable to share, you’re probably in the right zone.

Want more insight into the IMD MBA?
Check out our video conversation with IMD Director Sandeep Tada and alum Alicia Gong, hosted by Fortuna’s Matt Symonds.

Hear how IMD integrates cutting‑edge AI learning, delivers deep leadership development, and drives personal and professional transformation in a single, intense year.

Inside the IMD MBA: AI, Leadership, and Career Transformation in Just One Year

Essay 2: Your Development Goals

Prompt: What areas of personal and professional development do you hope to explore during your time at IMD? (400 words)

This essay flips the lens forward. IMD wants to know what you hope to gain from the program – and whether you’ve done the self-assessment to know where you still need to grow.

Strong responses balance self-awareness with a clear rationale for choosing IMD. That means identifying a few targeted areas for growth (not just “leadership” or “networking”) and connecting them to your ambitions.

For example:

• Do you want to develop a more global perspective after working primarily in one market?
• Do you need to sharpen your financial or strategic toolkit before launching your startup?
• Are you looking to become a more emotionally intelligent leader to help you expand your scope to bigger teams?

What sets IMD apart is its intense, hands-on approach to leadership transformation. Highlight how you’ll make the most of that environment – whether through real-time feedback, personal coaching, or peer-driven learning. Ground your goals in concrete elements of the program, for example:

• The integration of AI in the MBA, both as a learning tool and as a subject of study, preparing you to lead in a technology-driven business environment.
• The Future Lab in Singapore, exposing you to cutting-edge technology and international business challenges in one of the world’s most dynamic markets.
• IMD’s personalized coaching and feedback framework, which provides the accountability to turn self-insight into action.

Show that you know who you are today, who you want to become, and why IMD is the right crucible for that transformation.

Optional IMD MBA Essay

Prompt: Additional information that would be helpful for the Admissions Committee to be aware of? (400 words – optional)

This is a classic optional essay – and is not an invitation to write a third essay. Use it only if you have meaningful context that strengthens your candidacy or clarifies a potential red flag.

Consider using this space if:

• You had a career gap or a significant job change that needs explanation
• Your undergraduate grades or test scores don’t reflect your true potential
• You want to offer context on your personal journey – e.g., family responsibilities, illness, immigration, or other unique challenges
• You’ve done something exceptional not captured elsewhere (a startup, side project, volunteer leadership, etc.)

What not to do:

• Don’t rehash your resume or essay content
• Don’t stretch to write something “just in case”
• Don’t turn it into another personal statement

If you do use this space, be concise, factual, and positive. If you’re unsure whether to include something, ask yourself: Is this information critical to the admissions committee’s understanding of my candidacy? 

Common Mistakes to Avoid in IMD MBA Essays

Many applicants stumble on predictable pitfalls that can undermine otherwise strong essays. Here are the most common missteps to avoid:

Telling your whole life story

IMD wants depth, not breadth. Don’t try to squeeze your entire life history into the first essay. Focus on a very few pivotal experiences that shaped your character, values, and perspective – and be prepared to get to the heart of it. The best essays are reflective, but not exhaustive.

Writing like it’s any other school

Do not copy-paste your essays. Generic statements about “global leadership” or a “top-ranked MBA” won’t cut it. If you don’t show that you’ve researched the school’s unique culture, your application will feel surface-level.

Listing every course that interests you

In the second essay about how you hope to develop at IMD, a common mistake is to cite a laundry list of elements of the program that interest you. Simply naming classes shows you’ve read the website, but it doesn’t reveal why those elements matter to your journey. Instead, highlight just a few academic resources that align directly with your development goals and explain how you plan to engage with them.

Ignoring cultural or emotional intelligence

IMD places a premium on self-awareness and cultural agility. If your essays sound overly self-promotional, transactional, or ego-driven, it’s a red flag. Show that you’ve grown through feedback, worked across diverse teams, and are eager to keep evolving.

Treating the optional essay like bonus real estate

Don’t use the optional essay just to say more. Only write it if there’s meaningful context that strengthens your application. 

Expert Tips for Writing Strong IMD MBA Essays

Writing for IMD means conveying authenticity, self-awareness, and a readiness for growth. Here’s how to do that well:

Reflect before you write

Spend time thinking before drafting. Journal about key turning points in your life, times you led or failed, moments you gained insight into yourself. IMD’s prompts demand introspection, and it shows when you’ve done the inner work.

Anchor each essay in one or two clear points

Whether you’re talking about your life story or your development goals, pick a few key points and build around them. Don’t try to cover too much ground, but instead offer some thoughtful insight. 

Speak to IMD’s values without being obvious

Don’t just write, “IMD’s focus on sustainability really resonates with me.” Instead, illustrate it through your experiences – perhaps by sharing how you’ve made responsible decisions in your work, championed long-term impact over short-term gain, or initiated a project with measurable social or environmental benefits. IMD is looking for evidence that you live its values in action, not just that you can repeat them back.

Balance personal and professional

IMD wants whole people, not just polished professionals. Don’t be afraid to bring in personal background – where you come from, what shaped you, how your values formed. In fact, it’s often the personal anecdotes that help bring you application to life. Just be sure to tie it all back to who you are today and where you’re headed.

Be concise and intentional

With 400-word limits, every sentence counts. Trim filler (“I’ve always believed that…”) and avoid repeating what’s in your resume. Use vivid, specific language and stay tightly focused on the prompt.

Read aloud (seriously)

This simple trick helps you catch awkward phrasing and flat language. Strong essays sound like the applicant – polished, yes, but still unmistakably human. If it doesn’t sound like something you’d say in an honest conversation, revise it.

Want more help crafting a standout essay? Explore our MBA Essay Editing Services.  

Final Thoughts: Bring Your Whole Self to the IMD MBA Essays

Writing strong essays for IMD means digging deeper than your job titles or accomplishments. This is your opportunity to show who you are, how you think, and where you’re headed. The best essays blend vulnerability with vision, revealing how the moments in your life shaped your character.

If you’re clear on your values, thoughtful about your development, and excited by the challenge of IMD’s high-touch, high-impact MBA, your essays will reflect that.

Let’s Get You In

At Fortuna Admissions, we’re a dream team of former admissions directors and seasoned MBA coaches from the world’s top business schools. We specialize in helping applicants craft compelling stories and maximize every part of the application process.

Book a free consultation to assess your candidacy and find out how we can help you get into your dream MBA program.