Joining the newly launched INSEAD PhD Programme in 1989 was a leap of faith—one that became a life-defining decision. Now a Full Professor, his journey offers a remarkable reflection on growth, resilience, and lifelong curiosity.
Despite having offers from top-tier U.S. schools, Gabriel chose INSEAD at a time when its PhD Programme was still in its infancy. Visiting the Fontainebleau campus and meeting the faculty convinced him to take the chance.
“They were honest with me,” he recalls. “They said, ‘You’ll be guinea pigs, but we’ll give you unparalleled attention.’ And both promises turned out to be true.”
This early phase was both thrilling and challenging. As one of the programme’s first students, he experienced a steep learning curve, with demanding coursework that sometimes tested the limits of what was feasible. Yet, he also received extraordinary mentorship and resources that shaped his academic journey.
His recent research efforts explore how firms navigate this balance. "Companies can't focus solely on market strategies. Non-market strategies involving integration and understanding group identities are equally critical," he notes, highlighting the importance of recognising national and cultural nuances for global business success.
The programme’s growing pains were real. Gabriel vividly remembers intense coursework compressed into unrealistic timeframes and exams that felt nearly impossible. But the faculty’s energy and commitment made all the difference.
“In some seminars, instead of 40 hours, we ended up having 70 because the professors were so enthusiastic,” he says. “They brought world-class experts to teach us, which was incredible.”
Graduation, though long-awaited, came with a sense of triumph. “There were doubts about whether the programme would succeed,” he explains. “But by the time we graduated, our placements at top schools proved we had made it. It was a huge achievement, both personally and institutionally.”
Gabriel describes the mentorship he received during his PhD as “intimate and abundant.” Professors were eager to guide and support the small cohort of students. “We had world-class scholars ready to engage with us deeply,” he remembers. “It felt like a luxury.”
Today, mentorship at INSEAD is more structured and specialised. “The academic world has matured,” he says. “Now the focus is on helping students frame research projects, publish, and become tangible academics as quickly as possible.”
Yet one thing remains unchanged: the passion for helping students push the boundaries of knowledge.
Gabriel's own motivation has always been driven by curiosity. After starting his career in engineering and R&D, he realised that management roles left little room for exploration. Academia, on the other hand, offered endless opportunities to question and discover.
His research interests crystallised during his PhD, focusing on organisational learning and knowledge barriers within firms. “I became fascinated with why organisations often don’t know what they know,” he says. His dissertation, exploring how knowledge fails to transfer within firms, set the tone for a lifelong research agenda.
He also developed a passion for understanding how strategies are formulated—another theme that continues to inspire his work today.
Reflecting on his career, Gabriel highlights what makes INSEAD exceptional: its people.
“We’re surrounded by incredibly talented individuals—faculty, students, and staff alike,” he says. “It’s both intimidating and inspiring. Being part of this community is a privilege. It’s an endless fountain of skills, ideas, and collaboration.”
For aspiring researchers, Gabriel offers simple but powerful advice:
Be curious: Genuine curiosity is essential to sustain a long academic journey.
Be resilient: Success takes time, and setbacks are part of the process.
Be committed: The path from student to scholar demands passion and perseverance.
Above all, he encourages students to embrace the uncertainty and excitement of discovery. “In research, you’re not just consuming knowledge—you’re creating it,” he says. “And that’s a truly extraordinary journey.”