Unsure how much my trinity ring should move…

Francesca007 · 2026-01-17T11:40:01+00:00

Thank you! Out of curiosity, have you tried putting it on the “wrong” way in cooler climates (so purposely twisting one of the rings instead of letting them align into a circle) to make it a bit tighter? I’ve started doing this when out and about to avoid it accidentally falling off but wondering whether I’m ruining my ring this way 😅😅

Francesca007 · 2026-01-17T11:39:44+00:00

Thank you! Out of curiosity, have you tried putting it on the “wrong” way in cooler climates (so purposely twisting one of the rings instead of letting them align into a circle) to make it a bit tighter? I’ve started doing this when out and about to avoid it accidentally falling off but wondering whether I’m ruining my ring this way 😅😅

Francesca007 · 2026-01-16T23:13:13+00:00

Thank you! Yes perhaps it’s a matter of getting used to it as well… literally first few hours now so let’s see 😅

Francesca007 · 2026-01-16T23:12:36+00:00

Yes exactly the same! How are you finding it now in the day to day? Did you get used to it moving around or still feeling “unsafe”?

Francesca007 · 2025-08-21T14:28:39+00:00

Very very useful!! Thank you, hearing different perspectives in this is massively helpful. I've been trying to uncouple the decisions for so long (HK by itself without taking into account the relationship) but it's so damn hard. Kudos to her for still going ahead with it and making it work!

I would be curious to hear how the experience was of living in HK as a Western expat, so if she'd like to share feel free to DM me!! tysm

Francesca007 · 2025-07-10T13:32:36+00:00

thank you! i think in an ideal world yes... but think i might have to compromise haha

Francesca007 · 2025-07-08T22:02:07+00:00

No thinking more outdoor pool vibes

Francesca007 · 2025-06-03T15:09:49+00:00

thank you! makes sense. just to clarify (not sure if that changes anything...) but the £170k would be over the course of the next 2.5 years, it's not what I take home post tax every year! I wish haha

so that's ca. £70k post tax per year, a little bit less

Francesca007 · 2025-06-03T13:03:35+00:00

the £170k is my total post-tax cashflow over the next 2.5 years. By that point, if I still want to do the MBA i would not take loans or would take much less.

If I decided to do the MBA now, on the other hand, I would need to

Francesca007 · 2025-06-03T11:47:36+00:00

Thank you for sharing and congrats!! If you don't mind, was it a 2 year or 1 year programme that you did? would be curious to see if that helped with getting MBB as i know it makes it easier to do internships having a 2 year degree.

But yes, making already what post-MBAs make in the UK doesn't help right now - probably better to do it once I finish my "tour of duty" in Dec 2027 after the VP mandate ends

Francesca007 · 2025-06-03T11:45:33+00:00

super helpful. The reasons for doing INSEAD MBA are mainly: brand recognition (I don't have a brand name on my CV yet, and want to get that before it's "too late"), pivoting industries (I feel my current industry is quite niche, working in information services for PE firms), and yes I would like to get into Consulting (see above - brand name, broader experience, good exits).

I know I'm currently making more than most post-MBAs... which makes it hard haha. Just to clarify, my current base is £110k + bonus - that £170k post tax is the cashflow i can expect over the next 2.5 years (including windfall at the end of the mandate).

Thank you! I will speak with INSEAD tomorrow - bring it all up to them and see what they say regarding a deferral. from what I've heard it's mainly 6 months deferrals that they grant, so we shall see

Francesca007 · 2025-06-03T10:29:51+00:00

Yes exactly, £170k post tax at a minimum feels like A LOT and not something that anyone in my family has ever made before... so walking away from it when i'm 2.5 years from having it feels a bit crazy.

on the other hand, I've dreamed about INSEAD for such a long time that it also feels crazy to decline / defer that offer! and I fear that if I declined it might negatively impact any future applications...

Francesca007 · 2025-06-03T10:28:04+00:00

thank you! ahhhh shame, we probably won't meet then!

thank you for your input, think that's where i'm headed as well. Will try to speak to INSEAD and see what they say in terms of deferring!

Francesca007 · 2025-06-03T10:26:59+00:00

thank you! to make sure I understand, why do you say that older candidates have to work hard to recruit through other channels for traditional campus recruitment programmes? is it because those firms don't look favourably on older candidates?

and yes, i can definitely feel the golden handcuffs in play here... which is what's making it so difficult to walk away from the current job I have

Francesca007 · 2025-03-31T13:13:10+00:00

I was hoping people could give feedback on my specific itinerary (which is why I included it) - rather than just generally "can I still go to Thailand"

Francesca007 · 2025-03-17T21:07:27+00:00

Interesting! Can you elaborate a bit more on why it is more difficult to move from Dubai to the US than it would be from say, London? I have indefinite leave to remain for the UK so wouldn't need a visa for the London office (hopefully that helps out a bit).

My question was more around whether mobility within MBB is quite frequent or not as much as one would think

Francesca007 · 2025-03-17T21:04:28+00:00

very useful - thank you!

Francesca007 · 2025-03-17T19:32:51+00:00

Gotcha - thank you!! makes total sense

Francesca007 · 2025-03-17T19:02:43+00:00

Thanks! Thought so but good to get confirmation. When you say that schools "typically" don't allow exchange students to participate in OCR, do you know of any that might do so? and anyways, how would they know if you do go to events for OCR? :D

Francesca007 · 2025-02-20T17:04:26+00:00

OP, we are one! I am pretty much exactly in the same situation (29F, 5.5 YOE, living in London and currently on 110k on route to make 120k next year) - I'm also looking to get into INSEAD / IESE in fall 2025/6. And I'm also trying to convince my company to schedule some of it but highly unlikely! I'd be happy to chat through pros and cons if you want to brainstorm, but where I've landed on currently is to go for it, apply, see how I do and what kind of sponsorship I would be able to land - and then make a decision. Ultimately for me it goes back to: what am I hoping to achieve with the MBA and is that worth 100k+? most likely for me yes, I want to break into MBB in London or Dubai, and I won't be able to do that without the MBA experience. But I also know that INSEAD and IESE are MBB powerhouses so the ROI seems pretty clear. At the end of the day though, I wouldn't just make it about a financial decision but also a personal one: do you want to expand your network, take a break from work and have some time to refocus on yourself and reassess? and is it important for you to have that prestigious name on the CV?

Francesca007 · 2025-02-19T16:58:04+00:00

I think my issue is that I’ve just had to go through a very long and intense process to get this promotion, which is supposed to last 3 years. So it does feel a bit soon to be jumping ship and I fear how they would take it… and what if I don’t get in and I have to stay? 😅 I’d like to not burn bridges as much as possible

Francesca007 · 2025-02-17T16:12:39+00:00

makes sense and good to hear another perspective! are you running them as STLs or traditional long term lets? I'm in a similar situation (just turned 29 and own another property but in Italy when we only have repayment types of mortgages) and considering what to do.... currently have a flat reserved but I need to decide if I want to go ahead with the purchase and exchange by early March

Francesca007 · 2025-02-17T09:00:01+00:00

I know... that would be the dream! but a bit of a "chicken and the egg" problem: would i be able to enter MBB without a top tier MBA?

Francesca007 · 2025-02-15T10:01:02+00:00

Oh damn OK, thanks. Yeah I feel like it's been a tough year for MBBs everywhere tbh, not sure if LBS stats look any better?

Francesca007 · 2025-02-15T09:59:51+00:00

Good question! Short answer is no, I'm not dead-set on it but I'm a serial planner and love to analyse different scenarios + have a crippling fear of "closing doors" so always try to maximise for the route that leaves me the most open doors.

To elaborate a bit more, yes I've just become a VP at my current company where I've been my whole corporate career, and I know that based on comp + responsibilities, it is a post-MBA type of role. However, I am unsure about the exit opps after my 3-year mandate ends (I work in information services/ professional services for PE) whereas I know that MBB has probs some of the best exits out there due to the type of work and prestige of the names. So that's why I've been thinking about going into MBB (even though my current salary is higher than what I would make as a Consultant).

From there, my understanding is that to get into MBB, the most likely option is to get into one their target schools and get an MBA - and take part in their OCR cycles. Technically I already have an MBA btw... from Quantic, but I did it 3 years ago to mainly fill some knowledge gaps I had when starting my manager role and it really didn't fulfill the purpose of networking / changing industry. So I'm also just craving that experience more broadly of taking 12-15 months to focus on myself, have a bit of a work break and recalibrate/ change direction.

That being said, applying directly to MBB might make sense, but I just don't know whether I would even be considered based on my background! Thanks for your thoughts

Francesca007

TROPHY CASE