Our students are the core of the MaastrichtMBA programme. Students with a broad diversity on nationality, age and even professional background. The insights and thoughts of our MBA students describe the true experience of MaastrichtMBA. This time we talked with our French student Clarisse Truong. She works as Director, Global Customer & Market Insights at iTeos Therapeutics. iTeos Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on immuno-oncology. Clarisse joined our On-Campus MBA track in November 2025.
On the professional side, I was mid-career, transitioning from a scientific background into business development within the company I worked for, and I wanted to support that transition with a targeted, high-value course.
Unfortunately, the company shut down its operations, and I lost my job before I could even start an Executive MBA. I decided to pursue it anyway, as a new challenge amid the uncertainty I was facing at the time. It was a risky bet!
I spent time exploring various options in Belgium and France, and when I found the MaastrichtMBA programme, it stood out immediately. The content was fully aligned with my goals, covering all the topics I wanted to learn through this course, and the flexibility was exactly what I needed. I was looking for an on-site programme because I wanted face-to-face interaction and the schedule of one week every three months was ideal, since I already knew, while job-hunting, exactly which weeks I needed to set aside for the programme. On top of that, Maastricht is a beautiful, international, and convenient city and being based in Liège, I’m only a 20-minute drive away.
As mentioned, I was looking for an on-site programme to experience the course face-to-face in a classroom environment. I really value this format because it lets me benefit from interacting with other students. I’m fascinated by the diversity of backgrounds we all come from while sharing the same objective: learning and developing ourselves. For me, being able to build such a valuable network with peers is incredible, especially through face-to-face interaction in a world that has become so virtual.
As for the elective weeks, I also appreciate the flexibility to choose along the way. I’m still considering whether to specialise in one of the three topics (Sustainability, Responsible Leadership, or Digital Business) or to follow one of each.
As mentioned, I’m in the middle of my career. I’ve evolved and grown along the way, but certain skills always need further development. I’m looking to strengthen my leadership, communication, and confidence. I know this will help me not only professionally but also personally.
On the technical side, I’m thrilled to be learning more about economics and finance, skills I can apply more effectively in my job.
I’ve completed 3 weeks so far, and I’ve already learned so much. I can see myself growing week after week, gaining progressively more confidence, expanding my network with incredible people, and learning new technical topics along the way.
What I appreciate most is the genuinely positive, caring atmosphere created by the peers, teachers, and MBA office team who are so warm and welcoming. We feel pushed to grow while being safely supported every step of the way. It’s a safe environment in which we can test ourselves.
I’m only in the first half of my journey, but it’s already going by so fast, so I’d pass on the same message my peers gave me: enjoy it! Don’t overthink it, yes, it will take time, energy, commitment, and stress (and, for some of us, personal financial investment), but it’s so worthwhile. This is the best place to grow!
