In the second example, we describe the journey of a Management Consultant, who felt his soul leaving his body while performing for a 200-strong audience at Second city – the improvisational theatre group.

The next week, the performance and the training to listen before leading, found real-world application when the client was sharing a trend. Instead of interrupting, he listened and allowed the CEO to complete the thoughts. The patience paid off as his previous engagement idea of starting a hybrid store for the Toy brand received greenlight during the meeting. The habit of listening and completely being ‘present’ in the meetings helped his Employer build a lifelong partnership with the brand.

The applicant concludes on the value Improv has offered for him, in the form of conflict resolution, team building, and confidence in facing uncertainty. From a culture where failure is looked down up, the applicant with the experience at the Improv, could take risks without worrying about failure and manage the stress that comes with the uncertainty of the consulting solutions.

Sample INSEAD MBA Essay: Extra-Curricular and How enriched you are (298 Words) (Improv Acting)

When I hopped like a Rabbit, in front of 200 laughing audience, my identity as the Management Consultant for Deloitte was getting reframed. As the fourth wheel in the 4-person improv act at Second City, Toronto, I felt a spiritual connection with the three, lapping up their absurd ‘spur of the moment’ narratives to a credible story. Rarely did we drop the storyline or pretend to outshine each other with witty jokes. Improvisation for me, is an absolute dedication to the act and listening for the slightest flick of insecurity in my team.