Anne Grajoszex
IMD Business School
Age: 37
“Dynamic mother of two, traveler, hard worker and strategic thinker with entrepreneurial roots.”
Hometown: Nyon, Switzerland
Family Members: My two daughters, who fill my life with joy and love. My parents, to whom I am deeply grateful for the education, work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit they instilled in me. And, my twin brother, with whom I’ve shared every moment since birth – and of whom I am incredibly proud.
Fun fact about yourself: I have a twin brother, and every woman in my family has given birth to twins – except me. I had the joy of welcoming two wonderful daughters, one at a time!
Undergraduate School and Degree: Master degree (Finance) from IESEG School of Management, Lille, France
Where are you currently working? I am working at Banque Pictet & Cie for the last 14 years. I had the chance to evolve through several roles: Trading Strategy within Pictet Trading & Sales and Head of Content Management on the Investment Platform at Pictet Wealth Management. Currently, I am Chief of Staff for the French-speaking Switzerland zone at Pictet Wealth Management.
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: I had the chance to participate in five French Golf Championships when I was younger and to be part of the Women’s Golf Club team. I had also the chance to be a Member of AIESEC CANADA (the largest international student association) during my exchange year in Montreal at the John Molson School of Business (Concordia University) within the External Relations team.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One of my key achievements throughout my career has been building a diverse professional path – starting in the trading room as an analyst in the trading strategy team then moving to Pictet Wealth Management investment platform as Head of Content Management and ultimately joining front-line teams in wealth management as Chief of Staff (Switzerland FR). This journey has not only allowed me to continuously learn, but also to gain a deep understanding of our processes. Most importantly, I learned how we serve our different client segments. Progressing through multiple roles has equipped me with the perspective to anticipate challenges, reflect thoughtfully, enhance my leadership skills and propose sound strategic decisions for our teams.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? I chose the IMD Executive MBA for its strong focus on real-world leadership, strategic thinking, and global business exposure. Indeed, we had the chance to travel all around the globe to deeply immerse in key thematic elements (Innovation and competitiveness in Shenzhen, Impact investing in Peru, and Entrepreneurship & Venture capital in Silicon Valley). IMD focuses on the application of the theory into practical case studies, which brings me real-world examples of application of our concepts. Moreover, IMD’s emphasis on personal transformation, entrepreneurial mindset, and hands-on learning aligns perfectly with my desire to grow as a decisive, reflective, and agile leader in an ever-changing environment. The program’s international perspective, combined with its strong network of accomplished professionals, offers an ideal platform to both challenge me and contribute meaningfully to others.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? The biggest lesson from my EMBA was during the strategy stream, where I learned how to structure my strategic thinking and master the execution process. It gave me the tools to approach complex challenges with clarity, align actions with long-term measurable goals, and drive impactful results through disciplined, well-executed strategies.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? As a divorced, working mum of two, juggling work, family and education during the EMBA required a high level of discipline and organization. I made it a priority not to compromise on either my professional responsibilities or the time with my daughters. I was also fortunate to have the strong support of my parents and friends, but also from my employer and direct manager – which made a real difference. Beyond managing the logistics and schedules, I also saw this journey as an opportunity to set an example for my two girls – to show them that with hard work, resilience and healthy balance between effort and joy, success is truly achievable.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? I would advise to be clear about his/her goals and what he/she wants to get out of the program – both personally and professionally. An EMBA is a demanding journey that requires a solid commitment, time management, and resilience, especially balancing work and family. Surround yourself with a support system (i.e. parents, friends, employer, and manager), stay open to learning from peers, and be ready to step outside your comfort zone. Most importantly, embrace the experience fully. An EMBA is not just about academic growth, but also about personal transformation learning from others and building a powerful network for life.
What was your biggest regret in business school? My biggest regret during EMBA was to not have fully immersed myself in the social events and informal gatherings where much of the personal network naturally forms. While academic and professional learning was invaluable, I realized that many meaningful connections are built outside the classroom. While I have built friendship for life in this journey, I wish I had more time to engage even more in those moments. Juggling with work and family forced me to make some difficult choices. These are really trade-offs that I experienced during this journey.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? The richness of my EMBA cohort has been nothing short of inspirational, filled with dynamic individuals and insightful professionals from diverse backgrounds and industries. I’ve learnt from each and every one of them. Each of them brought own thinking and this was truly the power of our peer-to-peer learning.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? It was for the immersive, high-impact learning experience it offers. The EMBA’s structure allowed me to step back from day-to-day operations while also being able to continue working 100%. This helped me to gain a broader and more strategic perspective. I valued the opportunity to engage deeply with a diverse cohort of experienced professionals and exchange ideas in real-time. This is unvaluable to build a solid network. These intensive in-person modules also fostered a level of personal transformation and leadership development that is hard to replicate in more fragmented online sessions.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? I had the chance to pursue this journey with the support of my employer who took charge of a large portion of my tuition fees, the rest was financed by my own.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? I truly enjoy my current role as Chief of Staff where I have a 360-degree view on the business and the opportunity to contribute to strategic thinking, organizational change, and cultural transformation among other topics. It’s a role that constantly challenges and inspires me and that I have recently started, in July 2023.
Looking ahead, over the long-term, while I haven’t yet defined my next career move, I would seek a role where I continue to hold a 360-view on the business, facilitate strategic initiative and drive and structure impactful changes, foster and facilitate operational excellence, and contribute to the development of business growth.
DON’T MISS: BEST & BRIGHTEST EXECUTIVE MBAS: CLASS OF 2025
© Copyright 2025 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.
