When what you need isn't a master's degree, but to stop talking like you have one

Having a qualification isn't enough to perform certain functions, such as that of chairman of a board of directors. A role that requires empathy and emotional intelligence, as demonstrated by the case of INSEAD professor Stanislav Shekshnia.

When he took over as non-executive chairman of SUEK, Russia's largest coal mining company, he realized that his "brilliant" resume wasn't the most useful, explains general management professor Pablo Foncillas. His main challenge was managing the XXL egos of the company's directors, which required paying individual attention to each board member and creating dynamics aimed at fostering trust.