Every other part of your application gets edited, reviewed, and edited again. The Kira video doesn’t work that way. You get one take, a few seconds to think, and nothing to hide behind.
How it works
The link lands within an hour of submitting, and you have 48 hours after the deadline to complete it. Four video questions, randomly selected, 45 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to record each. One written question, five minutes, roughly 150-250 words.
Unlimited practice attempts beforehand, with fresh questions each time. No retakes once you start the real thing.
What to do
Use every practice attempt
This is the single biggest lever you have — training yourself to think clearly inside a 45-second window.
It's a conversation, not a performance
The moment an answer sounds rehearsed, it stops working.
Your story should already be second nature
You won't know the exact questions, but the territory is predictable: motivations, goals, why INSEAD, moments of leadership. If your narrative is already clear in your head, most questions become a variation on something you can already speak to.
Set up your space properly
Quiet room, phone silenced, camera at eye level, decent lighting. Basic, but easy to lose points on.
Structure before you speak
One clear point, one example, a short close. That's enough for 60 seconds.
What not to do
- →Don't memorise scripted answers. It shows, and it defeats the point of the exercise.
- →Don't recite your essay out loud. The video should add something your essays haven't already said.
- →Don't skip the practice rounds. The most common mistake, and the easiest to avoid.
- →Don't panic at a pause. A moment of silence costs less than filling it with “um” while you scramble.
- →Don't try to cover everything in 60 seconds. One idea delivered well beats three delivered in a rush.
The Kira video exists because INSEAD’s interviews are conducted entirely by alumni — this is the admissions team’s only direct window into you before a decision is made. Walk in prepared, and it stops being the part you’re dreading.