Meet The HEC Paris MBA Class of 2017

LEARNING BY DOING IS THE PROGRAM’S FOUNDATION

And you’ll find a similar mix in the 2017 class. Their alma maters span Moscow State, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and the University of Central Florida. Their pre-MBA employers include Deutsche Bank, KPMG, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, and the Peace Corps. And they’ve held roles as varied as lawyers, engineers, traders, consultants, and even vaccine researchers.

And what a time they can expect. HEC Paris’ 16-month program enables students to get back to work sooner without being rushed or worn down by a 10-month curriculum. The school also emphasizes a learn-by-doing approach over cases and lectures. For example, students complete a two-day leadership seminar at the Saint-Cyr Military Academy, where teams complete drills that range from building rafts to walking tightropes to test their decision-making, personal limits, and ability to work under pressure. Students further reinforce these skills by organizing and running the annual MBAT competition each May, which draws 1,500 MBA students from B-schools, including Oxford, ESADE and Rotterdam, to compete in activities such as running, soccer, badminton, rowing, and go-cart racing. Before graduation, each student must partner with a company to solve a strategic issue as part of a fieldwork project.

STUDENTS SEEKING A GLOBAL EXPERIENCE (WITH PARIS BEING ICING ON THE CAKE)

Going in, many HEC Paris students – as you’d expect – point to the city itself as a reason for attending. Already the seat of the French government, the city includes La Défense, the largest business center in continental Europe and home to 1,500 corporate and regional headquarters. The southwest side of the city (nearest to HEC Paris) also boasts the Paris-Saclay, a tech and research cluster that serves as continental Europe’s answer to Silicon Valley. And don’t forget Paris being the spiritual capital of fashion and luxury (the latter being a leading specialization at the school).

For Marlene Brakhane, a trader from Germany who is exploring new career options, the temptation to live near Paris was too big to resist. “HEC Paris plays a central role in European business with an outstanding alumni network,” she observes. “It is known to educate Europe’s top executives and political elite, and has many notable alumni in business and politics. Since I aspire to work in the European market after graduation, this central role is important to me. Additionally, HEC is located in the cultural heart of Europe – Paris.”

For many, however, the program’s global nature took precedence over its location. Veronica Tisera, a Venezuelan who managed key accounts at Procter & Gamble, believes this global flavour will only enrich her MBA experience. “The diversity of pre-MBA experiences and nationalities of students at HEC ensures that I will have not only a real international experience, but that I will also be challenged to grow by my peer students who will have such different personal and professional experiences from mine.” And HEC Paris alumni can attest to this, adds Martin Sterlicchi, who most recently worked on procurement reform for the World Bank. “I reached out to HEC Paris MBA alumni based across the globe among a variety of industries, and they all said that it was HEC Pairs that boosted their own international perspective and provided them with the foundation to end up where they are now.”

Marlene Brakhane, a German-born trader for Deutsche Bank, also appreciates how HEC Paris has embraced its role in guiding students in their career transitions. “HEC Paris profiles itself as a career changer and has implemented a unique “hunter/explorer” approach. As an explorer, I am aware of my talents and potential, but excited to use the MBA experience to consider various career paths.”

For some, such as Tisera, the pain of such growth is eased by the school’s modest class size. “I was looking for a more personalized experience, so the mid-size intakes of HEC were perfect for me, rather than other schools that have intakes of more than 500 people.” What’s more, the school’s supportive atmosphere nurtures more than career switchers. It also seeds future entrepreneurs, with one-in-four graduates having started their own firms. “HEC Paris was number one on my list of MBA schools, as it has an excellent entrepreneurship track, which is the cornerstone for my future career plans,” says Jacob Daria, who holds a Ph.D. in virology. “I really admired the open-mindedness and willingness to exchange and overall spirit of this MBA program.”

SEEKING TRANSFORMATION AND IMPACT

No doubt, you’ll find many future CEOs, entrepreneurs, consultants, bankers, and investors in this class. While HEC Paris ranks among the top schools for ROI after graduation according to Forbes, the 2017 Class is more focused on making the most of this moment.  “If I graduate knowing that I had even the smallest influence in my peer’s MBA experience, accomplishments and personal change,” Tisera muses, “I will feel successful.” 

To read profiles of incoming HEC Paris students – along with their advice on tackling GMAT, applications, and interviews – click on the student links below.

Reema Arya / Delhi, India

Amalia Bejinaru / Bucharest, Romania

Marlene Brakhane / Bad Driburg, Germany

Jacob Daria / Moscow, Russia

Henry Nosegbe / Lagos, Nigeria

Stephen Prsa / Toronto, Ontario

Martin Sterlicchi / Clearwater, Florida

Veronica Tisera / Caracas, Venezuela

Luiz Paulo Vervloet Sollero / Rio de Janeiro, Brazil