Meet The HEC Paris MBA Class of 2017

Stephen Prsa 

HEC Paris

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario (Canada)

Undergraduate School and Major: Engineering Physics, Queen’s University

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:  I have been with PepsiCo Foods Canada since graduating in 2010:

• Manufacturing Business Unit Leader, Kentville Plant, August 2013 – August 2015
• Site Change Leader, Kentville Plant, January 2013 – July 2013
• Manufacturing Team Leader, Lethbridge Plant, September 2012 – December 2012
• Manufacturing Team Leader, Cambridge Plant, January 2012 – September 2012
• Operations Leadership Designate, PepsiCo Canada HQ, Toronto, May 2010 – December 2011 

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? Practice, practice, practice. Reading the books and answering selective questions are good ways of understanding the basics. If you’re pushing for that balanced 700+ score, you need to hold yourself accountable to completing as many full-length practice tests as you can. I wrote the test twice thinking I would succeed by only understanding the materials. After a disappointing first write, I put a solid six practice tests under my belt and got the 700+ score I was looking for.

Based on your own selection process, what advice do you have for applicants who are trying to draw up a list of target schools to which to apply? Confront reality. When I first started applying to business schools I thought I wanted an impressive resume and a phenomenal alumni network. When I reflected on what my true objective was, I realized those were-nice-to-have items, not need-to-have items.

Ask yourself, “Why do I REALLY want to get my MBA?” I had a hard time confronting my own reality. I drew up the “big name” schools in the US and even applied to a few because I thought I wanted my ticket punched. When I really reflected on what I wanted from my MBA (international exposure, leadership opportunities, and a curriculum that’s relevant to my long-term career objectives), I realized that the big schools in the US weren’t the ideal destination for me.

What advice do you have for applicants in actually applying to a school, writing essays, doing admission interviews, and getting recommenders to write letters on your behalf? You are unique – don’t be afraid to show it off. In fact, you NEED to show it off. There are a lot of exceptional applicants with similar backgrounds applying to the same schools and programs as you are, many of whom probably have a stronger GMAT score or undergraduate grades than you do. How are you going to differentiate yourself from them? Tell your story and have some fun!

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? The HEC Paris MBA program prides itself on its international focus and career transformation – the exact things I am looking to take away from my MBA. After five years of manufacturing and supply chain experience with PepsiCo Foods Canada, I wanted to shift my career to global commercialization. The HEC Paris MBA program will provide me with the international exposure and leadership opportunities necessary to support that career change. 

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? My friends and family keep telling me, “Steve, you’re going to come back a completely different person!” At the end of the day, that’s my goal. While I’m excited to learn new business concepts, participate in conferences, and travel Europe, my ultimate goal is to come back with new perspectives that have been shaped and crafted from my interactions and experiences at HEC Paris.

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