Meet The HEC Paris MBA Class Of 2018

Amr Wahby

HEC Paris MBA

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Positive, curious and enthusiastic person who believes that there is still so much to discover

Hometown: Cairo, Egypt

Fun Fact about Yourself: I worked as a lifeguard in Florida, USA

Undergraduate School and Major: The British University in Egypt – Petroleum Engineering

Employers and Job Titles since Graduation:

ENGIE (formerly GDF SUEZ)

• Business Analyst (2014-2016)
• Economist (2010 -2014)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Having experienced different roles at ENGIE, I challenged myself to excel as much as possible. This ambition and dedication caught the attention of senior managers and led them to select me for the “Leaders for Tomorrow” program, a program initiated to prepare the next generation of senior executives.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants? I advise future business-school applicants to start their preparation early. I suggest that applicants preparing for the GMAT keep practicing as much as possible and work to understand the detailed answers. One should always know in which GMAT test areas one is weakest.

Applicants should write the essays by themselves and then send them to someone to review, look for typos, and see if all of the points are hit in the right way. The best thing applicants can do is plan ahead with the person who is recommending them and make sure they pick someone who will be enthusiastic about writing the recommendation letter.

Regarding the admissions interview, I advise future business-school applicants to stay calm and give confident responses to all the questions. Preparation is the key to success.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA?

I chose the HEC Paris MBA for the following reasons:

• The school’s strategic location in Europe
• Highly ranked by The Economist, Financial Times
• The program duration of 16 months
• The class size (reduced size of intake in comparison to other business schools)
• The opportunity to learn and speak the French language

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? I’ve been interested in the energy industry ever since I first studied Petroleum Engineering. In terms of job content, I’m interested in work that involves strategic decisions and business development. I’ve been curious about things like this ever since I joined ENGIE, so I would definitely want that to be part of my dream job. Based on my skills and interests, I would want a position in which I could explore and learn on a daily basis, ideally in a company that has activities worldwide. I’d love a position where I can use my skills to make an impact that I can see with my own eyes. I will definitely look for a position where I can grow—professional development is something that’s really important to me since I hope to take on managerial responsibilities in the future.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? I would like my peers to say that I was an intelligent and cooperative student who shared his experiences and talents throughout the study period and who was influential in class discussions.