Meet the HEC Paris MBA Class Of 2019

Patricio Capdepon

HEC Paris

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Good humored and very sociable. Friends and family are my fundamental stone. Argentine wine enthusiast.

Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Fun fact about yourself: Quite far from my professional career line, my hidden talent is acting. I enjoy classic theatre very much, and have won a couple of awards “back in the day.”

Undergraduate school and major: Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Economics

Employers and job titles since graduation: 4 years as IB Credit Analyst in JP Morgan (Buenos Aires), 1 year as Corporate Banker in Banco Ve Por Mas (Mexico City) and 2 years as Global Banking Credit Approval Manager in HSBC Bank (Mexico City).

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Being offered a position in JP Morgan at age 22 and still six months away from graduation was my greatest professional achievement, not only for the process itself, but for what it meant for my career. Investment banking recruiting is known for being tough and demands strong critical thinking skills and corporate finance knowledge. In 2010, I was determined to get a position in the bank. Although I had no experience in selection processes whatsoever and most of the candidates were older and far more experienced than me, I succeeded in achieving my goal. My years in JP Morgan gave me the tools to build my career and opened the doors to the opportunities that came after. In a way, my current position in HSBC and all I have achieved professionally so far, are a consequence of that day.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Be very honest with yourself when choosing where and what to study. Each university and program has its own uniqueness and its own strengths, so it is very important that you understand which of these best align with your career and personal goals. Geography is also a key factor, as I believe it is of utmost importance that you enjoy the culture of the country where you choose to study.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full time MBA and why was it so important for you? I have always had HEC Paris as a priority for its all-round strength, its renowned global reputation and its leading position in innovation. However, my defining factor was the fact that HEC Paris was the school which best represented France for me. Having both my Mother’s and my Father’s families coming to Argentina from France during the late XIX century, my eagerness to experience my ancestors’ culture made me very certain of my top priority in terms of where to study.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? I am really looking forward to two aspects of the MBA experience: first, to developing a strong network of friends and colleagues, based on solid values and common motivations; and second, to broadening my professional horizon by learning from my classmates, whose amazingly diverse industry backgrounds are remarkable. If these two aspects become part of my day-to-day by end of the first year of the program it would definitely look like success to me.