Benoit Giroussens

HEC Montréal

“Epicurean – Aesthetes – Expressive – Passionate – Intense

Open minded – Creative – Sensory – Impatient – Diplomat

Dreamer – Curious – Generous.”

Hometown: Bordeaux (France)

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was a soccer referee for almost 10 years, participating in the French National Championship.

Undergraduate School and Major:

University of Bordeaux, Oenologist National Master Degree.

University of Bordeaux, Physical and Chemistry Bachelor Degree.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Winery and Vineyard Manager at Osoyoos Larose Winery LTD.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: At just 26 years of age and as a foreign national, I was selected to become the manager and person responsible for the winemaking process at the Osoyoos Larose Winery Estate in British Columbia. Together my team and I successfully cultivated the beautiful land and developed one of Canada’s most iconic wines. Our award-winning products were well-received by critics around the world.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Diverse is not powerful enough, so I will say competent. I feel that I have something to learn from each of my colleague’ personality and background.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? It is the link between the city, the School and the program. Montréal is a really dynamic city where a lot of business opportunities are taking place. Investors worldwide are coming to participate in the AI and new technology wave. Montréal has the potential to be one of the most attractive cities in the world. The school naturally develops interaction between its program and the environment. I feel I am not only part of a school, but I am also a member of a select movement. I was really interested in this dimensional integration.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school?

I am Vice-President of student life in the MBA student association.

I am also board member of the Marketing Club and team member for the Strategy Case Competition.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I come from a very technical world. After a first intensive leading position, I developed a passion for management. I lived both positive and challenging moments through these experiences and I learned how to deal with important responsibilities. As a scientist, I do believe that the best way to gain in-depth knowledge is to get hands-on experience and then to connect the results with theoretical concepts. From my point of view, the MBA was the best tool to take me from my current level, organize my retrospection and teach me how to develop my mind and skills to improve my management performance.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I feel lucky because I was selected to be part of this program. When you enter an MBA, you naturally have some doubts and concerns because you know that you will be changed, and you will have to evolve. But you also need to arrive with some personal convictions. It takes a lot of maturity to take a break in your career and return to school. I believe that the MBA program is technically and socially the perfect balance to reach the next step in my career. I also feel that the MBA is an incubator to reach high-ranking management positions. This is the reason why the program was worth the investment.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? None.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? First of all, I wanted a school with a good worldwide ranking. It was also necessary for me to find one with a strong reputation in my home country. I did all my education in France. I was also interested to get a business and administration education with a North American perspective, which is very different from where I come from. The aim was to discover various visions, out of my comfort zone.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? The first one was during my Chemistry internship for my bachelor’s degree. I was positioned in a wine lab. I was attracted by the smell coming from the grapes transformation. From this point forward, I decided to pursue a career in the wine industry.

The second one was just before applying for the MBA.  I realized that “managing” will be what I want for my future. This choice indirectly requires me to put all my technical skills aside to dedicate myself to the Manager function.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?  I want to take part in the wine industry in Montréal. I don’t know yet if I want to directly be involved or be focused in consulting. Marketing, strategy and business are my key sectors targeted.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I will have experienced many other managing positions, so I believe I could lead and be responsible for a global company in the wine industry. There is also an environmental impact to consider for agriculture in the future. Vineyard quality will be challenged, and I want to be part of this transformation.