Haneen Alkharashi

HEC Paris

“Experienced finance professional in cash management and portfolio analysis. Enjoys travelling, yoga and Piano playing.”

Hometown: Dammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am the youngest among my siblings that made me an aunt.

Undergraduate School and Major: Computer and information Systems from King Faisal University

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, Treasurer

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the school’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? It was the school reputation and ranking, the program duration and the specialization structure, and the school geographic location (as I have always had an interest in learning more about the French language and culture).

What club or activity excites you most at this school? I am interested in the Finance Club as I would love to interact and learn from other students in this field. Also, I am excited to join the Women in Leadership Club as I believe that being in such a club where men and women work on finding ways to implement equality in the business world will give me a broader prospective and will equip me with soft skills that will empower me in the future positions.

What makes you most excited about getting your MBA at HEC Paris? What makes you most nervous about starting business school?  An MBA program in a renowned school like HEC Paris can only be a valuable asset and learning tool that will provide me with advanced, innovative, and practical ways to broaden my knowledge and bridge any gaps. Such a program attracts an elite group of erudite professors who have the knowledge and experience to effectively prepare ambitious business leaders. In addition, HEC will give me the privilege to be in a diverse class and interact with students from various backgrounds and professions. It will allow me to contribute to them as well by sharing my background, values and experiences. In addition, I’ll have the opportunity to enjoy living nearby one of most interesting cities in the world, Paris.

I am most nervous about leaving my comfort zone (family, friends and career) and going back to student life. However, I believe that this change will have a positive impact on me and am looking forward to starting this new chapter in my life.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I have successfully progressed in my career and was able to move from a support role as Planning and Performance Analyst to a core role as a Treasurer within a short time. It’s worth mentioning that I was the youngest person to hold this role in a company with over 70,000 employees.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Although satisfied with my career progression so far, I have reached a plateau that has increased my desire for self-development, both in the academic and professional senses. I am passionate about venture capital and entrepreneurship and I aspire to continue to build on my career within this path. I feel I have the professional experience in this industry, but I need to take a deep dive in finance and accounting, risk assessment, market research, and more in-depth knowledge on entrepreneurship and life cycle of a startup and its challenges. Plus, I want to learn best practices for setting up business strategies, negotiations and marketing.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? INSEAD, London Business School, Imperial, IESE and ESADE

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? Imagine a life entirely different from the one you now lead, what would it be? This question triggered a series of questions in my head where I have evaluated where I was in the past, where I am now and where I want and aspire to be in the future.

What have you been doing to prepare yourself for business school? I have been attending roundtable and webinar discussions, connecting with other HEC students, and learning French.

What is your favorite company and what could business students learn from them? It is more of a favorite industry than a company, I like the business of venture capital funds. Even though I find it exciting how an idea of a startup can grow into a full-scale business, I enjoy how in venture capital funds I get the chance to see the growth of different businesses instead of just one and I believe that other students can learn a lot from the role that venture capital plays into making all this possible.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE HEC PARIS MBA CLASS OF 2022