Jan Debets

HEC Paris

“A curious, empathetic, and entrepreneurial generalist who finds purpose in connecting people and solving problems.”

Hometown: Born in Groningen, The Netherlands, and lived and worked in Brussels, Belgium before my MBA.

Fun Fact About Yourself:  During my undergraduate studies I worked part-time as a bicycle courier for a pharmacy, delivering urgent medical supplies to patients all across town, sometimes cycling more than 240 km in a week – in between classes.

Undergraduate School and Major: History at Leiden University, Paris Panthéon Sorbonne and Oxford University.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Head of Operations for Business Angels Europe.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of HEC Paris’ MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The HEC MBA was always the best natural fit for my needs and ambitions as I aim to make a “triple jump”, in geography, industry, and position. It offers me a 16-month program with a rigorous study of business fundamentals, ample opportunity for internships and specialization, and plenty of space for personal discovery. Importantly, I will be embedded in one of the strongest and prestigious alumni networks in the world.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at HEC Paris? The two-day Outdoor Leadership Seminar. This is something I have been really looking forward to. More importantly, and freely after Dutch historian Johan Huizinga’s Homo Ludens: in a playful environment, more permanent bonds are forged. Building real and lasting connections with my peers is a key goal for me, and this leadership seminar provides the unique circumstance to do so.

HEC Paris is just 17 kilometers from Paris. What do you see as the best part of earning your MBA so close to Paris? I believe the HEC MBA offers the best of both worlds. On one hand, you are living on a secluded campus, where you are constantly bumping into the great pool of talented and ambitious students of HEC’s multiple programs. On the other hand, I am a metro ride away from an extraordinary city that is gaining momentum in innovation and finance, as demonstrated by harboring the world’s largest incubator, Station F. I am excited that HEC’s deeply involved there. Finally, I feel the location allows me to get a stronger understanding of France itself, as the location is a window into the fundamental tension that makes it such a special country: that being between la campagne and la capitale.

Historically, over 90% of HEC Paris’ MBA students hail from outside France. Why is exposure to global diversity so critical to business success? Having worked on an international level throughout my career, I know that miscommunication hides behind every corner, sometimes with very serious consequences. Navigating such issues is difficult, especially since it is hard to gauge if someone’s behavior is entirely individual or structured by cultural norms. Understanding how people communicate, based on what ethical considerations, is key to achieving business success. The HEC MBA gives me the opportunity to improve this antenna, by giving long and intimate exposure to different cultures and attitudes.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: It was convincing 19 leading angel investor networks from 13 different countries (each having an average of 215 angel investors, investing on average approx. €3.5 million per year) to start sharing their dealflow and investors with each other, with the goal to promote earlier scaling of portfolio companies into other countries. This meant enthusing a very diverse group of interests to start taking a leap of faith together. I am proud that after a lot of hard work the momentum has been created, and that the first cross border investments have been made.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? I have read The Power Law by Sebastian Mallaby. It is a new history of Silicon Valley that re-focuses the spotlight on the pivotal role of venture capital (VC) and networks in creating the technological giants that came to have such an outsized role in our lives. Europe and Africa’s noticeable absence in Mallaby’s narrative speaks to the challenges and opportunities that remain in these continents when it comes to VC and tech, both of which I look forward to diving into during and after my MBA. For those who are interested in tech and (venture) finance, this book offers a fantastic introduction.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into HEC Paris’s\ MBA program? The HEC Paris MBA celebrates its openness to non-traditional profiles. Do not be afraid to lean into your peculiarities. Be honest in the way you reflect on your journey so far.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE MBA CLASS OF 2024: INFLUENCERS & INNOVATORS