Meet the MBA Class of 2024: Michael Moison, HEC Paris

Michael Moison

HEC Paris

“I am a tri-cultural marketer passionate about storytelling, travel and people.”

Hometown: New York City, NY, USA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I used to organize disco parties in New York.

Undergraduate School and Major: Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business, Majored in Marketing.

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Marketing Manager, L’Oréal USA

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? As a French citizen having done my undergrad in the Anglo-Saxon system in the US, I was very excited to complement my education and join an MBA program that has strong ties to the French culture of excellence and management.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at HEC Paris? I am very excited to join the Retail and Luxury Club at HEC, a club I also participated in during my undergrad in the US. I look forward to getting to know up and coming brands as well as connect with the leaders in the industry.

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 look forward to being so close to many top-level companies, but also young startups based in Paris. I also hope the proximity allows me to attend football games at the Parc des Princes.

Historically, over 90% of HEC Paris’ MBA students hail from outside France. Why is exposure to global diversity so critical to business success? Having lived in 7 different cities in my life, having diversity in population and opinion has always been a reality for me. Additionally, after working for a large multinational for almost 8 years, I have seen first-hand how diversity helps shape the companies of the future, in an increasingly connected world it simply is a non-negotiable for success.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I worked on a brand within the L’Oréal portfolio called IT Cosmetics during a key period of integration after it was acquired by the group. During that time, our challenge was to quickly expand the brand’s skincare offering while assisting in the cultural integration of the new acquisition. I am proud to say that in 3 years our team launched over 15 skincare products in markets all around the world while continuing to grow the team.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? The series called Severance on Apple TV. It is a dystopian show portraying a weird future where work and personal life are chemically separated. For me it was a reminder of the importance of human connection in today’s work culture as how we do things can be more important than the task themselves.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into HEC Paris’s\ MBA program?  Reach out to past alumni and ask them about their experience. Each top MBA has a unique culture and offering so knowing about the key differentiation points helps you make your decision but also shows your interviewers you did your research.

Questions about this article? Email us or leave a comment below.