Wangari Muchau

HEC Paris

“I’m a skilled and motivated marketer looking to develop innovative marketing solutions for Africa’s distinct challenges.”

Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya

Fun Fact About Yourself: I know everything there is to know about hiking mountains.

Undergraduate School and Major: Bachelor of Commerce ; Marketing Major

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: MediaPal Agency, Digital Marketing Manager

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 Paris’ MBA’s focus on Leadership Development. The opportunity to learn from seasoned leaders and entrepreneurs, participating in stimulating workshops to sharpen my design thinking and management abilities. This is a key area of focus for me and I look forward to learning from the best.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at HEC Paris? The MBAT (MBA Tournament) for sure. I hear it’s THE event! It’s a cocktail of competition, camaraderie, and celebration. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to lock horns with other top business schools across Europe on the sports field, while also making lasting connections with my fellow MBA’s.

HEC Paris is just 17 kilometers from Paris. What do you see as the best part of earning your MBA so close to Paris? Are you kidding? Being at the heart of multiculturalism and at the center of marketing and branding excellence? Count me in! I’m excited to explore Paris and take in all she has to give.

Historically, over 90% of HEC Paris’ MBA students hail from outside France. Why is exposure to global diversity so critical to business success I’ve learned that understanding the different cultures and socio-economic human behaviors are key in creating innovative and competitive brands that resonate with today’s diverse consumer profiles. So what better way to do that than by being in a global classroom with over 58 different nationalities from all over the world?

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Successfully launching Domestos, a household cleaning brand, into the Kenyan market with 100% recyclable packaging. I was thrilled to head its growth and expansion from one product to an entire portfolio of cleaning products playing in different categories, which saw an 8% market share in leading stores within the first year of launch.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? In 2 years, if I am able to develop innovative and tangible solutions for the challenges faced by consumers in emerging markets, specifically in Africa, I will have succeeded in my goal.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into HEC Paris’s MBA program? Get your GMAT scores out of the way as early as possible, then get your story right. What story do you want to tell the world? If you can clearly articulate how you plan to contribute to the program and how the program can contribute to you, you’re halfway there!

DON’T MISS: MEET THE HEC PARIS MBA CLASS OF 2025