Meet The HEC Paris MBA Class Of 2026

Not too short and not too long.

That’s a tough balance to find for MBA students.

In a 12-month program, you can feel rushed. The pace can be unrelenting. Sometimes, you wonder if you’re missing out, be it internships, electives, or networking. Go 21 months and you could fall behind in your career, missing out on money and momentum you may never recoup.

The answer, HEC Paris believes, is a 16-month experience.

Call it a happy medium. Over 16 months, HEC Paris MBAs enjoy the flexibility to delve deeply into subjects and gain professional experience – a major advantage to students looking to change industries, roles, or even regions. At the same time, HEC offers an accelerated one-year MBA like its European counterparts. For added convenience, candidates can choose between two intakes in September and January. For students who land internships, HEC Paris can extend their graduation date, says Mariko Nakata, a Japanese attorney who joined the Class of 2026 this fall.

A BETTER LEARNING EXPERIENCE

The 16-month duration was particularly popular with Nakata’s classmates. Disha Gupta, a Credit Suisse analyst, felt a 12-month term was “too compressed” and potentially shortchanged students on learning. Gupta’s classmate, Luis Dominguez Guillot, echoes Gupta’s sentiments, finding a 16-month term provides a more “well-rounded experience.”

“An MBA is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the length of the program is a significant consideration, writes Dominguez Guillot, an innovation consultant with Ernst & Young before HEC Paris. “While a one-year program allows you to return to the workforce more quickly, it sacrifices the value of additional time spent gaining experience from learning from classmates, engaging in experiential learning including treks, academic exchanges, specializations, and, of course, internships. The added time in a longer program allows for a richer and more comprehensive learning experience.”

Cen Chen, a senior sales advisor with Christian Dior Couture, frames HEC Paris as a best of best proposition: an academic deep dive, supplemented by thought-provoking cases and hands-on learning projects, that is run at a pace where you can savor the experience. More than that, Chen adds, the 16-month setup cements a community spirit that can get lost amid the bustle of a shorter program.

“The extended duration fosters deeper relationships with peers, faculty, and industry professionals. These relationships are crucial for building a strong professional network that will support my career long after graduation. The additional time also means more opportunities to engage with guest speakers, alumni, and attend various networking events.”

FROM LUXURY TO ENTERTAINMENT

HEC Paris is the perfect spot for Chen, who brings luxury goods experience along with a growing passion for sustainability to campus. At Dior, she was able to combine both through becoming an ambassador for the Dior Green Project.

“[I was] responsible for spreading awareness of sustainability and implementing various eco-friendly practices. Thanks to my sales experience, I have also had the privilege of meeting many elites from various industries. Mr. Vigneron, the CEO of Cartier, is one of my valued customers. I had the opportunity to briefly discuss their company’s perspectives on sustainability and product changes with him, further solidifying my future direction.”

The Dior Green Project wasn’t the only time when Chen rubbed shoulders with the elites in the luxury industry. “One particular achievement I take great pride in was when I earned the title of the “J’adior” Women’s Shoe Collection World Sales Champion in 2019. This accomplishment was a testament to my dedication and hard work. I received recognition at Dior’s Paris headquarters. It was an unforgettable moment when Mr. Charles Delapalme, the current President of Dior, awarded me a medal, declaring me the World Sales Champion of that challenge.”

After earning a master’s degree in Writing and Producing for Television, Riley Ettinger has embarked on a career that has taken him to Disney and Lionsgate Television. With the latter, he worked in creative development, even writing an episode of ABC’s The Kids Are Alright.

“When I decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in television, my number one goal was to get hired to write something, Ettinger tells P&Q. “I knew success in the entertainment industry wouldn’t be easy; I had no connections or experience when I first arrived. However, through networking and hard work, I was able to get my foot in the door. Eventually, I was rewarded with the opportunity to co-write an episode. It’s titled “Mass for Shut-Ins”, was directed by Lea Thompson, and is still available to stream on Apple and Amazon! I’m proud to have contributed something to culture that millions of people have watched.”

TOP PERFORMERS IN TOP ROLES

Ettinger isn’t alone in reaching millions. As a banker, Marco Antonio Reyes Ortiz once completed a project where he evaluated the profitability of his institution’s 12-million clients, which covered every line and function. Speaking of big numbers, Eri Takahashi developed sales strategies that led to a 200% year-over-year sales increase in his firm’s hydrogen business. Disha Gupta has already managed a 25-member team, which stretched from London to India. At the same time, Kota Takahashi – husband of Eri – raced out of the gate as an Accenture analyst. His first engagement led to his team being awarded one of the Japan Best Projects of 2019 – and he quickly earned promotions to consultant and manager. Earlier this year, Luis Dominguez Guillot earned one of the most prestigious awards at Ernst & Young.

“My biggest accomplishment is being selected as one of EY’s 2024 Americas Business Resource Group (BRG) Impactful Leaders. This recognition honors leaders from each of EY’s 12 BRGs, and I was nominated for my leadership in the International Culture Exchange Community and collaboration with our Latino and LGBTQ+ communities, among others. To put this into proportion, EY in the Americas has over 50,000 employees who are represented by the BRGs and only 26 leaders are selected annually.”

After spending three years at a Bogotá-based IT consulting firm, Camila Avellaneda took on the role of CFO. “This opportunity provided me with invaluable insights into stakeholder management, a broader understanding of the company’s operations, and the critical skill of connecting pieces of information to identify the underlying causes and effects.”

BRINGING UNIQUE TALENTS TO THE CLASSROOM

Indeed, the Class of 2026 boasts a wide range of high-level experience across a variety of industries and roles. Cen Chen, for one, points out that she has worked with clients in 147 countries. Such experience, she says, enables her to bring high emotional intelligence to the HEC Paris community.

“I demonstrated excellent communication by building rapport with each customer quickly. In my everyday work, I quickly identify the root cause of problems and find suitable solutions. My empathetic approach allows me to swiftly gain customers’ trust, successfully resolving issues and achieving remarkable sales results.”

Federica Catanzaro, a content manager, boasts an equally broad international profile. Between her academic matriculation and professional career, she has operated out of China, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, and Germany (after being born in Italy). For her, the MBA experience enables her to bring together different cultures despite divergent values and experiences.

“These [global] experiences have heightened my awareness as a global citizen, transcending national borders and giving me a profound appreciation for cultural diversity and its importance, both in our work and as a society,” she explains. “My international exposure enabled me to collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds and work in an inclusive, multicultural environment. Hence, I think that a significant contribution I can make is to help build a multicultural and inclusive setting in which fertile ground is created for the emergence of unique perspectives, skills, and ideas, greatly enhancing everyone’s capacity.”

Marco Antonio Reyes Ortiz earned a degree in Chemical Engineering before moving into banking. This STEM mindset, he believes, will elevate the classroom dialogue at HEC Paris. “Curiosity, critical thinking, experimentation and argumentative rigor are the foundational pillars of the most powerful type of knowledge humankind has ever developed: science. The abilities required to succeed in business are not too far apart from those and I have challenged myself to apply them and be as methodical in this field as a scientist would be in his/hers. I also value profoundly to exchange and debate ideas with others as much as I am committed to challenging my own standpoints.”

While Reyes Ortiz may be the class quant, his approach may be counterbalanced by Riley Ettinger’s poetic sensibility. “My creative background is the unique quality that will enable me to contribute to my class. I spent years bouncing big ideas off my peers and colleagues, brainstorming new ways to tell familiar stories, and pitching the perfect punchline to end a scene. I hope to bring this imaginative thinking to the practical, real-world issues businesses face and provide out-of-the-box solutions that may not come to mind for someone without a creative background.”

A COSMOPOLITAN CLASS

Away from class, Luis Dominguez Guillot is an explorer, who backpacked through 11 Asian countries in 2 months. He will find common cause with Cen Chen, a mountain climber who once summited China’s sacred Mount Emei (10,167 feet). That said, Charles Bauzerand is more comfortable on the water.

“Scared by the sea, I chose to become a seaman,” he jokes. “Scared by the numbers, I want to become a finance expert.”

The Class of 2026 features 269 students who bring a 690 average GMAT to Jouy-en-Josas. Women comprise 37% of the class, where the average age is 30. True to form 95% of the class hails from outside France, with the MBA program historically drawing over 50 nationalities.

Luis Dominguez Guillot, for one, observes that such “global representation” gives HEC Paris a huge advantage in the workplace. In his view, the class dynamics enable students to see how actions are perceived and issues are addressed across a wide spectrum of backgrounds. “Engaging with peers from various cultural and professional backgrounds enriches the learning experience and prepares us for the global business environment. This diversity fosters a deeper understanding of different perspectives and approaches, which is invaluable for personal and professional growth.”

Pauline Henry, a 2024 graduate and P&Q Best & Brightest MBA, adds that these differences also stir a certain camaraderie. With everyone out of their element, she adds, students tend to look out for each other. “Everyone was so open and eager to share their experiences, and the lessons I learned from my classmates were just as valuable as those from the lectures themselves,” she tells P&Q. “The way students with expertise in certain areas like accounting or financial markets stepped up to hold review sessions for those of us less familiar was truly special. The competition was about each of us striving to be the best versions of ourselves rather than vying against one another.”

Next Page: An interview with Brad Harris, Associate Dean of MBA Programs

Page 3: Profiles of 12 Members of the Class of 2026