Mwambela Tembo

HEC Paris

“A multifaceted, ambitious, playful, adventurous picky eater.”

Hometown: Lusaka, Zambia

Fun Fact About Yourself: My nickname in primary school was Penguin, it all started when my youngest brother was running side to side because of his oversized schoolbag and my friends decided to call me that (Some of my oldest friends still do).

Undergraduate School and Major: Wits Business School – Master of Management in Finance and Investments, University of Pretoria – Bachelor of Science in Actuarial and Financial Mathematics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Standard Bank Group, Senior Analyst: Scorecard Development

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 school location. My post-MBA goal is to serve most of Africa and half of it speaks French, so I wanted a program that would encourage me to learn French and be in France to learn its culture. The option to specialize was an attractive part HEC Paris’ MBA curriculum, as was its strong emphasis on developing world-class leaders.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at HEC Paris? The Africa Club and Private Equity/Venture Capital Club, I am super excited about these two clubs and their respective missions because they align with my post-MBA goals. Getting a chance to hopefully contribute to these missions during my studies will just add to my MBA experience. There is the MBAT, of course. I have watched all the past MBAT videos on the internet. Seeing so many MBA students from around Europe coming together to not only compete in sports, party but also network is incredible (I also have a bit of a competitive side and would like to help HEC Paris win the trophy in 2025). The Outdoor Leadership Seminar gives you a chance to practically learn to be a leader and be part of the team and that is one of the aspects that HEC Paris’ program so unique.

HEC Paris is just 17 kilometers from Paris. What do you see as the best part of earning your MBA so close to Paris? Paris is home to Roland Garros, a single flight away from some of the best European F1 circuits, a five-and-a-half-hour train ride to Munich where the champions league final will be held in 2025. I will have access to some of the greatest European sports events on the calendar – how can you not love being so close? Everyone I know who has been there says it’s one of their favorite cities and I get to live so close to it and experience its magic for a year and half, Magnifique!!

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2026? In Zambia, we have a saying that goes “Zambia Ku Chalo”. That means “Zambia to the World” and everywhere we go we just must make a difference. It’s in our DNA!!

Why did you choose a 16-month program over a one-year program? How do you see a HEC Paris MBA giving you an advantage in the marketplace? I chose a longer program because I wanted a program that allows me to immerse myself in it and really get to build long lasting relationships with my classmates. I plan to switch careers after my MBA and the HEC Paris MBA program will equip me with the tools to thrive in my career and stand out through its curriculum taught by its world-renowned faculty.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Being part of the team that helped develop the first-ever data science cohort at my previous employer. I was able to contribute to the growth of my team and ultimately contribute to the institution’s data science strategy that led to operational improvements and increase in revenue. The projects we successfully implemented will always be one of my greatest accomplishments.

Looking ahead 16 months, what would make your MBA experience successful? I want to walk away with some new lifelong friendships, an amazing network, the tools to be a leader in the career I hope to switch to. More importantly, I want to get in a post-MBA role that allows me to contribute to Africa’s exciting growth journey.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE HEC PARIS MBA CLASS OF 2026