Hima RASHID  

HEC Paris

“Curiously drawn to people’s stories and wild places—always hungry, rarely found near a stove.”

Hometown: Erbil, Kurdistan.

Fun Fact About Yourself: I wanted to help people untangle their emotions… and ended up untangling drilling problems instead.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Kurdistan Hawler – BSc in Petroleum Engineering. 

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: TotalEnergies – Well Intervention and Integrity Engineer.

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? Sometimes, controversial questions lead to the most eye-opening conversations. I recently asked my sister, “Why do you think people are afraid of embracing different cultures?” I could say that was a moment of more profound reflection on why diversity and inclusion are always scarce and why they matter so much to me.

What stood out to me most about HEC Paris, beyond its diverse student body, is how the program encourages students to dream big and promotes a culture where everyone feels they belong. It’s not just about academic excellence, it’s about creating an environment that respects every background, supports personal growth, and encourages big dreams.

HEC Paris isn’t the end; it’s a starting point—a means to grow into a leader who embodies inclusivity and promotes diversity for a more connected, forward-looking world.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at HEC Paris? The Club de Théâtre excites me the most. There’s something powerful about stepping outside yourself, letting go of your ego, and experiencing life from someone else’s perspective. Theatre enables you to embody another story, to see the world through different lenses—even if only for a moment. In a world that often encourages being self-indulgent, we all need a creative outlet that humbles us, grounds us, and connects us to others.

HEC Paris is just 17 kilometers from Paris. What do you see as the best part of earning your MBA so close to Paris?  “Access, perspective, and growth” are what I see with my eyes and hear my mind repeating. Paris is an actual spider web of global business, networking opportunities, and a central gateway to neighboring European markets. It offers a unique cultural and intellectual perspective that challenges the way I think and lead. Being so close to Paris also means access to both professional opportunities and personal development—an ideal setting for long-lasting growth.

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? Word-for-word, I chose a 16-month MBA to make the most of every moment of this experience. I want to allocate time to as many aspects of the program as possible, as they deserve. I want to enjoy the lectures, participate in as many activities as possible, pace myself, build genuine relationships, and make the most out of any internship opportunity. I wanted to learn and nourish at a pace that would stay with me long after the program ended.

I believe that if you’re privileged enough to take a little more time in building something — whether it’s knowledge, perspective, or relationships — the outcome will be stronger and longer-lasting.

Approaching any project with awareness, calmness, and discipline increases the likelihood of genuine, lasting success. Hence, I believe this approach to my MBA studies at HEC will yield promising results.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  The most significant accomplishment of my career was maintaining the integrity of my team and preventing compromise of client trust.

What has been the defining experience in your life? How has it prepared you for the rigors of business school and your career in general? As a junior field engineer at the beginning of my career, I was trying to learn the ropes. While working on a project with my previous company, we ran out of some critical products that were essential to the operation and needed to be available on-site. There was a delay in delivery, which resulted in rig downtime, and rig time was expensive. Some senior team members advised me to fake the data, send it to the client, and proceed as if everything was fine.

It didn’t sit right with me. Yes, I was new to the industry, but I didn’t arrive empty-handed. I knew enough to recognize that this wasn’t the right way forward. So, I reported the actual stock on hand to the client.

As expected, the company faced a penalty for the rig downtime – and yes, it caused some internal tension. But the client appreciated the honesty. How do I know that? Now, years later and working with a different operator, that same client still reaches out to me directly for solutions and brainstorming.

That experience added something essential to my backpack: the understanding that transparency and integrity aren’t just ethical ideals—they shape how people see you, and how you see yourself.

Staying grounded in the values I’ve carried with me—and continuing to fill that same backpack with perspective and experience—has prepared me to take on any new journey, including an MBA and the career that follows.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful?  Staying true to the promise I made to myself upon receiving my acceptance letter from HEC will define the success of my MBA journey. It will be like a caterpillar emerging fully transformed into a butterfly. I hope to become the wisest and most capable version of myself, while embracing even better versions that lie ahead. I will consider this MBA a success when it has broadened my perspectives, cultivated genuine friendships, and enabled me to contribute and give back to the community.

 

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