Meet The EMBA Class Of Entrepreneurs: Executives Today, Founders Tomorrow 

Edouard Ferrari
emlyon business school 

Venture name: Allumee
Date of founding: 2020
Program: emlyon Executive MBA 

Tell us about your career background: I have a technical background and started my career with a strong focus on operations, technology and project execution. Over the years, I have managed complex projects, budgets and teams, before founding Allumee in 2020. Today, I lead the company as CEO, with a focus on strategy, business development, operations and international growth. 

What is your business/venture? Allumee creates and operates drone light shows for public events, brands, luxury clients and private celebrations. We design aerial performances using hundreds, and sometimes thousands, with a precise, creative and environmentally responsible format. 

What inspired you to found this business? I wanted to build a company at the intersection of technology, creativity and live entertainment. Drone shows are still a young industry, with huge potential. I saw an opportunity to create memorable experiences while developing strong technical and operational expertise in a market that is growing quickly. 

Why did you enrol on the EMBA? I enrolled on the Executive MBA because I was moving from building a company as an entrepreneur to scaling it as a CEO. I wanted to strengthen my strategic thinking, improve my leadership, and take a step back from day-to-day operations to make better long-term decisions. 

How has the EMBA helped you/your business? The EMBA helped me structure my thinking and challenge the way I was managing the company. It gave me stronger tools in strategy, finance, leadership and international development. It also highlighted the importance of personal development as a leader, and the power of clear communication when working within a growing and complex organisation. Overall, it helped me make clearer decisions, better understand growth challenges, and professionalise the way we build Allumee. 

What’s the one thing about the EMBA that you think is undervalued? The quality of the peer group is often undervalued. The courses are important, of course, but being surrounded by experienced professionals from different industries forces you to look at your own business differently. That perspective is extremely valuable for an entrepreneur. 

What’s next for your business? The next step for Allumee is to continue scaling in France and internationally, while increasing our drone capacity and strengthening our creative and operational standards. We want to become one of the leading drone show companies in Europe, working on larger, more ambitious and more complex productions. 

Would you recommend the EMBA to other entrepreneurs? If yes, why? Yes, I would recommend it to entrepreneurs who are serious about scaling their company. But they need to be ready to question themselves. An EMBA is not just about learning business theory; it is about changing the way you think, lead and make decisions. For an entrepreneur, that can have a direct impact on the business. 

 NEXT PAGE: Philipp Gschöpf, Chicago Booth 

© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.