Pierre Abou Tayeh 

“A perpetually curious problem-solver, energized by hard, ambiguous challenges and relentless in the pursuit of growth”

Grad Year: 2021

Current Employer / Role: EY, Dubai; Strategy Architecture, delivering strategy to implementation.

Is this the industry and role you envisioned yourself in upon entering the program?

Not at first, and I am glad it wasn’t. I entered HEC as a civil engineer wanting to understand business and find where my new skillset could create the most value. That search took me on a genuine journey: first a triple jump into operations management with Amazon Logistics in England, then, through conversations with HEC classmates who had moved into consulting, a pivot into strategy consulting with Strategy& in Riyadh. Each step sharpened my sense of the work I truly enjoyed. I ultimately found my fit at EY in Dubai, where I get to see problems through from end to end, shaping the strategy and then, where possible, supporting its implementation. It is the intersection I had been looking for, and I reached it by staying open, iterating, and trusting the process.

Why was HEC Paris and their MBA program the right fit for you among all of the options out there?

Two things set HEC apart in ways I have not seen matched elsewhere. The first is an alumni network that is genuinely invested in every graduate’s growth; not a directory, but a community that shows up for you long after you leave campus. The second is the deliberate design of the program itself. It is not rushed. The breadth and depth of the curriculum gave someone from a technical background, like me as a civil engineer, the room to find my footing in an entirely new world and to graduate applying those learnings with real confidence.

How has the program helped you grow personally or professionally since graduating?

The program has been nothing short of transformative. I never imagined I would build a career across England, Riyadh, and now Dubai, working alongside some of the most respected names in the world. HEC opened doors I could not have fathomed, and, just as importantly, it gave me the standing to choose. Today I find myself able to pursue the work I genuinely enjoy, differentiated by a world-class degree that continues to compound in value with every step.

What’s a standout moment or memory from your time at HEC Paris that really stuck with you?

Professor Jeremy Ghez once shared an analogy I have never forgotten: the Red Queen from Through the Looking-Glass who tells Alice that here it takes all the running you can do just to stay in the same place. At the time it was an intriguing idea. It became real the moment I began competing on a global stage, surrounded by formidable names working on some of the world’s hardest problems. I now understand what he meant: you have to keep learning at every turn and refuse to accept the status quo, because standing still is exactly how talented people and great companies get left behind.

How did you balance your work/school/home life during your degree? What were the biggest challenges?

It was not easy to fully commit to the learning, least of all during the uncertainty of the COVID period. What carried us through was the strength of the support system built into the cohort itself. Whatever came up, whether job applications, exam deadlines, government paperwork, or the ordinary and extraordinary logistics of life, there was always someone in that group of future leaders ready to help. Leaning on one another did not just ease the load; it became one of the most defining parts of the experience.

What are some of the biggest takeaways or skills you gained from the MBA experience?

The first is the power of active listening. When you are surrounded by such exceptional people, there is something to learn in every interaction, even on a Thursday night at P-Bar. The second is the art of building a network with intention; it played a decisive role in every move I made, from Amazon to Strategy& and later to EY. The third is perspective: a genuine understanding of the full spectrum of opportunities out there, so you can act deliberately and position yourself in the role and region that fits you best.

What is your advice for those who are considering applying to the HEC Paris MBA program? 

Ask yourself: are you ready for a journey that will change your life? Are you ready to make lifelong friends and surround yourself with peers as hungry to change the world as you are, from more nationalities than any single global employer could ever bring together? Are you ready to grow beyond your bubble and experience the world in full color? Are you ready to be challenged, to weather the hard days on the way to brighter ones, to test yourself and emerge the very best version of your professional self? If the answer is yes, HEC is waiting for you. Take the leap; it is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

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