MBA – International Track

"I have dreamt of earning an MBA degree ever since receiving my Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Florida in 2009. In the current competitive job market, I believe it is important to differentiate yourself, so having an MBA degree is a great way to attempt to do so.

I decided to attend IÉSEG because of its EQUIS and AACSB accreditations, as well as the prime location of its campus in La Défense, Paris.

I have particularly enjoyed the international-based courses because they have exposed me to knowledge about how businesses function & operate on a global scale. Furthermore, they have helped for me to become a more cultured professional, which is important because I would like to work in Europe upon completing my MBA program. Specifically, I intend to work in Luxury Marketing.

I am really enjoying the experience of living and studying in Paris, as well as, being exposed to the Parisian culture and the French language. I believe that the cultural experience, combined with the educational program has already made it a life enhancing experience to study at IÉSEG."

After multiple professional experiences in finance in South Africa, I joined the IÉSEG MBA program in 2018.  Firstly, I chose to complete my MBA with IÉSEG because of the quality of the education offered by the School, based on its high ranking and good reputation in France.

This seemed like the perfect catalyst for my career in Europe. I was able not only to interact and network with other students from across the world thanks to the School’s diversity, but also thanks to the numerous networking events offered. In addition, I was able to network with professionals in my field and more.

This proved to be vital in my ability to attract companies for future roles. IÉSEG Network – the Alumni Association - was very helpful in growing my professional international contacts. I was able to approach alumni on LinkedIn who would give me advice on how to maneuver my way into the European market, as well as help connect me with people in my field who could help me grow and find opportunities in Europe. 

Before coming to IÉSEG, I worked in the telecommunications sector in the United Kingdom for three years. I was looking for a new challenge and an opportunity to gain knowledge and develop capabilities. The MBA - International Track program at IÉSEG was perfect for my needs.

I chose this MBA in Paris because of its strategic location in the heart of La Defense, the School’s ranking in the Financial Times, and the fact that the program was entirely in English. I also chose this program because, coming from an engineering background, I wanted to combine technical knowledge with additional business competences.

Out of all of my classes, I particularly enjoyed the business game simulation course, in which we used all the knowledge we had learned previously and competed with other members of the class.

While I am French and quite familiar with the local culture, I had never had the chance to live in Paris. The city is full of monuments and charming little places to visit. In addition, as the learning environment in the school is very international, sometimes it was almost like living in a different country.

Throughout the MBA program, I never regretted my choice, and I always thought it was the best decision I could have made. It was difficult and challenging sometimes. Nonetheless, it has been completely worth it on a professional and personal level.

Having completed the academic courses, I am currently doing my working as a Solution Manager Consultant in the SII Group for a French operator in the telecommunication mobile network sector. My role is to be the interface between the product manager and the release manger in order to offer a suitable solution and as a result, deliver the solution within the project constraint.

"Before joining IÉSEG, I helped set up Aguayuda, an international non-profit organization based in the United States. The aim was to provide water, sanitation and hygiene education to poor rural communities in developing countries with the major focus being in La Guajira, Colombia. I had also gained some experience as a project engineer and had set up my own video editing company. I decided to come to IÉSEG because the MBA - International Track program offered me the right balance of theoretical learning and practical hands on applications to develop the skills needed to be a successful international manager.

IÉSEG was also the ideal school for me to develop the interpersonal skills needed to work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures also in terms of languages and customs. There are over 16 different nationalities on the IMBA. This means everyone has a unique experience and brings different skills, knowledge and abilities that everyone can learn from. As we learn and grow as professionals, we are creating a special bond that will last a lifetime. Another essential element for me was the possibility to follow electives in key areas where I wanted to learn more or reinforce my skills. These included project management, digital marketing and consumer behavior. The School also provides personalized career coaching, French classes and access to the IÉSEG Alumni Association that will all be a major benefit to me in the years ahead. When I complete my MBA, I’m looking to pursue my career in project management for an international corporation or non-profit in the water sector."

My professional background before starting my MBA was in marketing in the travel and tourism industry.

The main reason why I chose IÉSEG is the School’s triple accreditation. I believe it is a very important factor to be considered when someone is looking for MBA studies. The second factor I considered is the school’s vision, “Empowering Changemakers for a Better Society”. It is exciting to know that you can be a part of an organization where you don’t only learn for your own benefits, but also to learn to help implement changes that will impact society for better.

The MBA - International Trackprogram is very international and shows a good balance of diversity on key elements such as classmate’s nationality, classmate’s career field, professors, courses, etc.

The best course for me so far has been the Project Management class where we get to learn the foundations of project management in a very international and practical way, but there have been many good courses.

Also, seeing as I grew up in a tropical country, it is my first time to experience four seasons and I find it very beautiful. The changing moods and colors of the trees and the city itself appeal a lot to me every changing season.

I have also really appreciated that, even though the courses and professors are molding us to be competitive in the global business market, they are looking to train socially responsible changemakers. This has been very well reflected in my MBA - International Trackclass and the school encourages all of us to help each other, and what’s important is that we all learn together, more than competing against each other. You see classmates who have had 10 years of experience in the finance field helping out the struggling marketing guys during financial classes, and vice versa. It is a very healthy, interactive and uplifting ecosystem that we co-create with professors.

When I finish with the IMBA, I would like to work in a more digital-related position in marketing. I consider this program to be an essential element to help me upgrade from the type of marketing I did before to a more innovative type of marketing. I know that I will leave with many new skills that will provide me with new opportunities.