In this edition of Real Humans: MBA Students, we get the inside scoop on the Executive MBA program at HEC Paris, as seven students share their admissions experiences and insights into the program and more. Read more about these seven students in the pages that follow.
Anju Issur, HEC Paris, Executive MBA
Hometown:
Vacoas, Mauritius
Anju Issur, HEC Paris Executive MBA
Undergraduate Institution & Major:
Economics & Finance, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia and Global Banking & Finance, European Business School, UK
Pre-MBA Work Experience:
13 years of experience within the Financial Services Industry
Why Business School? Why Now?
There are plenty of other business schools, but for what I aim to achieve, there are not many alternatives to the HEC Paris EMBA. The EMBA program at HEC Paris is unique, challenging and enriching. HEC Paris is consistently ranked among the world’s leading business schools in all media classifications and across all programs. Rankings showcase the school’s academic excellence, which is the foundation of successful and meaningful careers. I wanted to be part of such a prestigious institution.
Why did you pick your school/program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
- The school Ranking and reputation
- The alumni network base – HEC Paris has over 68,000 Alumni in network, providing business opportunities and unlimited possibilities to exchange with like-minded peers worldwide.
- The course structure and the diversity of the cohort.
- The lifelong learning experience from HEC Paris Alumni
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your graduating class?
The diversity of the class interaction has broadened my perspective and changed my approach to the way I look at things. Learning from the experience of other participants and the experience of the lecturers. The delivery of lectures is a world-class experience and the interactions in class are very unique and enriching.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
An EMBA at HEC Paris is a life-changing experience. It is a transformational journey and I strongly recommend prospective applicants looking to upskill to embrace this experience. The application process is rigorous, the course is demanding, but the overall experience is rewarding and transformational.
What is your initial impression of the school’s students/culture/community?
It’s been a lifechanging experience. Meeting and connecting with participants from diverse cultures and various industries has been an enriching experience. It has broadened my perspective and helped me develop a more holistic view of analyzing situations and improve my decision-making. Interacting with people from various backgrounds and cultures has increased my self-awareness and broadened my network base. I have connected with people and developed strong friendships. HEC Paris puts a lot of emphasis on value creation and developing leaders with purposeful leadership. This makes all the difference in the learning, the engagement, and the experience. The community and your fellow participants are respectful and very helpful.
Anna Safaryan, HEC Paris, Executive MBA
Hometown:
Moscow, Russia
Anna Safaryan, HEC Paris Executive MBA
Undergraduate Institution & Major:
Master’s Degree in International Economics and Trade from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
Pre-MBA Work Experience:
9 years of experience in Banking and International Trade
Why Business School? Why Now?
An Executive MBA requires a considerable amount of time, effort, and financial investment. This is a real commitment and investment in the future. If you decide to embark on this journey, you need to choose excellence. HEC Paris being a top-ranked business school not only in France but also in the world is synonymous with that excellence for me. I find HEC’s approach to EMBA to be quite unique. It is very flexible, thanks to the different tracks offered, and is oriented to help applicants to choose what suits them the best. Furthermore, HEC Paris offers different specializations, all made around very important issues that I find to be valuable for your CV.
Why did you pick your school/program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
HEC’s EMBA program combines three very important criteria that I was looking for:
- Excellent quality of teaching
- Strong student body, alumni community and a great network
- Efficient professional career management support
Deciding upon and subsequently only applying for the HEC Paris EMBA program was an obvious decision for me and I do not regret my choice!
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your graduating class?
I think I will first of all contribute to the diversity within my class as I truly believe that my greatest asset is the international background that I gained through my personal and professional experiences. When I need to say in a few words who I am I just say: I am a Russian-Armenian living in France and working for an American bank. I think that says a lot. Secondly, I have a number of soft and hard skills to share. Thanks to my career at J.P. Morgan, I learned what excellence and professional ethic, and integrity are: how to behave in a very competitive environment and react in challenging situations, how to learn from others, and how to contribute to a team effort. I learned how to work hard and constantly challenge myself and others. I learned that I don’t only need to focus on myself, but also to share and transmit knowledge to others. Third, I love being myself, I love motivating people, sharing my positive vibes with them, and encouraging them. I simply love learning and sharing. Finally, my extra professional commitment to J.P. Morgan’s mentorship programs and WOTM (Women On The Move) network are also valuable experiences that I’ll be happy to share with my classmates.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
Well, that’s not an easy question. I am happy it wasn’t included in my application process! People around me know how much I love water and swimming. They also know that despite coming from Russia, I hate the cold. This is the reason why I am very proud that I challenged myself and made the famous Russian ritual of jumping into freezing water for Epiphany!
Advice to current prospective applicants:
I know it can be intimidating to apply for one of the best Executive MBA programs in the world. You can have doubts about whether you are the right fit and whether you will be selected. The only way to know is to dare. Remember that what makes a successful application is your personality. Just be yourself, show your strengths, your willingness to learn, true motivation, be humble, and do not pretend to know everything. Listen to what people tell you starting from the very first information call you will make with the recruitment specialist. All the information and tips they give you are precious. In terms of the application process, it is structured in such an efficient way. You have all the support and guidance of the recruitment team members. Don’t hesitate to ask them all the questions you have. Make sure you fully understand the program, its content, and that the schedule can match your personal and professional commitments.
What is your initial impression of the school’s students/culture/community?
HEC students and alumni form not just a community, but a family. The culture of the school and the sense of belonging is so strong that I felt it even when I had barely started my EMBA. Today, I have a few months behind me, and this impression is not changing but getting more and more confirmed. When it comes to my class, it is incredible to see such motivation, daily support, and involvement of all participants. I refer not only to participants but also to our incredible program managers! I am among the youngest EMBA candidates. Our age difference is often 10 and sometimes even 20 years, but we just don’t feel it. We all have the motivation and this thirst for learning and sharing and we have already all become friends.
Antoine Claasen, HEC Paris, Executive MBA
Hometown:
Bievres, France
Antoine Claasen, HEC Paris Executive MBA
Undergraduate Institution & Major:
Toulouse Business School – Master of Science in International Strategy and Business Development Manager. University of Pretoria – B.Comm Marketing Management
Pre-MBA Work Experience:
High-performance professional athlete: CA Brive 2007-2012 / Casters Olympique 2012-2014 / Racing 92 2014-2021 XV France national team – 6 caps
Why Business School? Why Now?
As a professional rugby player for the past 15 years, I knew how important it was to prepare for the future and life after rugby. I do not have the same career path and/or experience as my fellow EMBA candidates. The crucial factor for me is gaining more significant experience in the business environment and implementing all the skills that I have acquired over the years as a professional athlete while continuing with my studies and gaining even more in-depth knowledge.
Why did you pick your school/program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
HEC Paris has been a dream of mine ever since I did a presentation at HEC Paris in 2009 comparing the similarities in sport and the business world. The school allows me to combine my EMBA and work, both in the same region. Having the opportunity to share this experience with people from all over the world, learn from my peers, and hear different world views and perspectives is very enriching.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your graduating class?
Having played professional rugby at the highest level for the past 15 years differentiates me from my peers. There are many things that I have learned and experienced over the past 15 years that has become natural or instinctive to my daily life; for many, these skills and/or experiences would be harder to acquire. One of the most valuable contributions that stand out for me is the importance of a team and teamwork. As an individual, one cannot be victorious alone. We must rely on the support and help of the people around us to succeed, which is something that I understood very early on.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
I believe it is vital to approach the HEC EMBA program with an open mindset and to be ready to learn from others. The relationships that one forms from the first week of the journey could be relationships you will value for the rest of your life. It is crucial to trust and rely on your peers because you are all on this journey together, and the support for each other will be crucial. Managing one’s time is crucial during the EMBA journey. At times it will feel as if there is a lot of pressure. It is crucial to manage the time around your family, work, and your studies. Lastly, I believe it is crucial to enjoy the process! The 15-18 months of your EMBA will pass in the blink of an eye. Even though it might seem as if there is much pressure from managing everyday life and work along with the EMBA, it is important to be purposeful about taking a step back and enjoy it.
What is your initial impression of the school’s students/culture/community?
Being exposed to so many different cultures, professional backgrounds, and experiences is a strong point of the HEC Paris EMBA. I can feel that I was part of a bigger community when I started the HEC Paris EMBA journey. There is a great sense of community and culture at HEC Paris, which pushes you to strive to be the best.
Danilo Cesar Da Silva, HEC Paris, Executive MBA
Hometown:
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Danilo Cesar Da Silva, HEC Paris Executive MBA
Undergraduate Institution & Major:
UNIFEI Itajubá, BE Mechanical Engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience:
19 years of experience in the oil and gas industry
Why Business School? Why Now?
The decision for the executive program halfway through my professional life has been planned carefully. I believe in the power education has on broadening perspectives and renewing ideas. After spending nineteen working for the same company, I have decided it was time to look into what was happening across different industries in a world that is much different from the one I discovered after completing my undergraduate program. With a dormant entrepreneurial mindset, I have been going through a significant transformation journey at HEC Paris. The program has been a catalyst for me, awakening the desire to pursue the development of concepts and test ideas.
Why did you pick your school/program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Choosing amongst several reputable institutions across the world is the very first challenge of an EMBA candidate. Various schools, each with a different focus, and several rankings are available for the candidate to start screening options and narrowing down choices. With so many options available, I started my search with the idea of finding an institution that has business education engraved in its history and is committed to evolving and advancing in the subject. Additionally, an institution that is consistently well-ranked amongst the main rankings is a testimony to the commitment to making an impact in the candidate’s future. HEC Paris has clearly stood out in my search. The history of an institution that has business education as its sole focus and that consistently is ranked amongst the best in the world thrilled me upon applying. HEC Paris, since very early in my application, demonstrated the commitment to making my EMBA journey not only enriching in knowledge but also enjoyable.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your graduating class?
In such a diverse and experienced cohort as the one I am part of, every individual brings to class a wide breadth of ideas. My previous nineteen years of experience across several different roles and functions – operations, business management, business development, marketing, and sales– has helped me share my views and contribute to the vast range of topics with the rest of the participants. I have also had the opportunity to have an extensive international career that has taken me to five continents. Having the context of business in this very diverse landscape has also given me the opportunity to contextualize some of the discussions with different perspectives in mind. Additionally, the open-mindedness of being a professional seeking to discover how to reinvent himself and the desire to make an impact in society puts me in the position to seek input from others while constantly trying to share and contribute to a similar extent to other participants.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
The reputation that precedes a Brazilian will always hold true. Socializing and having fun are engraved into people with my cultural background. In my case, bartending went from a hobby to the expertise I have acquired over the years while celebrating occasions with family and friends. From the first few classes in a speakeasy set up in New Delhi to the nightclubs in Paris – I found in cocktail preparation the opportunity to create and surprise people around me. Not only I have not disclosed it during the application, but I have also kept it a secret in the cohort– a secret I am glad to disclose as I look forward to entertaining the group.
Post-MBA Career Interests:
I am currently in the process of launching my own project where I will devote the second half of my professional life. The co-creation of my enterprise, together with another HEC Paris EMBA candidate, has been an important first step towards unleashing the plans for the future.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
Choosing the institution in which you will spend time, effort and financial resources to has to be carefully done. Just like any relationship, identifying the institution’s history, values, and track record is crucial. With a thorough selection process, HEC Paris is very welcoming and promotes the right environment for candidates to perform at their best. The transformation journey you will be signing up for starts right from your application. Make sure you enjoy every step along the way and take it as an opportunity to learn. HEC Paris stands at no less than the prime position amongst all executive business programs globally and, as a prospective candidate, I encourage you to carefully look into all that the institution has to offer. Without a doubt, joining us will bring you memorable moments.
What is your initial impression of the school’s students/culture/community?
Having completed my undergraduate program at a university where a sense of belonging was ample, I have found in my HEC Paris cohort to be very similar to the ones I had almost two decades ago: a cohesive team of great people looking forward to learning and sharing in a professional and personal standpoint. Having lived in several different countries and with a clear understanding of the power of diversity, I see HEC Paris as an institution committed to diversity as a source of strength. The school thrives on bringing people together and promoting a sense of community that extends far beyond the physical boundaries of the school, reaching and engaging a vast group of alumni, professors, and professionals across the world.
John Possumato, HEC Paris, Executive MBA
Hometown:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Current City: Austin, Texas, USA
John Possumato, HEC Paris Executive MBA
Undergraduate Institution & Major:
Rutgers University, Art History
Pre-MBA Work Experience:
10 years – Automotive 2 years – Logistics
Why Business School? Why Now?
Entrepreneurship. I want to work on building out my ideas into viable companies.
Why did you pick your school/program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
HEC Paris stands out for excellence on the world stage. During my interview process, the Alumni interviewer told me that HEC Paris would “change the way I think”, which is not something I heard from any other school in Europe or the US and was exactly what I was looking for. Likewise, I determined that HEC Paris also has the best ROI of the schools I viewed and has the most forward-looking curriculum, matching not only what is happening currently, but what will happen in the next 5+ years.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your graduating class?
My North American business perspective. The way business is transacted differs on either side of the Atlantic, and I’m happy to provide this perspective to my classmates. Likewise, I have been present on the mobility tech landscape in my background and I’m happy to provide personal input and frame of strategy from some of the companies we have studied in class.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
My family has been in the mobility/automotive industry for well over 100 years. We started in the early 1900’s with a bike shop and transitioned to cars in the 1910’s. We were part of the original 120 Chrysler sales points – the first in the world!
Post-MBA Career Interests:
I want to build an automotive/mobility consultancy. Ultimately, it is my intention to do this either in Europe or Latin America.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
Stay open-minded. This program will change your perspective on business overall and learn from the application experience and your peers. I chose to do the case study analysis in place of the GMAT. I highly recommend that process. It allowed me to demonstrate what I have learned with my nontraditional background and helped me understand the perspective and capability of HEC Paris’ alumni.
What is your initial impression of the school’s students/culture/community?
Diversity is the driver of everything at HEC Paris. Diverse people, viewpoints, opinions, backgrounds, etc. The school does an amazing job of assembling this program for the participants to maximize learning opportunities. Likewise, HEC’s only focus is its business school, which sets it apart from the culture of other business schools in Europe and the Americas. We have the unique opportunity to interact with undergraduates, specialized Masters’ students, MBAs, and professors; we are all bound by the mutual desire to usher the world into the next generation of business. Apart from academics, there are countless opportunities to network and socialize amongst the countless people and backgrounds that make up our community.
Priyanka Narasimhan, HEC Paris, Executive MBA
Hometown:
Mysore, India
Priyanka Narasimhan, HEC Paris Executive MBA
Undergraduate Institution & Major:
BITS, Pilani Pharmacy Hons. degree
Pre-MBA Work Experience:
I have worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over seven years.
Why Business School? Why Now?
HEC Paris has a great reputation worldwide and has consistently ranked among the top EMBA programs in the world. Choosing HEC was a no-brainer.
Why did you pick your school/program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Factors that influenced my decision were
- Core courses and specializations. The program offers a set of core courses, and yet allowed me to customize it to fit my career aspirations. I chose the Manage the Digital Transformation Specialization.
- Flexibility. The program offers the option to attend some classes online. This was crucial to managing my demanding professional life, my young family, and the EMBA.
- Location. I live in the UK and want to be able to commute easily for my classes. The HEC Paris classes are just a Eurostar journey away!
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your graduating class?
I come from pharma R&D, which is highly innovative. I like to think that I bring an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset to class discussions and case studies.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
I speak five Indian languages.
Post-MBA Career Interests:
My vision is to be in a role that will enable me to bring the next generation of therapies and diagnostics to patients. I see this ambition coming to life as an investor in a VC fund.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
My advice would be to start the program with an open mind. This EMBA program will take you on a self-reflective journey that might open new career doors which you had not thought about.
What is your initial impression of the school’s students/culture/community?
There is great camaraderie among EMBA participants. My cohort is as brilliant as they are supportive. They are there for you to celebrate your successes, practice interviews with, talk about start-up ideas, or listen to you when you are having an off day.
Tom Kinzel, HEC Paris, Executive MBA
Hometown:
My hometown is Erfurt, a beautiful city in the middle of Germany that retains much of its medieval charm, especially in the city center. Currently, I live in Leverkusen in the very west of Germany, and I plan to move to Berlin sometime this year.
Tom Kinzel, HEC Paris Executive MBA
Undergraduate Institution & Major:
I earned a Diploma in Chemistry and a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Göttingen in Germany.
Pre-MBA Work Experience:
After a three-month internship at the Boston Consulting Group in Berlin, I moved to the US and did close to 3 years of postdoctoral research at the Chemistry Department of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, resulting, among others, in two publications in Science. In 2011, I joined Bayer Pharma in Germany and have worked for three years as Lab Head in Medicinal Chemistry, two years as Chief of Staff to the Head of Drug Discovery, four years as Head of the Innovation Center China in Beijing, and until now for over two years as Head of Open Innovation Center Europe. I am currently in transition and plan to join a mid-size company in Berlin soon.
Why Business School? Why Now?
I decided to pursue an EMBA in August 2021 and started to look for business schools outside of Germany, because I definitively wanted international exposure.
Why did you pick your school/program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I must admit that as a scientist, I did not know much about business schools. After quite a lot of research, I found HEC Paris was the best fit for me in terms of content, cohort, reputation, and feasibility. HEC Paris offers a broad education without too narrow of a focus on a single future career path and offers very interesting specializations. The cohort is extremely diverse in terms of nationality and industry and has an average of 15 years of experience. The EMBA at HEC Paris is consistently ranked high and will be of tremendous impact in the years to come. The fact of just having been accepted at HEC Paris already was received very positively when I interviewed for new jobs in December. Finally, the January intake, with its 5- to 10-day modules every two months is the most practical way for me to get the EMBA.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your graduating class?
Everyone in the cohort brings exceptional experience and knowledge to the class, which I find extremely stimulating. I can contribute with my scientific background, extensive knowledge about the Pharma industry, long-term experience in open innovation and alliance management, and advanced Excel skills.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
My wife and I have three children from three continents: My older daughter was born in Göttingen, Germany, my son was born in Boston, and my younger daughter was born in Beijing.
Post-MBA Career Interests:
I will join the new company in a leadership role between science and business. With the EMBA, I look forward to impacting the business side of things more and more, and eventually move into more general management areas.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
If you’ve never done any formal business training, no worries; many in the cohort didn’t. Those who did are more than happy to share their insights and experiences, and even offer additional sessions to help beginners with, for example, financial accounting topics.
What is your initial impression of the school’s students/culture/community?
My impression is completely positive. I like to compare the atmosphere with the one I experienced at MIT’s chemistry department: Everyone is there to learn, everyone is very motivated, and everyone is open and helpful. Everyone has their unique special industry background with vast experience and expertise, at the same time everyone is a beginner at least some of the topics. It is not difficult to get in touch with each other, even when we are not physically on campus.