A dedicated programme for EXECUTIVES with MORE THAN 5 YEARS of managerial experience
Executive MBA Programme Testimonies - KEDGE Global MBA
Why did you choose an Executive MBA at KEDGE Business School?
My technical and academic background has enabled me to grasp a wide range of project development issues. In the field, I learned to convince and deploy the persuasive force needed to conquer new areas.
As my team grew, I gained the experience I needed to guide my colleagues, motivate them and help them grow.
The Executive MBA seemed a natural choice to structure my empirical experience, identify the origins of certain malfunctions in my practices and act more effectively.
Why did you choose an Executive MBA at KEDGE Business School?
Doing an MBA came quite naturally to me as part of my professional development. I've been lucky enough to work for some great companies, in which I've constantly progressed. As my career progressed, strategic choices and geopolitical contexts became increasingly important. It became clear to me that I had to step up my game in these areas to open new professional doors. KEDGE was the right choice for me. People are important to me and my first interactions reassured me of the importance of human relations at KEDGE Business School.
Why did you choose an Executive MBA at KEDGE Business School?
I was living in Paris at the time and was looking for a well-known Executive MBA with flexible dates. To be honest, I also needed a helping hand from the admissions team as I lacked self-confidence at the time. What's more, financing the course would have been impossible without the support of the admissions team and a generous "Women in Business" grant I was awarded towards tuition fees. On reflection, I'm glad I took the course in France because I believe I had the opportunity to grow more and know myself better while being outside my home country and comfort zone.
Doing an Executive MBA at KEDGE means forging strong, lasting links with one’s peers.
The annual KEDGE Global MBA Alumni/Participants week-end is part of these special catch-up moments.
It took place last June 23rd -25th in Marseille. A nice way for the MBA community to get to know each other’s, across intakes: new comers and alumni.
The ambition of the organizing steering committee is to create a relaxed atmosphere in a pleasant environment to favour networking and friendly moments. Hopefully we managed!
This year was around KEDGE incubator on the Luminy campus-a discovery for some participants- where 3 start-ups pitched and generated fruitful exchanges; Chateau La Coste : Art & Wine tasting; and a boating & swimming afternoon at the Frioul islands.
What about joining this community next year ? Just push the door.
A group of alumni got together this weekend reunited as a steering committee alongside Sandrine Garanto (2019 alumni based in Bordeaux), Xavier Pace (2021 alumni based in Marseille), Nadine Gouba (2020 alumni based in Paris), KEDGE Alumni and KEDGE Executive Education.
More than just a social and networking event, it was a pleasure to highlight some of the many talents of the KEDGE MBA. Thank you to the Alumni for their participation and their good humour which made this weekend a success. That's the KEDGE spirit!
Philip have been part of KEDGE Global MBA’s 2011 intake.
Can you tell us more about yourself and your background?
I was born and raised in Germany and left for England aged 16 to get my A-Levels. After completing school I enrolled at Loughborough university for studies which incorporated Economics with languages. As I was a good rugby player, I left for France in my third university year to play for the CA Brive Corrèze club in the French first rugby division now called TOP 14.
" I started my career twenty-four years ago with a master in IT. After the University, I quickly found a job in a medical device company, where I had for couple of years some technical roles. Quickly after, I moved into management position. Last June, I decided to leave that company and after couple months of deep reflection, I started to define what I didn't want to do anymore and what I was expecting for my second part of career. I started the Executive MBA program for two reasons. The first one, I wanted to be out of my comfort zone and wanted to strengthen some of my hard and soft skills with the goal, at some point in time, to have a professional experience abroad. The second reason would be, eventually, to start my own company at some point in time. With this MBA programme, I add an opportunity to meet with great teachers and professors but also fantastic people from different and various background in various countries. This was a great experience so far after one year working with them, having fun with them, but also sometimes having difficult moment, because this journey is not like an easy one. If like me, you have a reflection of what your career will look like in the future. Do not hesitate. I strongly recommend you subscribe on an Executive MBA program and you will not be disappointed."
"17 marvelous years in the Navy and having achieved the role of Commander of nuclear submarines, I gained a wealth of technical experience and an ability to manage others. After my Navy career, the next challenge for me was to re-orient my career into business and enterprise with the Kedge Global Executive MBA. Today I continue my career with Bourbon, world leader in supporting off-shore petroleum platforms."
"Four years ago, I decided to pick up my career and started working at Suez. I'm at the procurement department, I operationally manage 100 million euros portfolio of energy expenditure. I am in a team of four people and we manage yearly up to 18 thousand contracts. A year and half ago, I decided to do an Executive MBA. After meeting the team in Paris, KEDGE became the obvious choice.
The two main reasons I have decided to do the KEDGE Executive MBA is…One, for my personal growth. I've been a year now to the program and I get the chance to improve my soft skills, my communication negotiation and put in leadership into practice. The second reason is to acquire new competencies, that I didn't get the chance to get while I was in an engineering school. For example, finance and also design thinking that I got the chance to do in Portland State University. I also did the digital China in Shanghai.
I have met very interesting people and very skilled people that helped me improve my soft and hard skills. The whole journey has been a very transformational experience. I've got the chance to meet brilliant mind. If you are hesitating to embark in this new journey, just don't!"
"For most of my career I have made video games, most notably I was the producer of Raving Rabbids. Later on I decided to build my own company, I wanted to be able to manage myself and my own business, to push it to the next level. The KEDGE Global Executive MBA gives me the opportunity to share my project and all that goes with it. Many things have evolved, I have met many people, the company has started to be known and my personal development has advanced. The EMBA is flexible with regards to my family life and fits perfectly with my professional schedule."
Emmanouil have been part of KEDGE Global MBA’s 2016 intake.
Can you tell us more about yourself and your background?
I grew up in Milos island in Greece. Milos is part of the Cyclades islands and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful islands, internationally popular for its volcanic moonlike beaches. As a child, I participated in the local sailing club and spent most of my time on boats or doing activities related to the sea. I studied Automation Engineering and then got my first job in Greece.
I'm a chemist and I'm currently the head of business developmentat a company called covestro which is formerly known as biomaterial science. My key takeway from the KEDGE EMBA is certainly that my own thinking in my own perspective is not the only one to take into account for any decision that you make in life and in business. My best memorie is the time that i spent with my classmates in China or the digital China class. It was really impressive and to see also how business is done in China and how the mentality and how business is completely different. And that was just amazing ! During the MBA i change positions so currently i try to gather more experience in the commercialrole that i'm currently doing in automotive business. Then, i'm hopefully going for a management career further in my company. Let's see ! I'm very really excited to see what the future holds for me.