Together

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Le 1 mars 2017

J'anime une communauté : le témoignage de Sandrine Haudebert (GE 93)

Animer une communauté ? Simplissime ! Together, le nouvel outil qui fédère le réseau des diplômés, les étudiants et les membres du staff, a été pensé pour simplifier la vie des bénévoles au service du réseau. « Animer une communauté, c'est beaucoup de communication, de la planification, de la coordination avec les autres bénévoles... » explique Sandrine Haudebert (GE 93) en charge d’animer le chapter Nantes. « Together m'a facilité la tâche car je peux mettre des messages dans le chat sans avoir à gérer des listes de distribution par mail et risquer de me faire blacklister. Je peux aussi programmer et rendre visible immédiatement les afterworks réguliers que nous organisons, modifier une date, un lieu très rapidement... c'est souple et réactif. Avant Together, je m'étais constitué peu à peu une mailing list de 45 personnes environ, que je savais être potentiellement intéressées par nos activités : je relayais la e-events (newsletter bimensuelle avec les événements du réseau), en mettant en lumière ce qui se passait à Nantes. Avec Together, c’est vrai que j’ai dû repartir de zéro et recréer la communauté. Mais en contrepartie, il y a plein de nouveaux inscrits que je n'avais pas identifiés. Aujourd’hui, nous sommes 125 dans le chapter Nantes ! Donc, ce sont autant de nouvelles rencontres et de croisements que nous allons générer grâce à l'outil. Par ailleurs, en tant que vice-présidente du Bureau de l'association des diplômés, j'utilise aussi la communauté (fermée) « Bureau » qui nous est dévolue pour communiquer avec les autres membres du Bureau, stocker les ODJ et CR de réunions... bien pratique ! »

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Le 24 février 2017

AUDENCIA ALUMNI AWARDS - 25 mars - inscrivez-vous !

Une soixantaine d'inscrits déjà ! rejoignez-les... Attention, inscriptions jusqu'au 12 mars Une soirée d'exception dans une salle mythique de Paris (Le Trianon)... - une conférencière rien que pour vous, qui vous dira à quoi ressemblera le travail de demain, - des animateurs professionnels et diplômés (La Belle Boîte pour ceux qui connaissent !), - des alumni nominés au parcours incroyable, - une animation photos personnalisée, - un cocktail à bulles, - une soirée pétillante, - un dancefloor endiablé... A consommer sans modération ou presque ! Après avoir découvert les nominés et voté pour les parcours les plus inspirants du Réseau, laissez-vous embarquer pour une soirée Alumni unique aux côtés de : - Eric DODIN (GE 88), président du jury et directeur général de Fraikin, - Emeric PEYREDIEU du CHARLAT, directeur général d’Audencia Business School - Estelle MARIE (GE 04), présidente de l’association Audencia Alumni. Cérémonie | cocktail dinatoire | soirée avec DJ > de 18h30 à 1h30 au Trianon (Paris 18e) le 25 mars prochain. Des tarifs privilégiés pour cette soirée prestige : Etudiants : 25€ Adhérents Gold : 35€ Adhérents Silver* : 45€ Non adhérents : 65€ Invités non diplômés : 80€ * pour les diplômés d'Audencia Bachelor et Audencia SciencesCom. >> Diplômés... en cliquant ici. >> Etudiants... en cliquant ici. La révélation des 7 futurs lauréats : Elus par vous et un jury d’experts composé de diplômés et de membres de l’Ecole, les sept lauréats seront récompensés dans les catégories suivantes : Un grand merci à nos partenaires qui vous attendent pour vous faire vivre une soirée exceptionnelle : Rejoignez la soixantaine d'inscrits dont ceux présents uniquement sur l'ancienne plateforme myaudencianetwork.com : Baumgarten Anaïs GE 2015 Boisseau Gaëtan GE Bolelli Sébastien GE 2009 Chavigny Catherine GE 1989 Cormoreche Matthieu GE 2011 Coutareau Jean-Arnold GE 1994 De Vestele Hélène GE 2015 Doula Chris GE Fredj Benjamin MSCPM 2016 Gomont Niels GE 2015 Groeneweg Invité Groeneweg Antoinette GE 2016 Imbeaux Alexandre GE 2009 Jacopy Anne-Laure GE 2015 Jean Roxane GE 2013 Johnson Martin GE Krepper Guillaume GE 2013 Lambert David GE 2016 Lapouble Brice GE 2016 Le Gohebel Yves EXEC-MBA 2008 Le Gohebel Veronique Mathieu Thomas Bachelor 2012 Morvan Romain GE 2015 Mounier-Emeury Isabelle GE 1978 Muller Gilles GE 2009 Odile Mélissa GE 2013 Oisson Patrick Pele Pascale GE 1978 Pele Michel GE 1978 Place Thierry EXEC-MBA 2007 Rognant Guy GE 1963 Scaglione Marie GE Vergne Nicolas GE Wang Weiming IMM 2012

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Le 23 février 2017

Learning different working patterns as part of a continuous learning process

Name: Nicolas Karecki Current position: Operation & Resource Planning Manager, Total About my company: The turnover of my unit is 20 billion, and the Group employs approximately 9000 employees Degree earned at Audencia: MSc in Management-Engineering 2010 Nationality: French Residence: Brussels - Belgium “Always go the extra mile!” My work My role: Managing 3 Operation Desks, in charge of end products and feedstock and Stock & Flow coordination for 3 sites as well as product operations (logistics/Sales support) of over 20 GT annually in multi-modal transport. Overall I ensure that the trading deals are executed completely, the process optimised and the logistics defined. Soft skills: open-mindedness and emotional intelligence, but also stress-management, patience and proactivity. Hard skills: very good knowledge of contracts to accomplish the project and actually make it happen. Additionally safety is emphasised, since the activities are carried out in a highly dangerous environment. How it started: I can mention the business management degree of Audencia, and engineering. I didn’t network, I applied for my positions in the classical way. However I also highly recommend the ISP specific school for obtaining specific trade knowledge. My world The Headquarters where I work has a very united company culture, it is cosmopolitan, and of course the subsidiaries have a more local culture. English as a business language is compulsory on all meetings. Why choose an international career? I grew up in Singapore with an open mindset, and this world was very mixed, and international. Later on during my international career I always learnt different working patterns, which is part of a continuous life learning process, which angle I so much appreciate of the international career. Audencia Careers says “Nicolas managed to fit as a French in the more direct Belgian culture, by understanding the local spirit, and developing the motions of putting himself to other ones’ shoes, this experience increased his emotional intelligence as well.”

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Le 20 février 2017

Deploying leadership skills and the ability to adapt to different cultures

Name: Jacques Thebault Current position: Managing Director Asia, Sopexa Group About my company: Food and beverage 300 employees Degree earned at Audencia: GE 88 Nationality: French Residence: Shanghai - China “Pick up your bags and look for a job in a country that makes you dream.” My work My role: Managing Director of Asia. Coordination and Management of marketing and communication agencies in Asia, with a focus on China. Soft skills: Leadership/excellent language skills/adaptability to learn and adapt to different cultures. Hard skills: Finance/analytical mindset/ business management. 360 Marketing & communication, digital marketing. My company: We have a truly multicultural culture and we are very focused on managing and identifying talent, maintaining mobility programmes, and employing international professionals from all around the world. How it started: My key starting point was my training in France and the US which provided me with a competitive advantage. I was almost trilingual when I started my career. Later on, I developed my Spanish as well, I can assure you that language skills are very helpful. Also, I let my management know very early on of my motivation to work abroad. My world Culture shock: Leaving the first few times was a no brainer: VIE in Zurich, then a dream come true: working in New York. It was then more of a real decision to move back to Europe (Barcelona, then Paris). Moving to Asia was for me more of a rational decision than an emotional one. Fun fact: Being introduced by a colleague in Barcelona to the Provincial Government as "not normalised yet", because I spoke Spanish and did not speak Catalan yet. Having to organise a seminar on a sensitive subject in the USA (sexual harassment) because of an incident with clients: the issue would have been treated differently at the time in Southern Europe but needed to be addressed swiftly in the USA. Eating jelly fish and chicken feet in China and dealing with the Chinese business culture (where alcohol in business dealings is still very present). Why choose an international career? The business world seems to be moving faster in North America and Asia than in Europe. Jacques' advice "I highly recommend that students apply on our company website. We also have a dedicated person who maintains the international talent development in the company. For networking, I recommend the French Chamber of Commerce, as well as the industry group for events, Lao Wine group of professionals and the CCAFC agro-food club."

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Le 27 janvier 2017

Applying for an internship to leverage a job opportunity

Name: Prachi Sharma Current Position: Supply Chain Performance Analyst, Nike About my company: Retail of athletic footwear, $30.601 million, 10,001+ employyees Degree earned at Audencia: International Master in Management 2015 Nationality: Indian Residence: Amsterdam - The Netherlands “Take proper guidance from the Careers Team to approach companies with the ‘right’ cover letter and CV rather than a general one.” My work My role: Supply Chain Performance Analyst. To create full visibility to higher leadership on the performance of the Direct to Customers Business. Leading Reporting Automations and Process Improvement initiatives. Soft skills: Team player/open mindedness/ creativity and adaptability/effective presentation skills to stakeholders/good interpersonal skills/ability to develop key internal contacts/influence individuals and functional areas across the organisation in order to accomplish team objectives. Hard skills: Strong analytical skills, reporting expertise/understand IT processes involved with amending systems/expert in excel and working knowledge of reporting tools such as Retail, BW, COGNOS, Tableau. My company: Highly active and sporty environment. Inter-personal interactions are highly promoted. International, open and fast-paced culture. How it started: I applied for an internship at Nike specifically because of the brand and the working environment. My competitive advantage was international exposure and experience. There was perfect match of skills and competency to the job description, the dual degree experience of management and IT, plus the practice of working with international teams. My world Culture shock: Struggle of transforming from an ‘Indian’ to an international graduate. Letting go of the habit of assuming! Like one of my favourite professors from Audencia always said “The word Assume comes from Ass+U+ME” Hence, LETS GO! Fun fact: I have learnt how to speak bad words in nine different languages. So nobody can mess around with me! :P Something that always fascinates me is to see how people from different parts of the world can be so similar. Why choose an international career? Being an international student, an international career is the right fit for me. Better opportunities and growth prospects to work in different countries. I was hired for my international experience, right skills and competency, plus my attitude to take up challenges. After the internship I was offered a permanent job, in the same department as my dedication and efforts were recognised. Audencia Careers says “As a recent intern, Prachi profited well from the service of Audencia Careers. Check out their advice!”

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Le 20 janvier 2017

Coordinating business development in Chinese-speaking Asia

Name: Yun Yun Lu Current position: Asian Market Developer, Houdini Sportswear About my company: Retail of sportswear, 11-50 employees Degree earned at Audencia: International Master in Management 2015 Nationality: Taiwanese Residence: Beijing - China My work My role: I coordinate sales business in Chinese-speaking area, business development in Asia, especially in Taipei, Beijing and Taiwan. I work on CRM, producing Chinese marketing material, organise part of the orders in the supply chain and customise the business to the local orders. Soft skills: Ability to convey the cultural differences to the local needs and cultural awareness/communication skills, especially assessing le local needs. Hard skills: English and Chinese/ knowledge of trading for the local market/ international management degree. My company: Houdini Sportswear is Swedish, so my role is to balance and looking for maximum benefits for the company. Also it’s crucial to associate an international brand to accomplish cultural difference by local CRM and negotiation. How it started: My competitive advantage was the few year’s relevant industry and technical experience. With regards to the network, I maintain close ties with my team, additionally I suggest joining to ISTO locally in Taiwan, and use LinkedIn. My world Culture shock: According to my Swedish colleagues the perception is that Chinese people are not always transparent even with their working partners in terms of business. This makes the partner spend much time on trying to know the company operation situation but less time on developing business. In the long term this may break the trust between the Headquarters and the Chinese distributors, even affects the Asian office. Why choose an international career? Generally I enjoy connecting with internationals since they are so easy-going and the working atmosphere is more relaxed. Right now I develop the cooperation between Taiwan, China and Europe and would like to coordinate the locals in cooperation of the supply chain. Yun Yun's advice "Intercultural negotiation is vital in this sector. My key learning point and message is to build up confidence, because you need to deal with people come from difference nations and with different mindset all the time. There are always challenges and new adventures."

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Le 13 janvier 2017

Working freelance as a team leader

Name: Nick Lockett Current position: freelance, Team Leader - Mott MacDonald About my company: Irrigation engineering management Degree earned at Audencia: Euro MBA 03 Nationality: British Residence: Dhaka - Bangladesh “Follow your personal instinct and choose a career which is a real match with your character.” My work My role: Freelance manager leading a consultancy team currently in Bangladesh. Soft skills: Autonomous/be alert, open to other disciplines. Hard skills: Irrigation development/ civil engineering. How it started: I started with international volunteering. I would recommend looking at NGOs' for internships or volunteering. Later on I found clients through personal recommendations and working relationships. I have used LinkedIn a little as well. Nowadays consultancy agencies provide opportunities for networking. Websites of international agencies like the Asian Development Bank and the EU also have information on work opportunities. My world Culture shock: The biggest personal challenge when relocating for another project is support for one’s family. When one chooses to follow an international career, one must carefully judge the impact on one’s spouse and children (emotionally, socially and educationally). It’s not for everyone and it’s not for all families. Why choose an international career? Most importantly, it’s fun. In the context of consultancy projects, it also offers the opportunity to take on more responsibility and show more personal initiative than if one were working, say, in a head office. On the other hand, there are many commonalities between working internationally or in your home country. Most importantly, a manager does need to be able to see through cultural differences and respect individuals’ strengths in order to get them to work as a team. Audencia Careers says “Nick is an independent freelancer, successful in projects on different continents through personal recommendations.”

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Le 6 janvier 2017

Sending a CV through the post, the old-fashioned way, will get your career off to a great start

Name: Marini Askia Turrell Current position: Senior Vice President, Citi Group United Kingdom Degree earned at Audencia: Friend of Audencia Nationality: American Residence: London - United Kingdom “My advice for students is to strengthen their self-awareness, and decide if an international career is for them!” Why choose an international career? I chose an international career since I have always wanted to live abroad; I love traveling and trying new challenges. I cannot think of anything that came as a culture shock, apart from the language barriers initially, when I arrived in France (except getting used to the stores being closed on Sunday!). I had to adapt, but being open-minded helped me on the way. Naturally, you have to embrace diversity, and cannot expect that everything should be like at home. You have to broaden your horizons and connect with local friends. I would suggest starting with participation in study abroad, to get a taste of living away from your home. Later when you start to work, it is good to choose an international or foreign company so that international opportunities are available. Let the company know that you are willing to go the extra mile, and sign up for international projects. It is a big effort and may take time, but very rewarding! A tip for setting yourself apart during the original application process when searching for a career? Sending in a hard copy resume (CV) through the post the old-fashioned way helps - this is what I did to get started on my career! Audencia Careers says “Marini came to Audencia as an exchange student on the MBA programme. She is not a graduate, but she is very much part of the #FRIENDS OF AUDENCIA NETWORK!”

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Le 16 décembre 2016

Having a CFA qualification is seen as an advantage in asset management

Name: Eve Morelli Current position: Senior sustainability analyst, Zürcher Kantonalbank About my company: Banking, 5000 employees Degree earned at Audencia: Master in Management 2004 Nationality: French Residence: Zurich - Switzerland “Stay open. Things can turn out very differently from what you expect.” My work My role: I work as a Senior Sustainability Analyst, in Asset Management at the Zürcher Kantonalbank in Zürich, Switzerland. My key mission is investment recommendations for our sustainable funds. Soft skills: Curiosity Hard skills: Analytical skill and presentation My company: I work for a Swiss German bank where people are very polite and love compromises which sometimes means that taking a decision can be a long process. It was difficult to keep calm when I joined but I’ve learnt how to deal with that. How it started: The team where I work now used to be my client in a previous job. They eventually hired me. Furthermore I would recommend the CFA qualification, which is an additional asset if you want to work in the financial sector. I work in a very specific market and already had experience in this field. My world Culture shock: After some time abroad, you are never at home as a Swiss in France or as a French person in Switzerland, etc. I feel at home everywhere now! Why choose an international career? I’ve always wanted to work abroad, I like different people and cultures. An international career requires you to be open-minded, but I am rewarded as I have an interesting job and I can go skiing every weekend in the winter and swimming in the river at lunchtime in the summer.

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Le 16 décembre 2016

Driving corporate strategy for Samsung

Name: Jean-François Legourd Current position: APAC strategy, Operations & Digital - Head, Samsung Electronics About my company: Consumer electronics, $184 billion, 319,000 employees Degree earned at Audencia: Master in Management 2006 Nationality: French Residence: Singapore “You can become whatever you want as long as you put your energy into it.” My work My role: I am in charge of corporate strategy for Samsung Electronics, covering the South-East Asia & Oceania region. I am also acting head of digital and media for the same region. Soft skills: The “why” skill and the “why not” skill. The “why” skill is your sense of purpose, the reason that, when everything goes banana (trust me it will), keeps you solid as a rock emotionally and professionally. Find and cherish your “why”. The “why not” skill is your daredevil attitude to jump on any meaningful project that may seem far stretch for your expertise and your bandwidth. Hard skills: I cherished my domains of expertise and tried to have 2 or 3 (acknowledged by my management). Across industries and functions, only one thing never varies: corporate finance. It is the language of every business decision. If you are going to be in non-finance roles, please study it. It is the last time you will be exposed to the domain that damages the credibility of non-finance employees. How it started: After several years in consulting on business optimization and capturing growth opportunities in Asia, I decided to explore first hand this part of the world. I chose to join a real East-Asian company to understand how they work and succeed. After Audencia and my first years of work experience, I was able to further boost my career thanks to my MBA from INSEAD. My world Culture shock: To adapt to the South Korean workplace is another dimension. I feel that survival boils down to being genuine to yourself within the limit of politeness. After a few forgivable mistakes, you are good to go. Personally I study and sometimes teach the history of my host countries to foreigners. It helped to demonstrate respect and get a bit of forgiveness when I accidentally cross an invisible boundary. Why choose an international career? I didn’t choose an international career as much as I chose to leave France. Don’t get me wrong: I love my country, its past and it’s potential. How could I get ahead of the millions while so young and inexperienced? I had to go, to learn and prove myself. I believe, by succeeding abroad and keeping in touch with the "French reality, I may be able to come back one day and contribute to the country I love the most. ☛ Be genuinely open to others’ way of working, respectful in disagreement, be aware of your own biases and don’t impose them on others. Make sure you understand, and be clear in your approach and always rational. Audencia Careers says “Jean-François’ career path has been exceptional for developing a global strategic mindset.”

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Le 9 décembre 2016

Developing new business for biotech projects in the Middle East, North Africa and Russian markets

Name: Siddharth Akolkar Current position: Business developer and project manager, Technovation Healthcare Ltd About my company: Biopharmaceutical consulting and industrial engineering, 50-100 employees Degree earned at Audencia: IMM 10 Nationality: Indian Residence: Pune India “Always go for the experience. Money will follow automatically. Look at roles where you will learn instead of fancy job titles!” My work My role: My main responsibilities are new business development, project management and key account management for vaccine and biotech projects in the Middle East, North Africa & Russian markets. Soft skills: Team building skills/ negotiation skills. Hard skills: English and French/knowledge of vaccines, biosimilars industry, industrial engineering and MS projects. My company: Technovation Healthcare Ltd, India is a niche sector start-up. A lot of multitasking is required. A flat organisational structure is the heart of our company. We believe in learning by doing. How it started: Through the industry network in India and personal recommendations. My competitive advantage was my strong domain knowledge in a similar industry (vaccines) and my proven track record in new business development and project management. My world Culture shock: Honestly, my motivation was far too strong so I wasn’t too afraid of challenges. Fun fact: I ended up at the residential address of a Thai Government company’s CFO instead of his office address due to language barrier with the taxi driver in Bangkok! Why choose an international career? Different cultures and the complexities of working in a diverse environment were always the motivation. Siddharth's advice "You need to appreciate cultural differences. Be honest in all dealings as it is the most sought-after quality anywhere in the world. Never hesitate to talk to strangers because there is nothing like perspective building."

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Le 2 décembre 2016

Finding the right time to change countries and become an expat

Name: Inesse Gannoun Current position: Financial Controller, Canal+ Sénégal About my company: Broadcasting, 7500 employees Degree earned at Audencia: GE 14 Nationality: French Residence: Dakar - Senegal “My key learning point is humility. You always need different point of views to better understand things. ” My work My role: I work as a Financial Controller for Canal+ Senegal. Mainly I am responsible for the control of financial information, managing the whole process of monthly closing of accounts and revising the subsidiary’s financial statements. I also monitor and following-up the activities: elaborating and presenting the annual budget, KPI tracking, and development of management tools. Soft skills: Adaptability/flexibility/rigour and precision/analytical spirit/communication/ sense of priority. Hard skills: Good knowledge of IT tools (Excel, SAP, Essbase, and Financial Consolidation): P&L, Balance Sheet. My company: I experienced a great “sense of family”. Many people have been working in this company for more than 15 years; the interpersonal relations exceeds the professional context. Leadership is strongly impacted by national culture, characterised by an important aspect of “respect for elders”, a particular place for men, and ongoing complex relations between black and white people. How it started: After two years of internship as a Financial Controller at L’Oreal, I wanted to experience the world of consulting and got into Accenture. I soon felt the need to go back to a more operational position and decided it was a good personal time to experiment expatriation. ☛ Move for positive reasons and your international experience will be positive. Accept the fact that it will not be easy every day. Once you have these two things clearly in mind, go! My world Culture shock: Although your life is great, both personally and professionally, you miss people and some of your habits. Fun fact: I met my future husband in Dakar. That’s a fun fact! Why choose an international career? Life is too short, the world is too big and there are too many things to see and to experiment. Audencia Careers says “Inesse also holds a degree in philosophy. Although philosophy and finance often seem totally distinct disciplines, she always manages to highlight links between the practices. It shows being open and having a complex mind-set.”

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Le 25 novembre 2016

Creating opportunities between the Silicon Valley ecosystem and Orange’s business units worldwide

Name: Antonin Lapiche Current position: Senior Technology Analyst, Orange Silicon Valley - San Francisco, USA About my company: Telecommunication, €43.5 billion revenue, >40 employees in Silicon Valley Degree earned at Audencia: GE 13 Nationality: French Residence: San Francisco - USA “Don’t limit yourself to what you know. Always learn, build your network, be bold and it will pay off. The world is a big place with opportunities are everywhere.” My work My role: As a tech analyst my job is to detect and evaluate trends in behaviours, technologies, services and products in order to create business opportunities between the local Silicon Valley ecosystem and Orange’s business units across the globe. Soft skills: the ability to process and synthesise information, excellent communication skills, leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, empathy Hard skills: quantitative analysis, writing code, strategic/analytical thinking, tech background My company: French leadership in an American shell. Entrepreneurial venture reporting to a 170K employees company. Silicon Valley is where everything in tech is happening. How all began: My competitive advantage was my expert knowledge of the telco industry. I had a track record of business success along with my dual tech/business background, and fluency in French. Originally I built on my own network, but it is useful to join to meetup.com as well to find any relevant professional networking group, and I highly recommend LinkedIn. My world Culture shock: The main challenge to work in the US to get visa. Working for French companies based outside of France can be a pathway to getting the necessary authorisations. It is important to demonstrate what the added value is in hiring you. The intern visa J 1 is very helpful and allows you to work for a year. Fun fact: Positive surprise - Even though I work for a French company, risk and hard work is rewarded. French companies are usually risk-averse with high levels of hierarchy and office politics, whereas the American companies are open for risk. Why choose an international career? There are better work opportunities in the USA, both in terms of mission and compensation packages. Audencia Careers says "Antonin’s story is a very good example of audacity. In spite of the difficulties in obtaining an American visa, he believed in what truly interested him and was bold enough to make it happen."

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Le 18 novembre 2016

Working with NGOs to gain valuable experience for future recruitment in field positions

Name: Laetitia Beuscher Current position: Senior Stabilisation Liaison & Coordination Officer, United Nations About my company: International affairs, 10,001+ employees Degree earned at Audencia: GE 02 Nationality: French Residence: Kinshasa - Congo “Stay connected to your home country when most of your life happens elsewhere. The key for this is to contact as much as possible, return often and remember that if life is changing for you while living abroad, life is also changing for those left at home. These changes may be less visible but are not less meaningful.” My work My role: Liaison and coordination of Stabilisation efforts in DRC with key interlocators based in Kinshasa: the donor community, the national government, the heads of the UN country team (Funds and agencies) and with MONUSCO Kinshasa-based sections while the Stabilisation programme is implemented in the Eastern part of the country. Soft skills: Open-minded/good team player/drive for results/ability to propose alternative ways to reach the same results / adapt easily to different audiences and protocols as well as to different nationalities and cultures/be very flexible, read between lines and be very patient. Hard skills: Stabilisation programming / conflict resolution/peace building and UN system, including programme framework and support to the government/good understanding of the difference between humanitarian, development and Stabilisation programming and principles are key. How it started: After Audencia, when I decided to join the UN, I looked at what was missing in my resume from a UN perspective. I decided to first gain a field experience with NGOs (which was an easy access as I was not looking for long-term commitment nor had high salary expectation) and then to go back to school to get an MA in international relations. Once my MA was obtained I returned to NGOs where I knew my experience could be an added value for future recruitment for field positions. I developed solid relations with UN organisation hiring managers. My world Culture shock: To balance personal and professional life. When you change locations every two years it may become challenging to identify where you live. Things may just happen a bit later than for your fellow classmates. Fun fact: Local expressions are always a fun part of the journey in every country. Why choose an international career? Because I love travelling but also because when I decided to start working abroad I found the opportunities in France to be limited. Laetitia's advice "The top websites to be recommended: Inspira.un.org; unjobs.org and specific organisation websites such as unicef.org"

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Le 4 novembre 2016

Showcasing hybrid skills in engineering and management

Name: Antoine Riboulon Current position: Project Development Associate, Commercial Sales Support, SolarCity Corp About my company: Green energy 10,001+ employees Degree earned at Audencia: MSc Management-Engineering 13 Nationality: French Residence: San Francisco - USA “Know yourself, know what you’re worth, know what you want and make it happen. Never take “no” as a final answer. Everyone admires smart perseverance (not stubbornness): it means you’re driven by something.” My work My role: Project Development Associate, Commercial Sales Support. Soft skills: Attention to details/teamwork/ curiosity/willingness to learn/personal initiative. Hard skills: Accounting/finance/business/ economics/engineering/mathematics/data analysis in Excel. My company: SolarCity is a full-service solar provider. Most sales support teams are composed of recent graduates from top US universities. There is a strong sales culture for solving global energy issues (global warming and dependence to oil and gas). How it started: Via the Stanford University network and previous internships in renewable industry (wind in Germany, energy efficiency in China and storage in California). My world I had to change from a very French curriculum (Engineering/Management dual degree Audencia ECN) to an international one with the help of the directors of both institutions. It's hard to get internship in the US without any contact there: there is high competition for summer internships in the US, therefore I tried one that started in January. The J1 type of visa helps as it serves as a bridge to permanent contracts. Generally, HR practitioners do not have any information about the visa types, unless they work for a global multinational company. Additionally, I have tried to find the hiring managers contacts in the ads, otherwise it is almost impossible to find an internship.

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Le 28 octobre 2016

Adding professional certifications to academic qualifications

Name: Camille Miquelez de Mendiluce Current Position: Business Development Manager, Ellisphere About my company: Information Services, €45 million, 201-500 employees Degree studied at Audencia: Exchange student IMM 09 Nationality: French Residence: France “When liaising with international colleagues you need to adapt to their culture rather than imposing yours.” My work My role: I am currently a Business Development Manager in France as part of the sales department, selling financial and legal information. I have been working for several years overseas as a Key Account Manager and a Marketing Manager for an engineering and real estate business. Before that, I have undertaken internships in the United States in the luxury business and music industry. Soft skills: Active listening/resilience/ curiosity/dynamism. Hard skills: Business acumen. How it started: I am graduated in International Management from three different countries: France, Spain and the UK. After my master degree I obtained several certifications in personal data protection and in new information and communication technologies. Resilience was the key to understanding the challenges that small and large enterprises have nowadays. Understanding the company’s core business and values was also fundamental. Why choose an international career? Liaising with international companies and people is a springboard for developing personal and professional skills. Understand new ways of working and open doors to new work opportunities, cooperating with high quality managers. Beginning a work experience period in a foreign country is not always easy, but with hard work and determination, you will reach your objectives.

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Le 21 octobre 2016

Taking up an internal mobility opportunity to move from Paris to Singapore within the same company

Name: Xuehua Cao Current position: Business Analyst, United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB) About my company: Banking, 10,001+ employees Degree earned at Audencia: GE 15 Nationality: Chinese Residence: Singapore “Cultural differences do exist, but you can overcome for them by bringing your own value to the new group.” My work My role: Business Analyst/Investment Bank Operation Group, working on the new project of rolling out all securities to Murex V3. Hard skills: Financial Knowledge (Bonds, Derivatives)/Murex V3 experience. My company: In Paris, my work was more general, but in Singapore the projects are outsourced and I am in a higher position. How it started: I have related experience with Murex V3, solid knowledge of financial products and an engineer-finance double degree. I got this internship thanks to the engineer & finance background. It is always good to know some CS skills to find an internship. I utilised efinancial careers, Monster and LinkedIn, plus the Audencia website. My world Culture shock: Co-workers had special habits in Paris, communicating differently. I felt I would not able to provide any help in exchange for their support. Why choose an international career? Because I like to experience more and see the differences, and wanted to enhance my advantages in proper places. Xuehua's advice "Looking for a job is a good opportunity to learn. Don’t be scared by the experience requirements (three years or five years, it doesn’t matter). I got a job which requests five years+ experience with only one year’s experience. Build your own network. It’s really important to start preparing once you join a business school."

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Le 14 octobre 2016

Moving up through the ranks from intern in 1995 to managing director today

Name: Olivier Héroguelle Current position: Managing Director, JCDecaux About my company: Outdoor advertising, €3,208 million, 12,300 people Degree earned at Audencia: GE 95 Nationality: French Residence: New Delhi - India “What I value most about my international career is the management aspect: variety of profiles, personalities, cultures and languages.” My work My role: As a Managing Director I am in charge of business development (converting high potential into opportunities), sales and marketing (maximising the advertising revenue & education of an emerging market), operations (provide worldwide standard services in a very challenging environment), finance (cost controls & improvement of the profitability), and HR (Recruit & train local managers for the long term). Soft skills: Management skills/organisation skills/good sense of the priorities. Hard skills: Sales expert/business development. My company: Family-owned company – family very much involved. Culture of hard work and excellence. How it started: I completed two internships in JCDecaux sales department and was offered a place on the sales team at the end of my studies. I followed my career within the same group. My world Fun fact: In India, during a meeting, everyone wants to talk and give opinions; the difficulty is to keep focused. In Thailand (I was the Managing Director of JCDecaux Thailand previously), it is the exact opposite. Everyone remains completely quiet and would die rather than give a point of view. The type of management needs to be permanently adjusted according to the situation, the people and the subject. Adaptability is key. Why choose an international career? As a career booster it has enabled me to reach a Managing Director position which was not possible in the same organization in France. ☛ My key learning point is the management of human resources. Audencia Careers says "Within a family-owned enterprise through an international career and hard-work, Olivier has managed to become the managing director in India."

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Le 16 septembre 2016

Showcasing soft skills to make the difference

Name: Cécile Tondriaux Current position: Sales representative, Hasbro About my company: Consumer Goods, $26.7 million, 5001—10,000 employees Degree earned at Audencia: GE 14 Nationality: French Residence: Santiago - Chile “Whenever you think there is only one way of achieving a goal, there are always hundreds more ways!” My work My role: I am in charge of the strategic development of 8 key retailer clients. This includes planning nation-wide brand activities, monitoring sales performance and negotiating business development plans. Soft skills: Listening skills/understanding the real needs of the clients/analytical skills and being consistent and convincing. My company: Hasbro is a very collaborative and international company with an excellent work-life balance. Team spirit and innovation are key values of the firm. The Hasbro Chilean team is young, very proactive and fully dedicated to the company. How it started: Arriving in Chile, I first worked as a business-developer at Planet Expat, a hiring consultant start-up which helps students find an internship or a first job abroad. Eventually Michael Page connected me with Hasbro. My advantage: I brought a different perspective and vision of the toy market through my European background. I have worked in two different countries, speak three languages previous experience in business-development. Recommended: LinkedIn, Trabajando.com, Laborum.cl My world Culture shock: My lack of knowledge of the Chilean business market was compensated by bringing new ideas of oversees experience. Working in a different language can be challenging in terms of negotiations. E. g.: the French are more direct than Chileans. Fun fact: In a tough meeting to sign off the annual commercial plan the negotiation got tense and I said a Spanish word which did not exist! Everybody burst out laughing and calmed down! Do not be afraid of making mistakes in the language. Use your initiative! Why choose an international career? Everyday I learn a new thing about Chile or its business. I have an inspiring position and my colleagues are my friends. Audencia Careers says “Being part of a start-up is all about being willing to grow with the project and the company as an adventure.”

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Le 9 septembre 2016

Joining the HRPA if you want to work in Human Resources

Name: Ziyi Wang Current position: Senior HR Planning Advisor, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada About my company: 5,000 employees Degree earned at Audencia: IMM 06 Nationality: Chinese Residence: Ottawa - Canada “My aim is to present a clear identity as a person who has a strong Chinese cultural background but is also very open-minded. I expect my colleagues to accept and respect that.” My work My role: Senior Human Resources Planning Advisor for the Federal Government of Canada, in the Department of Immigration and Citizenship in Ottawa. My role is related to HR Planning. I provide advice for managers/ directors in completing the HR Plans for their units and people management strategies, also contributing to the succession planning framework. Soft skills: Ability to collaborate with clients/HR disciplines in order to provide other integrated services to clients/promote the understanding of HR’s added value to clients. Hard skills: Ability to do integrated HR planning/understand clients’ business lines and challenges/ability to develop tools and guidelines in terms of HR planning. My company: Because of the nature of our business, we focus more on how to continuously improve our services to Canadians. How it started: Once I realised my interest was in people management, I only applied for jobs in HR. I’ve worked all the way up from HR Assistant, to Senior HR Advisor. My world Culture shock: I find Quebec French is very different from Parisian French. It took me a long time to adjust to it. Why choose an international career? I immigrated to Canada in 2002, even before I attended Audencia. That’s why I stayed in Canada after I graduated. In a different cultural environment it is important to observe more and judge less. My organisation utilises the online recruitment system for attracting international talents. It is http://jobs-emplois.gc.ca/. The Government of Canada website: https://www.canada.ca/en/index.html. Ziyi's advice "If you know what your dream job would be, stay focused and only look for those positions that can lead you to fulfil your dreams. For students who want to work in human resources, I recommend joining the HRPA (Human Resources Professionals Association)."