AUTUMN 2013
CEMS Magazine
FEATURE: CEMS ALUMNI / A 25-YEAR-OLD SUCCESS STORY
CEMS
Gabriel de l’Escaille ‘07 LSM-HSG
In 2006, I joined CEMS at the Louvain School of Management as the programme had a great value proposition: an excellent ranking, privileged contact with top employers and tangible academic content to be leveraged as of my first employment day. My first semester in Louvain and my semester abroad in Saint Gallen were just great. CEMS was a fun, collaborative and inspiring Master’s: the ideal bridge from the academic world to the demanding reality of finance and consulting. As a student, the most valuable part of CEMS was the international opportunities with top employers. International recognition of the CEMS alliance facilitated my professional mobility: a first job in finance in Madrid and a transfer with A.T. Kearney to São Paulo, where I currently work as a manager.
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A committed, high-quality professional network
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Nowadays, the most valuable part of CEMS is the quality and commitment of the professional network I can rely on. Within A.T. Kearney, I have a great group of CEMS peers in different geographies with whom I have frequent exchanges. Besides, there is an active alumni community to reach out to in every major business hub. During my first week in São Paulo, I randomly ran into a Saint Gallen classmate a corner away from the A.T. Kearney offices that overlook the city. As we are part of a dynamic and collaborative community, CEMS is also about contributing. As Brazil is increasingly in the spotlight, I am frequently helping graduates that reach out to me about employment tips in Brazil. Together with A.T. Kearney we also actively engage with the students as we have a great track record with CEMS.
Robert Christensen NHH-Bocconi
CEMS
‘09
I am constantly looking for global-minded people with the “why not?” attitude. I viewed the highly-ranked CEMS MIM as an excellent platform to launch an international career since it attracts like-minded students with similar goals. By entering the most international management programme available I was confident that I would send all the right signals to global-oriented potential employers.
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Education taken to the next level
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During my CEMS year, both at my home school, NHH, and as a term abroad student at Bocconi, I enjoyed the hands-on and collaborative academic teaching style combined with numerous networking opportunities with corporate partners. In particular, I liked that the corporate partners took it to the next level by hosting practical skill seminars and challenging our problem-solving skills during the mandatory Business Project. Furthermore, the exposure to peers from all over the world has increased my awareness and appreciation for cultural differences. The CEMS alumni network is unique. My very diverse group of classmates are currently working their way up the corporate ladder in all major cities in the world, not only within my field, investment banking, but also within any other thinkable (and unthinkable) fields and industries. Some of them have also started their own businesses. Often when I have needed career-related advice or an introduction to new business contacts, I have successfully counted on the CEMS alumni network. A couple of weeks after I moved to New York, I attended a social event hosted by the CEMS New York alumni chapter. I met alumni that had been in New York for 5+ years in addition to other newly-arrived people. This kick-started my professional and social network in a new city, and provided me with several practical insights like how to get an apartment, a bank account, a local driver license etc. Today I am an active member of the growing CEMS US alumni chapter.
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