A Career Journey Through HEC Paris EMBA
HEC Paris, France, is a top global business school and a powerhouse for nurturing leaders. Frequently at the top of global rankings, HEC Paris is a world leader in research and education in management sciences. Its Executive MBA (EMBA) program continues to transition the careers of seasoned professionals like Mohsen Rezaei.
With a background in telecommunications, Rezaei joined the program to gain new perspectives, broaden his leadership capabilities, and make a career leap into sales leadership at Microsoft. Improving his leadership skills is also essential to Rezaei’s role as Deputy Mayor of Bezons, a French town on the outskirts of Paris. Rezaei’s journey illustrates the transformative potential of the HEC Paris EMBA, which offers students academic knowledge, practical insights, professional development, and global exposure.
Why HEC Paris? Global Excellence in Business Education
As one of Europe’s top business schools, HEC Paris is synonymous with academic excellence. Rezaei, like many other professionals, chose the Executive MBA because of the program’s reputation for rigor and innovation. “HEC Paris is regularly ranked as the number one business school in Europe, and sometimes in the world,” Rezaei shared in his interview. (1:50)
This global standing is not just about rankings. The school’s faculty includes renowned researchers and practitioners who bring cutting-edge theory and practical business experience into the classroom. Moreover, the program’s focus on real-world business challenges ensures students graduate ready to navigate today’s complex and dynamic global markets.
The Power of Diversity in the Classroom
One of the most distinctive aspects of the HEC Paris EMBA is its diversity. Students from different industries, countries, and cultures unite, creating a vibrant learning ecosystem. Rezaei emphasizes, “We had people from sales, finance, we had journalists, and we had the Director of the American Library in Paris… it’s really interesting, the diversity of the participants…you learn from the professors, but you also learn from the participants and your classmates.” (3:25)
This diversity comes through during classroom exercises like one where students must describe or interpret an image. Each EMBA student noticed different details, showcasing how varied perspectives can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of problems and solutions. This creates a rich environment in which peer learning can take place. This approach equips students to lead diverse teams effectively, a skill highly valued today in global organizations.
Leadership Development: A Core Pillar of HEC Paris
Leadership training is a cornerstone of the HEC Paris Executive MBA experience. Through specialized modules and offsite leadership development programs, participants explore their leadership styles and enhance their decision-making skills under pressure.
Rezaei recalls an offsite session at the Jouy-en-Josas campus: “It puts you in a situation to address a problem, and you have to try to resolve it with your team in a very short amount of time. [You are exposed to] the way that you face stress and constraints… it was really helpful to better understand that each person has a different personality and a different way to be motivated in order to achieve a certain goal. That program on leadership was one of my favorite parts of the Executive MBA.” (6:38)
Participants also engage in personality assessments and simulations, further helping them understand their leadership tendencies. These learning experiences enable them to adapt their communication and management styles to become better leaders who thrive in diverse team dynamics.
Specialized Courses and Global Exposure
One of the hallmarks of the HEC Paris EMBA is its flexibility, allowing students to tailor their education to their career aspirations. Rezaei chose Digital Transformation, an elective course with immersive experiences in San Francisco and Paris. Subsequently, Rezaei notes that they had the opportunity to visit Stanford and UC Berkeley, meet local professors, and interact with tech giants. (7:48)
The program’s global immersion aspect was particularly valuable. “We met with various Tech Giants who explained how they work and the work environment in the digital transformation space,” Rezaei noted. (8:02)
These learning experiences further enriched Rezaei’s EMBA experience at HEC Paris.
The Capstone Project: Bridging Theory and Practice
A key feature of the HEC Paris EMBA is its Capstone Project. Over 10-12 months during the program, participants work on an intensive project, in which they must address a strategic question for either a new or existing company. At the end of the project, they submit a final report and present their topic before a jury.
In Rezaei’s case, he utilized this opportunity to implement a project in the Middle East, where he applied what he had learned from the classroom to address real-world problems.
The Capstone Project allows students to integrate knowledge from the program into a real-world project. Covering areas such as finance, marketing, and strategy, the Capstone Project ensures EMBA students emerge ready to tackle complex business scenarios.
Career Transition with a HEC Paris EMBA: From Telecom to Microsoft
Rezaei’s career journey exemplifies how the HEC Paris EMBA empowers students to make significant career pivots. With a telecommunications and program management background, he lacked formal experience in sales and marketing. The EMBA filled this gap, giving him the confidence and skills to transition into sales leadership, become the Sales Director at RingCentral, and later the Global Partner Development Manager – Orange Group Partnership at Microsoft.
Rezaei shares a common saying at HEC Paris, “The more you know, the more you dare.” He further elaborates, “It helped me do exactly what it was saying; it helped me learn more, and then I was able to apply for better positions and evolve in my career.” (10:50)
The program’s holistic approach gave him the tools to excel in a competitive global job market.
A Holistic Curriculum for Today’s Leaders
The HEC Paris EMBA’s 18-month structure consists of core courses and specializations you can use to tailor your learning experience. The core courses help students to build foundational management skills, a non-negotiable for any business graduate aiming for leadership roles. While the electives and specializations allow students to tailor their learning experience towards their desired career path and interests. Courses cover finance, marketing, strategy, and leadership, ensuring a well-rounded education.
Additionally, HEC Paris provides a supportive alumni network, career services, and lifelong learning opportunities, making it a lifelong partner in its graduates’ success.
Global Recognition and Impact
HEC Paris’s consistent ranking among the world’s top business schools is a testament to its impact. Its graduates occupy leadership roles across industries, contributing to its strong reputation in the global business community. HEC Paris Executive MBA ranked in the Top 3 globally in 2024, while all HEC Paris programs consistently rank among the best in the world.
Experience the HEC Paris Difference
The HEC Paris MBA is more than an academic program, it is a life-changing experience that equips professionals with the skills, knowledge, and network to achieve their aspirations. Mohsen Rezaei’s transition from the telecom sector to a leadership role at Microsoft illustrates how the HEC Paris EMBA can reshape career paths and develop global leaders.
For prospective students, HEC Paris offers an unparalleled opportunity to grow personally and professionally.
Learn more about HEC Paris and its programs, or connect with their student ambassadors for firsthand insights.
