EDHEC’s EMBA Drives Leadership Transformation For Celebrated Aerospace Expert

Aerospace engineer and Executive MBA participant Julien Vaudolon is broadening his strategic vision with EDHEC's EMBA, gaining leadership skills, a global network, and entrepreneurial insights in the process.

Julien Vaudolon’s transformation from pioneering aerospace engineer to Executive MBA participant at EDHEC Business School and beyond typifies the journey of an individual driven by an unquenchable thirst for learning. A highly accomplished aerospace engineer, his drive to join EDHEC’s EMBA programme reflects not only his professional aspirations but also a profound drive for personal and strategic growth.

The Aerospace Engineer Who Never Stopped Growing

Julien’s passion for aerospace started early. 

“I’m an aerospace enthusiast,” he shares about a passion he’s had since he was young. “It was something I always wanted to pursue.” 

His enthusiasm led him to specialize in electric propulsion for satellites, a field he found fascinating both from a physics and engineering perspective.

This passion drove him to pursue a PhD, funded by the CNRS (Centre National des Recherches Scientifiques, the French National Research Centre) the CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, the French National Space Agency) and French engineering giant Safran, where he worked on cutting-edge electric propulsion technologies. 

At Safran, his work on developing new thrusters also propelled the development of key managerial skills. “I developed project management, programme management, communication, and team leadership skills,” he explains.

He has since landed at Exotrail, a young aerospace startup and defence manufacturer which has found success due in no small part to Julien’s work: “One of the products from my PhD research, which had been patented by the CNRS, has since been licensed to Exotrail,” he reveals of a booster component which plays a critical role in Exotrail’s business.

Thriving Through Challenges At Exotrail

At Exotrail, Vaudolon started as a propulsion engineer, working on products rooted in his doctoral research. “The team needed someone with at least a bit of experience to design products that would work in space reliably,” he says. Over time, his responsibilities expanded. As the company grew, so did his role, eventually managing production and leading the operations team. “At some point, I was responsible for 20 people in direct management,” he recalls. “It was way too much, so we added a layer of managers. It became much easier after that.”

Despite his success, Vaudolon admits to initial apprehension when tasked with managing production. “I had no experience in production—absolutely none. I didn’t even know where to start,” he recalls. “After a few days of intense terror, I began organizing things like a project manager. I mapped out processes—what do we do well, what do we do badly, and what should we improve?”

This methodical approach paid off. By the time he transitioned to a senior role in development, Exotrail’s operations were more structured, and the team had grown significantly. Reflecting on his experience, he emphasizes the value of adaptability: “It wasn’t about having production knowledge—it was about common sense and organizing things in a clean way.”

Why An EMBA—And Why EDHEC?

After years of success in aerospace, Vaudolon sought new challenges and began exploring Executive MBA programmes. “I thought that if I do nothing, I will probably be limited by my technical background: aerospace engineer, PhD, and that’s it,” he says. 

He wanted to gain greater legitimacy in non-technical domains and enhance his strategic skills. His choice of EDHEC was deliberate. 

"I didn’t want to do business and profit at all costs. This is the impression I had when talking to some of the other schools. That’s not who I am,” he explains. 

“EDHEC felt more aligned with my values."

EDHEC’s international perspective and emphasis on entrepreneurship resonated with his goals. 

Immediate Impact And Long-Term Vision

Even in the early stages, EDHEC’s EMBA programme has significantly impacted Vaudolon’s career. “The topics we cover—marketing, financial accounting, business and society—are things I didn’t see in my technical background,” he explains. These insights have already influenced his day-to-day work. 

"EDHEC is helping me in moving my organisation from being a startup that operates like a startup to being a structured organisation that can address more traditional customers with higher expectations,” he explains. 

“It’s about getting organised and being qualitative while working in an agile way."

One of the most rewarding aspects of the programme, he notes, is the diversity of his cohort. 

“My peers in the programme are highly skilled professionals from incredibly diverse backgrounds. We have military officers, lawyers, doctors, surgeons—people from all kinds of industries,” he explains. 

"You know, you can sometimes question yourself and doubts can creep in. When I started the programme, I would look around and think, ‘Do I deserve to be here? Everyone here is so great. I went through the application process, I got selected—but was there a mistake?’”

Any creeping initial doubts he had, he says, were quickly quashed by the reassuring words of Programme Director Véronique Carresse. His admiration for his classmates’ capabilities has only grown. 

“They are exceptionally good at what they do, and it’s incredibly enriching to work with them. It challenges you to improve and motivates you to be as good as they are, which drives you to constantly do better."

Julien feels that this environment cultivates a unique feeling of camaraderie among participants, as they learn from each other’s experiences and perspectives. For him, these interactions have already developed into deep connections.

"I feel like I know some people in my cohort better than some of my work colleagues after a short time. I think we will continue to see each other and stay in contact long after the programme. The team, the diversity of backgrounds—it’s incredibly enriching."

Looking ahead, he is focused on expanding his leadership and strategic capabilities. “I want to increase my impact within an organization or through my own ventures,” he shares. 

The learning expeditions, he adds, are a particular highlight: “It’s amazing to see how things are done in other cultures. It broadens your perspective.”

Engineer to Exotrail To EMBA: A transformative journey

For Julien, EDHEC’s EMBA programme is more than an academic pursuit—it’s a transformative experience. 

“It’s developing my leadership and strategic skills,” he says. 

“And the network I’m building is something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. I feel extremely lucky to be part of this group, to be able to exchange ideas with such talented professionals, the professors, and even alumni who have been so supportive since the application process. I feel incredibly fortunate and deeply grateful for this experience."