My Journey As A Global MBA Student At ESSEC

This September, I embarked on a journey to embrace the charm and elegance of France. Leaving behind the familiar comforts of home, I stepped into a culture rich in history and tradition. It’s not just a shift in geography but an exciting chapter of personal and professional growth—beginning with an MBA at ESSEC in Paris.

France seemed like the ideal place to kickstart the next chapter of my life. After a crazy professional ride, moving to Paris seemed like the right move (plus, studying in Europe has been my dream). It’s where centuries-old culture meets cutting-edge innovation. For me, France made perfect sense because it aligned seamlessly with my professional goals. The thriving European tech ecosystem, vibrant startup culture, and Paris’s status as a growing innovation hub offered an exceptional environment.

In search of a school that embodies my aspirations, I found ESSEC Business School. At ESSEC, a boutique Global MBA program puts you—and your goals—at the center of everything. At the heart of ESSEC’s Global MBA is its intimate cohort size of 50 participants, a close-knit but diverse community, and a collaborative learning environment. The boutique approach ensures each individual has ample opportunity to engage with peers, professors, and industry leaders meaningfully.

When choosing an MBA program, you’re not just picking a curriculum—you’re selecting an ecosystem that will shape your career and define your future. If you’re searching for a program that combines global exposure, personalization, innovation, and sustainability, this might be the right fit!

In the heart of Paris’s business district - La Défense, ESSEC’s Global MBA isn’t just a degree—it’s your 1-year launchpad for personal growth, career acceleration, and global impact. With a diversity of 20 nationalities, 100% international participants, and a proud ratio of 57% women, the program is a close-knit community for collaboration, learning, and growth. It’s a delight to watch and be a part of classroom discussions with a cohort of varied professional backgrounds and experiences. One of my favorite surprises at ESSEC was during the Decision Making and Negotiations class. Participants from different countries have different styles of negotiation when striking a deal. It taught me to adapt, empathize, and communicate in a cross-cultural setting.

Flexibility and Career Progression

ESSEC’s Global MBA is all about shaping your career. The program gives you the freedom to tailor your journey to fit your goals. Whether you’re passionate about Sustainability, Digital Leadership, or Innovation & Entrepreneurship, you can personalize your learning experience through a carefully curated selection of courses. From mastering entrepreneurial strategies in ‘Scaling the Organization’ to diving into the transformative role of AI with ‘Strategy in the Age of AI’ and exploring sustainable business practices with Sustainability and Performance Management Control, every aspect of the program is designed to align with your aspirations.

ESSEC’s Global MBA is all about flexibility to customize your curriculum according to your career choice, giving you the freedom to design your MBA journey. With a focus on key themes like Sustainability, Digital Leadership, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship, you can mix and match courses to fit your career goals. For instance, you can choose Scaling the Organization (Innovation and Entrepreneurship), Strategy in the age of AI (Digital Leadership), and sustainability and Performance Management Control (Sustainability). I could choose both Entrepreneurship and Digital Leadership as my core topics, which perfectly fit my goals.

More so, the focus doesn’t end in the classrooms—it’s all about shaping the career path with job-focused Career Learning Labs (CLLs), newly introduced and truly innovative additions, which is like the icing on the cake. These four specialized CLLs—Luxury, Consulting, Finance, and Product Management—offer a wealth of opportunities to dive deep into specialized fields relevant to job prospects. From networking events and company visits to consulting challenges and hands-on workshops, the CLLs ensure learning actively by building connections, exposure to the job market and working environment, and learning skills to excel in your future career. Additionally, as a part of this journey, you can experience a unique opportunity to explore the dynamic and fast-growing Asian market by spending a term at ESSEC’s Singapore campus as an exchange student.

The flexibility doesn’t end here. Toward the end of the program, you have the option to choose from an Internship, a Global Field Project, or a Venturing Project. If you want to get real-world experience while working directly with a company, go for an internship path, which will give you hands-on exposure to apply everything you’ve learned in a professional setting. If you are passionate about actual business challenges in international markets, solve a crucial problem through Global Field Project by collaborating with industry experts and mentors. If you’re an innovator at heart or dream of building something from the ground up, the Venturing Project is your chance to shine. Guided by ESSEC Ventures’ coaches and mentors, you will take your concept through a structured process to develop a viable and scalable business model.

ESSEC’s Strategic Tech Collaborations

Other aspects that shaped my choice of ESSEC are its collaborations with Station-F, France Digitale, and VivaTech. ESSEC’s incubator at Station F – the world’s largest startup, gives an incredible opportunity to be admitted to the incubator. Representing the core of France’s tech ecosystem, France Digitale bridges the gap between startups and investors. Europe’s largest tech event, VivaTech, connects thought leaders, innovators, and visionaries. Through this partnership, students gain access to workshops, networking events, and insights into the latest trends driving the future of business.

Field Trips

ESSEC’s pedagogy is learning by doing; hence, some of the best lessons happen outside the classroom. I’m especially excited about the opportunity to go on field trips to key business hubs like London, Munich, or Italy (with locations changing each year based on cohort). These are some of the best expeditions for networking!  We’ll have a chance to visit companies ESSEC partners with, providing invaluable exposure to industry leaders and their operations. These experiences will bring the MBA to life, give me a chance to expand my network, and strengthen my prospects for internships and future job opportunities.

Conclusion

If you ask me what makes this program unique, it’s my career transformation packed into one extraordinary year. This isn’t just about learning—it’s about completely reimagining my identity. In 12 months, I’m breaking out of my traditional career trajectory, building a global network, and positioning myself for opportunities I couldn’t have imagined. An MBA is as good as its cohort. 49 incredible professionals from 20 countries, an intimate learning environment in the business district of Paris. The program’s uniqueness lies in its personalized learning approach—combining a cutting-edge curriculum, real-world exposure, global insights, career acceleration, and a commitment to sustainability. Ranked #1 in sustainability by ChangeNOW, the Global MBA program doesn’t just talk about creating positive change—it equips me with the tools to drive it.

For me, this “intense but fun” MBA journey is about transforming myself into the kind of leader who can take on tomorrow’s challenges. I'm reimagining my future, surrounded by a community that inspires, supports, and drives me to dream bigger. This is what makes ESSEC Global MBA truly exceptional.