Now, after seven years, Frederic is looking towards an MBA to gain fundamental business knowledge and strengthen both his leadership skills and decision-making ability.
To that end, he’s only considering a one-year program, as he intends to get back to the workforce as soon as possible. He’s considering some of Europe’s top b-school, including INSEAD, London Business School, IE Business School, Cambridge Judge, and IMD.
What are you looking to gain from an MBA?
At the moment, I’m looking at European one-year programs with very diverse student bodies.
With an MBA under my belt, I will have the toolbox from which I can pick the appropriate ideas or methods to address specific problems and have an impact on a business in cross-cultural and fast-changing environments.
It’ll also be a unique opportunity to work alongside people from different origins, cultures, professional backgrounds and mindsets.
I’m looking to reach the limits of what I can achieve while coping with the heavy workload and the density of the one-year program. Personal development opportunities will also be key to me throughout my MBA.
What are your future career plans?
After my MBA, I plan on staying in the energy sector, which is facing many challenges at the moment, from overcapacity in Europe, the transition to subsidized renewable energy, and geopolitical issues. And that’s ignoring the 25% of people worldwide in dire need of electricity. That said, I’d like to transition from operations to general management in the coming years.
I’ll like to bring my contribution to help address these challenges at a global level and provide energy for the needy. In short, I want to make the world a brighter place.
What has been the biggest challenge in the application process so far and why?
The biggest challenge so far has been giving the admissions committees an accurate overview of myself through the essays.
However, it’s also helped me think and reflect on who I am today and who I’d like to become tomorrow, what motivates me, how I interact with people, and how I can contribute to each program and the MBA community.
How have you prepared for the GMAT or GRE?
I chose the GMAT over the GRE because it’s more widely-accepted and I didn’t have the time to prepare for both. I think the GMAT is a great motivation test, examining not only your analytical and logical abilities but also your true motivation to get an MBA.
Balancing the GMAT preparation with a full-time job was not an easy task. During my three months of preparation, I used to work on the various GMAT sub-sections from 5-7am, and then from 9-11pm during the week, whereas I concentrated on taking full four-hour mock tests during the weekends.
Although I scored Q49 and IR7 on the quantitative part at the first attempt, I fell a little bit short of my expectations on the verbal section despite obtaining a competitive global score. Therefore, I’m considering retaking the GMAT in the near future as I’m convinced I can do better.
How do you plan to fund your MBA?
I plan to fund my MBA with a mix of personal savings, loans and hopefully, a bit of scholarships.
What advice do you have for others considering an MBA?
Whenever it is possible, go visit the campuses and talk to the admission committee members, current students or alumni to get an insight about what a program is really about and whether it fits you.
Resilience and endurance are valuable qualities to develop for MBA students, and they start with your application.
What do you do for fun?
I love backpacking in foreign countries, in the sense that you can mingle with the locals and discover new cultures and ways of life. These adventures have taken me to Myanmar, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Laos and Malaysia so far.
When I’m not abroad, I manage to run at competitive level 3 to 4 times a week with my running mates. My personal best for the marathon is two hours and 48 minutes, although the 10k is my favorite distance. Every season I train hard to shave several seconds off my personal record, which currently stands at 33 minutes and 41 seconds.
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