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From Fine Chocolates To Swiss Watches

Frenchman Christophe Fonteneau has worked hard for a charmed life, and hopes the EMLYON MBA will move him up in the luxury industry

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Mon Jun 20 2011

BusinessBecause

EMLYON MBA Christophe Fonteneau trained as an agricultural engineer has been a senior manager for luxury chocolate brand Valrhona in the US and Monbana in France. He wants to work in the luxury sector – preferable motorboats, sailing or Swiss Watches – after graduation. He tells BusinessBecause why he thinks Lyon is a better choice for an MBA than Paris, and why smaller networks are better.

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Tell us something about your personal and professional background.
I’m 30 years old, and I was born and raised in France. In 2005, I graduated in Food Industry and Agricultural Engineering at ISARA Lyon, including one year as an exchange student at Illinois State University in the US, where I studied marketing and business development. After graduating, I worked for five years in the food industry.

How was working in the food sector?
It was an amazing experience that gave me the chance to promote one of the best things we have in France – food!

What kind of expertise do you need to work in this sector?
You need to have a deep understanding of the food product you’re marketing: where it comes from, how it is made, etc.

In the luxury area of the sector, where I worked, I had to provide the customer with as much information as I could. In general, the more educated the consumer is, the more details you’ve got to provide him with.

Why did you decide to do an MBA?
I’m an engineer, and I wanted to take more responsibility as a manager, so I needed greater knowledge of strategy, finance, marketing, and sales.

Why did you choose EMLYON?
It’s one of the top-ranked European business schools [the EMLYON full-time MBA is ranked 10th in Europe by the FT].

I didn’t want to do an MBA like the ones in Paris – with 100 students each year. This year EMLYON received 2,000, but only thirty people met the requirements and were accepted, even though the school can accept up to fifty people.

The smaller class size makes a huge difference in term of network-building. When you’re in a class with other hundred people, you can’t really say you know who they are and what they do. I wanted to be part of a smaller and efficient network instead.

What do you like about EMLYON’s MBA program?
Firstly, its international dimension: there are thirteen nationalities represented. Secondly, the high entrepreneurship content of the program. And finally, its location: Lyon is in the centre of Europe, even more the Paris, and I like the fact that the school has an international network, not limited just to Paris.

Have you worked on a project this year?
For my MBA project, I’ve been working all the academic year for Amaris, a Swiss IT consulting company for which I’m doing mainly merging projects.

How much is your previous work experience helping you do the MBA?
It’s helping a lot to make me understand all the problems that companies have. In my opinion, work experience is what really makes an MBA valuable.

It’s not a question of how many years of experience you have, but how relevant that experience is. I’ve noticed that people who have relevant experience in my class can contribute to the discussions, while the others can only follow the course.

To people who are thinking of doing an MBA, I would say that you’ll make the most out of the program with at least five years of relevant work experience, especially international experience. If you’ve spent three or four years working out of your home country, then your MBA will be more valuable.

How are students in France, compared to in the US?
The biggest difference I’ve noticed is the number of hours you spend in class or working at home. In the US, you have about eight hours in lectures or seminars each week, and therefore you spend most of your time working by yourself or with a study group. In France you have 30 or 35 hours of lectures each week, and have to work on your own for about ten hours.

What has been your favourite moment at EMLYON so far?
I attended a conference about marketing, where companies from all over the world were invited. I met people from Novartis, Total, and other international companies. The beauty of EMLYON, and studying in a tiny program, is that you actually get to meet and know people that you would never meet anywhere else.

Do you already know what you'll be doing next year?
I’m not sure yet: the MBA opens many doors. The difficult part is to have to choose an industry or a position within it at the end of the program.

I would like to remain in the luxury industry. In particular I’d like to work in sailing, motorboats, or Swiss watches. I’d like to work in a sector whose common denominator is elegance and sophistication.

Where would you like to live and why?
Either in France, where my roots are, or in London or Geneva, because these are the two European cities that fully recognize the value of an MBA. Maybe it’s because many international companies are based there. On the contrary, in France, its recognition is sometimes poor.

Student Reviews

emlyon business school

Student

Verified

4/12/2023

On Campus

Intense courses, helpful professors

I am an international student in my 3rd year and I love going to this school and do not regret chosing it for my BBA. The classes are helpful, professors are always there to help as well and we have a very understanding administration.

Student

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18/03/2023

On Campus

Leadership in an amazing city

I decided to do my exchange in Emlyon because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, and I found a space with very capable People.. participatory, empathetic and full of leadership. I will never forget Lyon, apart from giving me an unforgettable experience, he gave me great friends

Student

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23/11/2021

On Campus

A lot of opportunities professionally and socially. A unique program in France.

You can choose your courses and do your internship, exchange whenever you want. It's flexible and adapted to the needs of each student. A great program and a great city! Professionally, it opens a lot of doors for you to find internships or jobs in France or abroad thanks to the network and career events.

Fabian

Verified

7/06/2020

MSc in Digital Marketing

Combining both worlds into one, this course gave me all the on-demand technical skills in data science while maintaining a business-oriented approach. Thanks to the strong academic profile of this university I was able to secure an internship and full-time job at Amazon.

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14/10/2018

Top Business School fostering innovative entrepreneurs

EMLyon is one of the best business schools. The campuses, associations and courses offered provide the students with the best options to build the future they have chosen. The various opportunities to study and work abroad also offer a deeper understanding of the world, not only economy-wise but social, which helps the student become as well a better individual and not only a pre-formated business school student.

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9/06/2020

Emlyon campus in Paris

It has a great international community and you have access to many international tools, courses and professors. I had many networking events and workshops for students. Campus and some details of the program could have been improved or need to be bigger in order to have a better student life.

Student

Verified

21/11/2022

On Campus

Entrepreneurship

Overall good content and good activities. Lack of administration but still ok. Good flexibility and liberty offered to the students. Finally, the amount of internship is also a good way to improve qualifications.

Student

Verified

25/05/2020

Good Reputation and International Business School

The course was not well adapted but it was up to the mark. The professors are very well experienced and their experience comes in handy while working on assignments. The facilities on the campus are top class. Truly professional. I really like spending time in the learning hub and using all the available resources. Lyon is an amazing city. You will never get bored.

Edel

Verified

11/07/2024

On Campus

MSc International Hospitality Management

The best educational experience of my life so far! It’s been full of exposure and great connections. From Lyon to London, Paris, Los Angeles and Las Vegas! Truly an exceptional way to discover the world of hospitality.

Student

Verified

11/07/2024

On Campus

Real networking opportunities

- meeting new people, specially professionals during seminars or evening meeting at school. - going abroad to study luxury - being involved as an ambassador to promote the school and the program I was into (MSc LMM) - having such a great professional core

Daphné

Verified

14/07/2024

On Campus

white baccalaureate in the world of work

I really appreciated the MS SDAI as a whole. The teaching staff, the different subjects, the university exchange, TEM... I started my internship in a consulting firm having acquired a solid foundation. Downside for CentraleSupélec, which I found far too academic for a program such as this.

Student

Verified

11/09/2024

On Campus

Great

Pretty great ! Emlyon business school is a top educational institution known for its outstanding academic programs, nurturing environment, and state-of-the-art facilities. It fosters creativity, critical thinking, and leadership in students.

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