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HEC Paris MBA Makes The Triple Jump Into A Top Consulting Job At Deloitte

Johann Matthai (MBA ’16) changed role, industry, and location after a full-time MBA at HEC Paris

By  

Fri Jul 28 2017

BusinessBecause
After completing a full-time MBA at HEC Paris, Johann Matthai made the MBA triple jump – changing job sector, function, and location – to take up a new job as a senior consultant at Monitor Deloitte in Amsterdam.

He’s part of an increasing number of HEC Paris MBA grads moving into consulting – between 2014 and 2016 the school’s seen a six percent rise in the placement of students into consulting industry positions.

Johann – who worked in publishing in India prior to his MBA – also met his current partner at the business school. He’s had a personal and professional life transformation that’s been made possible thanks to HEC Paris, where 92% of full-time MBA students are international.

Why did you decide to pursue an MBA?

After having worked for close to six years, I welcomed the opportunity to immerse myself in a classroom environment once again and learn with and from people boasting of diverse life stories. In the long run, I believed this experience extended itself organically to global roles and the ability to lead multi-cultural teams.

While I welcomed the opportunity to work post-MBA in Europe, a continent I had limited exposure to in a professional setting, I was most keen to just go along on the ride and see where it took me.

Why HEC Paris?

I sought a program that offered a good mix of practical experience while at school, and had the long-term professional benefits of the network. In this regard, the 16-month HEC Paris MBA, with its intimate class size of 250 students, and the extended network of its Grand Ecole program (truly an institution in France!) provided the best fit.

More importantly however, during my interactions with representatives and past and present students, the prospective HEC Paris experience seemed to reflect and represent me in a way that no other program did.

If this wasn’t enough, I always heard that Paris is a good idea. Many croissants and glasses of wine later, I can testify that this statement holds utterly true!

How did your MBA help you secure a new job at Monitor Deloitte?

A consulting firm values, above all else, an ability to perform complex analyses accompanied by a sound understanding of how businesses work. With a curriculum that organically lends itself to a deeper understanding of the inter-play of the different management functions, the MBA is thus a program that provides a solid base to launch yourself into a consulting career.

For my own part, wanting to keep a career in consulting as an option, I worked to be elected to the Executive Council of the Consulting Club for my intake. The club was entrusted with the responsibility of preparing candidates for a future in consulting, as well as educating the cohort on the latest developments in the industry.

Backed by this experience and the other skill-sets taught to me during the MBA, I further prepared with the help of my batch-mates. Ultimately, I was able to utilize the power of the HEC network to ensure my resume reached the right people.

What advice do you have for prospective MBA candidates?

Pick a school that is right for you, your motivations and aspirations post-MBA. Do your research and talk to as many people as you can in the programs you’re targeting. You might be surprised that your ‘best-fit’ school is one you weren’t originally prioritizing.

My own experience is testimony to this. Backed by a good GMAT score and what I considered to be work experience that most schools would value, I applied to many schools within the top 15 and got admits from a number of them. My choice of HEC Paris meant turning down some slightly higher-ranked schools, but looking back, there is arguably no other program that could’ve landed me in the position I am today – professionally and personally. Rankings aren’t everything.

Finally, go into the MBA with an open mind. The MBA ended up being a juncture that re-directed many parts of my life. One often talks about ‘return on investment’ from a b-school – I consider myself very fortunate.

Student Reviews

HEC Paris

Student

Verified

7/07/2022

On Campus

Cultural experience

I have met the most competent and diverse batch in this school. These people not only thrive on their own but also makes sure that you are doing it with them. The professors will take your had and walk you through all milestones and make sure you are not left behind. I have found their extracurriculars extremely engaging. There was always a room to have social life after academic life. The only hindrance is the location of the school, it is slightly outside city and living in city is expensive.

Sarah

Verified

18/03/2022

On Campus

Internationality and diversity of opportunities

About my programme I would say it is very international and flexible: we have the opportunity to choose exactly the courses we want. But at the same time, the frame of the campus is crucial in students' life and enable us to create friendships.

Student

Verified

29/10/2021

On Campus

Great selection of people

While HEC's MBA is highly selective, I really enjoy the type of people HEC's selects to make sure everybody gets the best out of their MBA experience and networking opportunities. Not only it's an incredibly diverse pool of people (~60 nationalities) but most importantly they make sure to let in friendly empathic and curious people.

Veronique

Verified

28/10/2021

Blended

Best in France for Grande ecole

A prestigious business school. Languages ​​are important. It is better to have a scientific baccalaureate with excellent grades in high school and good assessments. The courses are well designed as per the latest trends and practicality of learning in stressed upon. Overall, a very good experience.

Ghadi

Verified

11/06/2022

On Campus

Diversity and quality of fellow students

Very international and interesting place to be and opens a lot of opportunities, however the administration is very french and facilities are subpar (gym, classrooms) meaning the academic affairs is pretty much useless and lastly we are graded on a curve which can create a toxic environment because of the competition. With that being said the pros outweighs the cons by far.

Student

Verified

27/03/2022

On Campus

The quality of the teachers, the campus, the clubs

The school is very international indeed, we have courses with international students and share things with them within the extra academic life (in the social clubs especially). We have great career prospects if we prepare ourselves well - however, the global curriculum is still very finance-oriented, which is a pity for other interesting domains of the company world, which does not rely on finance only. The social clubs are good practice for the management and for now, are quite independent.

Lb

Verified

26/03/2022

On Campus

HEC Paris awaits you

HEC Paris is really a nice place to do a master's in business. Many classes are useful and interesting (corporate finance, financial accounting, contract law…), some are less - but the curriculum is to be reviewed in the year to come. Regarding the student life, it is incredible, with about 130 clubs, lots of great parties with even greater people. The Jouy campus offers a lot of opportunities to do sports, and you can breathe fresh air every day. HEC also helps a great deal to find an internship or a job.

Rajarshi

Verified

28/10/2021

Blended

A dream institute

Enrolling in the HEC MBA was by far the best decision I made for myself. The people and faculty are great, with lots of opportunities to meet people and expand your horizons. Very nice campus where I have had some good running sessions. The alumni network is superb and very helpful. It also has a good support system for entrepreneurs. Would definitely recommend it!

Student

Verified

19/10/2021

On Campus

Good choice for a career boost

The classes were extremely practical and relevant to the current challenges that businesses are facing. You have access to a wide range of professionals and good career prospects once you leave the university.

Student

Verified

7/07/2022

On Campus

Cultural experience

I have met the most competent and diverse batch in this school. These people not only thrive on their own but also makes sure that you are doing it with them. The professors will take your had and walk you through all milestones and make sure you are not left behind. I have found their extracurriculars extremely engaging. There was always a room to have social life after academic life. The only hindrance is the location of the school, it is slightly outside city and living in city is expensive.

Sarah

Verified

18/03/2022

On Campus

Internationality and diversity of opportunities

About my programme I would say it is very international and flexible: we have the opportunity to choose exactly the courses we want. But at the same time, the frame of the campus is crucial in students' life and enable us to create friendships.

Student

Verified

29/10/2021

On Campus

Great selection of people

While HEC's MBA is highly selective, I really enjoy the type of people HEC's selects to make sure everybody gets the best out of their MBA experience and networking opportunities. Not only it's an incredibly diverse pool of people (~60 nationalities) but most importantly they make sure to let in friendly empathic and curious people.

Veronique

Verified

28/10/2021

Blended

Best in France for Grande ecole

A prestigious business school. Languages ​​are important. It is better to have a scientific baccalaureate with excellent grades in high school and good assessments. The courses are well designed as per the latest trends and practicality of learning in stressed upon. Overall, a very good experience.

Ghadi

Verified

11/06/2022

On Campus

Diversity and quality of fellow students

Very international and interesting place to be and opens a lot of opportunities, however the administration is very french and facilities are subpar (gym, classrooms) meaning the academic affairs is pretty much useless and lastly we are graded on a curve which can create a toxic environment because of the competition. With that being said the pros outweighs the cons by far.

Student

Verified

27/03/2022

On Campus

The quality of the teachers, the campus, the clubs

The school is very international indeed, we have courses with international students and share things with them within the extra academic life (in the social clubs especially). We have great career prospects if we prepare ourselves well - however, the global curriculum is still very finance-oriented, which is a pity for other interesting domains of the company world, which does not rely on finance only. The social clubs are good practice for the management and for now, are quite independent.

Lb

Verified

26/03/2022

On Campus

HEC Paris awaits you

HEC Paris is really a nice place to do a master's in business. Many classes are useful and interesting (corporate finance, financial accounting, contract law…), some are less - but the curriculum is to be reviewed in the year to come. Regarding the student life, it is incredible, with about 130 clubs, lots of great parties with even greater people. The Jouy campus offers a lot of opportunities to do sports, and you can breathe fresh air every day. HEC also helps a great deal to find an internship or a job.

Rajarshi

Verified

28/10/2021

Blended

A dream institute

Enrolling in the HEC MBA was by far the best decision I made for myself. The people and faculty are great, with lots of opportunities to meet people and expand your horizons. Very nice campus where I have had some good running sessions. The alumni network is superb and very helpful. It also has a good support system for entrepreneurs. Would definitely recommend it!

Student

Verified

19/10/2021

On Campus

Good choice for a career boost

The classes were extremely practical and relevant to the current challenges that businesses are facing. You have access to a wide range of professionals and good career prospects once you leave the university.

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