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HEC Paris MBA Triple Jumps From Luxury Sector To One Of France’s Biggest Healthcare Companies

Karolina Gniewowska now works for the URGO Group. She landed the role after hearing the company’s CEO speak on campus at HEC Paris

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Tue Jun 5 2018

BusinessBecause
After completing her BBA in Paris and Master’s in Marketing in London, Karolina Gniewowska still had a thirst for knowledge. A part of her always knew the time would come for her to pursue an MBA, so after more than five years’ experience in fields such as e-publishing, banking, and luxury goods, she jumped on the MBA open day tour—HEC Paris prevailed.

Today, as she approaches her graduation from the HEC Paris MBA, having received both a spot on the Class of 2018’s Dean’s List and the prestigious Leadership Award, she is an example of what happens when you embark on the MBA journey with an open mind and the ability to connect the dots.

Over a year ago, Karolina attended the annual HEC Alumni Forum to tackle on-campus interviews with a few well-known consulting companies interested in her blend of digital and luxury experience. Serendipitously, she stepped into an auditorium where a round table was taking place on the digitalization of different industries. Among the guests was Pierre Moustial, former finance professor at HEC Paris and current CEO of URGO Group, one of France’s biggest healthcare companies.

“Talking about how digitalization can positively impact the healthcare industry, he totally eclipsed all the other speakers,” Karolina recalls. She felt inspired and remembers spending the following week researching and reading about the company.

karolina-hec-paris-mba

While waiting at a private clinic in Paris barely a few days later, she witnessed first-hand what the URGO Group’s CEO was describing at the HEC Paris event. “It was an impulse: I just took out my smartphone and sent him a long email detailing my experience as a patient, and how it all linked to his speech the week before.” Lo and behold, Karolina is now taking part in the URGO Group’s Leadership Program consisting of three rotations around the globe, lasting 2-to-3 years each.

For her first rotation Karolina chose to go back to her native Poland. Everything was brand new to her—she used the HEC Paris MBA to complete the fabled MBA triple jump, changing country, sector, and role. 

She serves as business effectiveness and development manager and sits on the local board. She is not just adapting to a new working environment either—Poland itself, she explains, has changed immensely since she departed 15 years ago.

She credits her MBA studies at HEC Paris for equipping her with one of the most—if not the most—valuable skills in today’s business world: change management.

Karolina expounds that the HEC Paris MBA offers something few other business schools can. A relatively small class size, which favors cross-fertilization of ideas and skillsets, and passionate professors. “I will never forget Dr Florian Hoos who was able to make me fall in love with accounting,” she says. “Or professor Olivier Sibony, former partner and director in the Paris, New York and Brussels offices of McKinsey & Company.”

Furthermore, in response to one of the biggest challenges for companies today—digital disruption—HEC Paris partnered with French businessman Xavier Niel’s famous Ecole42 to create a certification in digital transformation. As part of the school’s digital transformation certificate, Karolina was exposed to companies like Air France Industries and the PSA Group, working alongside their teams on the digitalization of their processes and products. The certificate is one of the highlights of her MBA experience. “It really gets you out the classroom,” she says.

She also worked with HEC Paris alum Nicolas Riou—the man behind market research and strategic planning company, BrainValue. “When we met, Nicolas was finishing his latest book, called Digital Consumer, all while building an app-based joint-venture, so we figured out a six-month consulting project that could benefit both sides,” Karolina says.

The six-month placement had Karolina running online communities to gain a snapshot of customer behavior in four sectors—healthcare being one of them. “That’s when I first got a glimpse of how digital and healthcare intervene,” she concludes. “Today, I see that everything links in the end—you see the puzzle come together.”

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.

Student

Verified

1/06/2024

On Campus

Diverse

HEC, as an academic institution, serves as a launching pad for students to excel in their pursuits and careers. The diversity among students and professors is truly remarkable. The chance to attend seminars across five major continents is unparalleled. The exposure and relationships it fosters are invaluable.

Student

Verified

31/05/2024

On Campus

Super diverse

It's a super diverse and fascinating environment with tons of chances, but the management is very French, and the facilities like the gym and classrooms are not great. This makes the academic side quite ineffective. Plus, we're graded on a curve, leading to a competitive and sometimes toxic atmosphere. Despite all that, the benefits definitely overshadow the drawbacks.

John

Verified

10/06/2024

On Campus

Surreal academic experience

What stood out to me about HEC was the direction and insight it offered on coding approaches. Prior to joining the program, I attempted self-learning, but I felt disoriented and lacked a starting point.HEC enabled me to grasp the basics of programming and provided support when I encountered obstacles. Without that guidance, I doubt I would have achieved the progress I have made to date.

John

Verified

10/06/2024

On Campus

Good security

HEC boasts a dedicated team of security personnel who undergo rigorous training to ensure the perpetual maintenance of tranquility and orderliness within the institution. Their unwavering efforts are directed towards fostering a sense of security among the student body, thereby enabling them to channel their energies predominantly towards their academic pursuits.

Student

Verified

17/07/2024

On Campus

Innovative teaching method

I am thoroughly enjoying my time at HEC, from the innovative teaching methods to the welcoming campus environment, which is particularly supportive of international students. The extracurricular opportunities, such as sports and associations, are incredibly valuable. Additionally, the career services offered are exceptional. Overall, I find my experience at HEC to be truly enriching.