Sébastien

My name is Sebastien and I am a retired French Professional Tennis player. Having lived my dream for 12 years playing mainly for the ATP Challenger series I retired in December 2012. During that period I also worked with companies willing to bolster their corporate communication such as Innovates, Peugeot, and HSBC as Communications and Public Relations Consultant. I also wrote a monthly column in a French Tennis Magazine.

At the age of thirty-five, I realized that retirement from Professional tennis was imminent due to various injuries and my age. I had the option to work as a coach for the French tennis federation but I wanted to challenge myself further in life and work in one of the Fortune 500 companies in charge of communication, promotions and sponsoring. I decided to become a manager within the corporate environment by joining one of the top MBA Programs to hone my analytical skills and reinforce my working method and use my network and experience in professional sports in the corporate field.

Of course, coming to the MBA Center was very natural as Dr. Hubert Silly was also in the top eight tennis players in Switzerland and played till the age of 25. I have played against him several times. I knew that he was also the director of the MBA Center and so I met someone who understood very well how to combine sport and studies and how to make a career post sports.

When I first came to MBA Center it had been fifteen years since I have stopped my studies and although I enjoy literature and reading, I had not opened any maths books in fifteen years. So the GMAT, especially the mathematics section, was definitely the most difficult thing as I had to learn everything from scratch. GMAT is a computer-based test and it was something completely new and challenging and I had to relearn had to focus. The application essays came a bit easier because I had been writing for a magazine during my tennis career and that helped me when I was writing my applications.

Life on campus at HEC feels like a close-knit community. With more than a hundred clubs and activities to choose from, you are never at a loss for things to do. Located just 20 km away from the Center of Paris and a five-minute train ride away from Versailles there is a rich culture and history you are surrounded by at all times. There are students of many nationalities on campus and that ensures that you get to learn something from each interaction. Overall the school offers a great academic body, world-class facilities, and a strong academic program.

My decision to do an MBA was somewhat last minute and so I did not get to prepare in advance. This is not something that I would recommend for other MBA Applicants. I’d advise them to think deeply about their career path before deciding on a school or even an MBA program. Take two to three years to prepare for it.

For those applicants who have been away from school for some time, maybe five to ten years. I’d advise them to be patient with the GMAT. It isn’t a very difficult test, but going back to class and completing MCQs could turn out to be a long process. Do not get demotivated. It’s just like when you start learning a new sport. You have to accept that you are going to be bad for a while before you pick up the basics. Stay strong and believe in your abilities to be successful.