MBA Connections: Where Future Careers Begin

Three times a year, HEC Talents, our career center, hosts MBA Connections, a key recruiting and networking event designed exclusively for MBA students. These events provide an opportunity for students to engage face-to-face with recruiters seeking candidates for full-time positions or internships.

In September, Dinakar Ayalasomayajula, a 2022 alumnus of HEC Paris, returned to campus for the September edition of MBA Connections. Dinakar, now an energy consultant at Wipro France, based in Paris, was recruiting MBA students on behalf of the multinational Indian IT services company.

“It’s always a great feeling to come back to HEC and meet candidates in person,” Dinakar said. “This event offers a valuable chance for HEC MBA students to make their first connection with recruiters.”

Nathalie ten Hove, Senior Event Manager at HEC Talents, emphasized the event’s significance: “MBA Connections, September Edition is the primary event for MBAs seeking full-time roles.” This annual September event is part of a broader series of signature HEC Talents recruitment opportunities, including:

• MBA Connections, January edition (internships)
• MBA Connections, May edition (full-time & internships)
• MBA Connections, Consulting, Finance, Digital & Tech and Retail & Luxury Editions 

In addition to these events, other MBA networking opportunities are organized alongside major HEC-wide career fairs, such as the World of Opportunities Fair and Impact Jobs Day. Throughout the year, HEC Talents also arranges smaller, targeted networking events with companies specifically seeking MBAs.

During the event, Dinakar introduced Wipro’s Global 100 MBA recruitment program to the class of 2025. “HEC Paris is at the top of our recruitment list for France,” he noted, highlighting the program's strong talent pool and diverse candidate backgrounds. “Though we specialize in IT, we’re looking for candidates who bring fresh perspectives and can build strong relationships with clients to drive our business forward.”

Over 20 companies from various sectors, including consulting, industry, finance, and tech, presented to the MBA class of 2025. With 62 job openings available, the event attracted over 500 applications. Highly anticipated companies included Bain & Co, Hilti, KPMG, L’Oréal, LVMH, Nexans, Stata, and Siemens.

Sujeet Kumar Kotalwar, MBA ’25, was particularly impressed with Amazon. “There were many roles I could apply for, especially in product management and their launch program, which was open to candidates from all backgrounds,” he said.

Phuong Hoang, MBA ’25, emphasized the event's importance for soon-to-graduate students. “This is the most crucial event for us as it offers direct access to employers across Europe. I’m hoping to have more face-to-face interactions with both employers and alumni to hear their success stories and learn how they landed jobs internationally.”

Giscard Awono, MBA ’25, was eager to meet representatives from consulting firms. “It’s a great opportunity to connect with recruiters and hear from former MBA students about their work experience and what it’s like to join these companies,” he said.

While students were competing for limited roles, Wipro offered a reminder that landing a position is about more than just knowledge. “At Wipro, we don’t just seek the most competent candidates,” said Marouen Rhif, HR Lead for Wipro France. “We’re looking for those who have the right skills—and one of the most important skills we value is resilience.”