Scholarship Recipients Share What the Award Means to Them

The HEC Foundation awards scholarships to top students, enabling them to pursue an MBA at HEC Paris. Recipients share their experiences: Fabian Landert, a lawyer, values diverse interactions; Vanessa Oviedo, a consultant, brings varied industry perspectives; Ai Tanaka, with finance expertise, offers unique insights. Scholarships ease financial burdens and foster a supportive community at HEC.

The HEC Foundation awards more than $1 million in scholarships every year, to help attract the world’s top students to the HEC Paris MBA. With the help of the Foundation and the HEC Paris Scholarship of Excellence, recipients are empowered to transform their careers and excel in today’s business world.

Three current students tell us what being awarded the school’s merit-based scholarship has meant to them.

FABIAN LANDERT

1. Home City and Country:

Frauenfeld, Switzerland

2. Previous Education:

Bachelor of Law (University of Lucerne), Bilingual Master of Law (Universities Lucerne / Neuchâtel)

3. Pre-MBA job:

I was working as one of two attorneys in the legal department of Forbo, a globally operating Swiss manufacturer of floor coverings and building and construction adhesives, as well as power transmission and conveyor belts. In this role, I was acting as a generalist lawyer handling various legal issues ranging from Intellectual Property matters to contract negotiations.

4. What do you think will be your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your intake?

As a lawyer, I have been trained in a certain way of thinking and approaching problems; a methodology which I will do my best to share with my classmates. Besides that, I firmly believe that the exchanges between all students is what makes the MBA a unique experience. The differences in background, life-experience, upbringing, culture, etc. between students is what makes the interactions among students so interesting, and I hope that I can contribute my part by being an interesting interlocutor for other students.

5. Why was receiving the Scholarship for Excellence important to you?

Committing to an MBA requires a big commitment in time and money. Receiving a scholarship has alleviated the financial pressure to some extent, especially since I was not expecting it when submitting my application to HEC. Hence, it will allow me to enjoy the MBA program with less concerns regarding my financial situation during as well as immediately after the program.

VANESSA OVIEDO

1. Home City and Country:

Lima, Peru

2. Previous Education:

Bachelor of Business Engineering, Universidad del Pacífico, Lima

3. Pre-MBA job:

I worked as a Consulting Project Manager at EY Peru, leading teams to improve business processes, find efficiency opportunities, and design and implement solutions. I had the opportunity to work with diverse teams from Peru, Mexico, Spain, India, and the US, and with companies from different industries such as Telecommunications, Oil & Gas, Cash & Carry, and Health Care.

4. What do you think will be your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your intake?

I think my experiences in a variety of services and industries allow me to consider different points of view when analyzing a case or any given situation. Additionally, coming from a country where markets and companies don’t face the same challenges as the ones in Europe, I can bring a different perspective to the table. Finally, I think I could be a reference for my classmates who are interested in joining a consulting firm and would like to have a look on the industry from the inside.

5. Why was receiving the Scholarship for Excellence important to you?

The Scholarship for Excellence made it possible for me to join the September 2022 Intake. Considering the high difference on living expenses in France compared to those of Peru, finding the sources to fund the program was a very important factor to ponder when applying to different business schools. Furthermore, to me, it meant that HEC values my efforts, and the school is willing to recognize my achievements. In all honestly, it was also the confidence boost I needed to start an MBA program.

AI TANAKA
 

1. Home City and Country:

Hyogo, Japan

2. Previous Education:

Bachelor of Arts, Economics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

3. Pre-MBA job:

I worked with the M&A advisory team in Tokyo, where I worked as Financial Advisor to private equity funds for their acquisitions of manufacturing companies. Prior to that, I worked for a Japanese government affiliate, working closely with government officials in Côte d’Ivoire and Vietnam. While there, I executed sovereign loan deals, financing infrastructure projects.

4. What do you think will be your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your intake?

My experience both in the public and private sectors in finance allows me to bring a unique perspective to our classroom discussions, especially on how governments that have political interests and investors who aim for higher returns, can collaborate for a better future.

5. Why was receiving the Scholarship for Excellence important to you?

The Scholarship for Excellence not only enables me to fully focus on the program without financial concerns, but also allows me to be a part of the HEC community, with countless amazing leaders. As a woman, I have witnessed and experienced many discouraging moments, especially for women who want to take leadership roles, and I am so grateful to get to know many female role models in this community.
 

If you would like to help provide scholarships to next year’s MBA students by making a donation, click here to visit the HEC Foundation website.