Federico Galceran Bonasso

Working professionals: Take some days off work, it's worth it. Students: It won't feel like you weren’t on holiday, it is great fun. 

I always believed geopolitics was at the core of business and life, right in the iPhones in our pockets. As a lawyer in the international corporate tax sector, I wanted to deepen my understanding of the global forces shaping the business world. The HEC Paris Geopolitics, Globalization & Business Strategy summer program was the perfect opportunity to dive into these dynamics and bring the best international practices back to Uruguay, a country I’m always proud to represent abroad.

The experience was incredibly enriching, both academically and personally. With a cohort from four continents, including representatives from China and the US, discussing geopolitics added an amazing dimension to our conversations. The program’s focus on current, 21st-century issues was exceptional. Professor Jeremy Ghez’s unique and engaging teaching style, drawing lessons from 'Finding Nemo' and 'Alice in Wonderland' - which I now quote when talking business - highlights how forward-thinking the education at HEC Paris is. With ChatGPT and Claude practically being unofficial members of our class, this is what 21st-century education should be: relevant, engaging, and deeply connected to the world we live in.

On a personal level, becoming a student again for two weeks was both challenging and rewarding. Not every day do you get to explore Paris after class with new friends from around the world and watch France play in the EuroCup while enjoying French wine and cheese! It made the experience unforgettable.

The strategic framework and insights I gained from the program have been extremely useful for the professional world, providing a broad understanding that will be essential as I pursue further studies like an LLM or MBA to continue adapting to this ever-changing global landscape.

For more information on this summer program