Natacha Brami
Master of Science X - HEC Entrepreneurs
The Master program proved to be pivotal in my career journey. After 6 years of studies and 3 internships in VC, I felt the need to fight imposter syndrome and engage in a hands-on entrepreneurial journey.
Why did you decide to join the MSc X-HEC Entrepreneur at HEC Paris?
I enrolled in the Master with a clear goal in mind: to take one year away from the career path I was already in. After 6 years of studies and 3 internships in venture capital funds (VC), I really felt the need to switch to the other side of the table and experience building a company for myself. The idea was really to have a clean break from my past experiences, immersing myself in a founder-to-be role for several months. This journey would allow me to introspect and ask myself the question again: “Who do you aspire to become? An entrepreneur, an investor or perhaps something entirely different?”
What are your biggest takeaways from the program?
First and foremost, the chance to spend three months in San Francisco, at the epicenter of the tech ecosystem, while studying at University of California, Berkeley, to develop our mental health project. I also recall very well the ideation phase when we had the privilege of connecting with individuals from various backgrounds both in France and in the US. Engaging in passionate discussions with experts allowed us to explore the depth of the contrasts between the two geographies concerning business models, societal taboos, and other critical aspects within our field.
What is your current job? What types of responsibilities do you have?
I am a VC Investor at SISTAFUND, a recently established fund investing in gender-balanced teams and female founders across Europe.
Some of my responsibilities include the typical responsibilities of the investor job such as identifying promising companies, engaging in discussion with entrepreneurs, researching emerging trends and, of course investing in a few companies and supporting them afterwards.
What sets my position apart (as a junior VC in a fund) are the additional tasks related to our ongoing efforts in building our fund. Hence, I have the unique opportunity to contribute to a wide spectrum of areas, including fund strategy development, branding & communications, ESG considerations, nurturing investors relations and last but not least, participating in the fundraising process.
How did you find your job?
I met my amazing colleague Alice Groth within the internal network of our Master program, as she is also an alumna. I was really lucky since the opportunity to join the team arose when the fund’s activities were still under the radar and not yet public knowledge. I officially came on board in September 2022, eight months after the beginning of the fund’s journey, and one month prior to our public debut.
How did the program help define your career path and secure your job?
The Master program – and this year more broadly – proved to be pivotal in my career journey. I really felt the need for a break after three internships in VC both in Paris and Berlin (Alliance Ventures, Alven, Target Global). I also felt the need to fight imposter syndrome (a common challenge in this job!) and engage hands-on on an entrepreneurial journey.
Going back to VC after the master was clearly one of the options I had in mind. But when that happened after the program, I just picked the industry with way more conviction than I would have done, without it. Mostly, I learned even more that I needed an entrepreneurial job. Having had the chance to intern in different VC firms, I knew if I had the chance to be picky, I would have picked a VC just like SISTAFUND where there is everything to create.
As for how the program played a role in securing my current position, the answer is quite clear: I probably would not have met my colleague and future team without it! I guess that’s enough proof.
What are your long-term career aspirations, and how will the MSc X-HEC Entrepreneur help you achieve them?
Funnily enough, when I initially applied for the Master program, in my application and interviews I shared that I had two start-up ideas in mind: either launching a VC fund with a GenZ focus or building a Space Tech company. Fast forward one year, and I find myself actively contributing to the development of a new VC fund, which has already invested in an amazing SpaceTech.
As I look toward the future, I envision a long-term commitment to the VC industry, and long-term at SISTAFUND, where there are so many things to build. Beyond that horizon? It is hard to tell now but I know the entrepreneurial spirit cultivated during the program will not fade away, but on the contrary remain a part of my career journey.
Any advice for students considering joining the MSc X-HEC Entrepreneur and wishing to follow the same career path?
My main advice (which has been instrumental to me) would be to be honest with yourself while considering joining the Master. You need to know why and for what purpose you want to join such an extraordinary yet intense program: that’s how you will be able to maximize the year.
And for more VC related advice, don’t hesitate to reach out.