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NEWS & FEATURES |
Interview of the Month - February 2002: Michel Gulick (ESSEC 1998) Q: What is your background? I am French-American, born in California, and raised mostly in the Silicon Valley. After graduating from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor's in Economics, I went to Essec to get my Master's degree. My two years at Essec, followed by a one-semester exchange at Universita' Bocconi in Milan, gave me the opportunity for me to finally live in Europe. I was also fortunate enough to meet my wife, originally from St. Petersburg, who was also on exchange in Milan. I returned to the Silicon Valley to apply my new skills and experiences to the technology industry, and began working for Hewlett-Packard as a communications project manager. My contract with HP recently ended, which gave my wife and I a chance to return to Europe. Ever since, I have been pursuing various business opportunities in St. Petersburg, though we will not be leaving the San Francisco Bay Area until spring 2003. Q: Why did you decide to come and stay here? Actually, "coming and staying here" is more like returning to where I grew up. I returned to the Silicon Valley to gain valuable work experience in the heart of the technology industry, with the intention of going back to Europe after several years. While in the US, I wanted to emphasize the significance of cultural awareness and sensitivity that is sometimes lacking in American business. There are not many Americans that go abroad for their MBA's or other high-level degrees, and for me this became an important asset. Q: What advice would you give to ESSEC graduates who would like to come to work here? First of all, talk to others (friends, family, classmates, co-workers, etc.) who are currently working or have worked in the US -- or any other country for that matter. Talking can help to establish an invaluable network of people that can help you to get to where you want to be. Whether this is short-term or long-term, having a list of contacts you can trust will make your life more enjoyable and rewarding. The Internet also provides many fantastic resources for getting information, such as job opportunities or relocation information. Extract as much information as possible from different ESSEC resources, your company's resources (if possible), or even governmental resources. The more information you have, the more prepared you will be, which is extremely important when you are living abroad. Q: How do you think your ESSEC background helped you to be where you are? While the diplôme ESSEC is highly recognized and valued in France, it is much less so in the United States. However, having my ESSEC background has been one of the best things that happened to me. Professionally, the degree and the knowledge I gained there were extremely beneficial to finding a job that suited my goals. Socially, I have met some incredible people from around the world whose relationships I will cherish for years to come. Q: What do you consider as your role in the ESSEC family? Several months ago, I discovered the ESSEC USA website by accident, browsing through the ESSEC International site. After initially making some suggestions for the newsletter, I now find myself as the newsletter editor to the site. The greatest challenge that lies ahead for ESSEC abroad is to build the "brand recognition" of the school, especially in the United States. There is so much competition with the American business schools that European schools are seldom acknowledged. I would like to continue to make the ESSEC connection grow stronger in the US and around the world, and part of my contribution will be seen through the ESSEC USA website and its newsletter. Thank you...
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