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NEWS & FEATURES |
Interview of the Month - April 2002: Stephane Cudennec (Essec 1995) Q: What is your background? I am Co-founder and Vice-President of Sales and Business Development for Netcessity, Inc., a San Francisco-based start-up, which started operating in 2000 under the name ReadyRouter. Netcessity is a pioneer in the Professional Services Automation software. It is an emerging market segment that is estimated to grow to $3.3B in 2004. Netcessity is the result of 7 years spent in start-up organizations. Everything started in late 1995 after I graduated from ESSEC. I met with Serge Douillard (E84) who presented me a project he was working on with a colleague of his. I joined his adventure and we launched QWAM System. After establishing the company in France, I “built” my own CSNE for QWAM and came to the US where I had responsibilities for the company’s business development. End of 1997, I joined ArrayComm, a San-Jose based start-up, where I was Business Development Manager for the company’s operations in Latin America and, at a less extent, Europe. I am still involved with the company’s wireless Internet business. Q: Why did you decide to come and stay here? During my 3 years at ESSEC, I got really involved with hi-tech companies, and particularly telecommunications. I had done my internships in Eastern Europe and Western Europe for two US-owned companies. Silicon Valley was the natural next international step. And QWAM gave me the opportunity to do it. I have stayed here since then and married an American woman in April 2001. San Francisco is a great place to live and work, particularly if you want to build your own business. I love entrepreneurship and the United-States are undoubtedly the place to be for entrepreneurs. I like the American business mentality and the idea that everything is possible. All the clichés we hear about the US as a land of opportunities is so true, but you need to experience it to understand what it is and what it means. Q: What advice would you give to ESSEC graduates who would like to come to work here? Come and experience the American way of life, but think of it twice. Not everybody is made for it. It is a rich experience but it needs determination, dedication and courage. The same way you can quickly go to the top, you can quickly reach the bottom. Over the last 6 months, we have experienced the first economic slow down in US economy since 1992. And that was a huge cleaning! If you are looking for stability in your professional life, the United-States are certainly not the place to be. But beyond the hard work and the challenge, you will certainly see the rewards. ESSEC USA is a great network to leverage to achieve your objectives if you have a plan ready. We are all willing to help, but we are very busy as well. So, contacting ESSEC people cannot only be about “could you do that for me, please?” but also about “I can do that for you”. This cannot be a one-way relationship. As they say in the United-States, you need to show the value proposition. I know this is difficult to do, particularly when you are freshly graduated. But you need to have done your homework, So please, come prepared… Q: How do you think your ESSEC background helped you to be where you are? As I mentioned earlier, Serge Douillard (E84) offered me a great opportunity when he proposed me to join him to build QWAM System. Just because of that, I think ESSEC has been key to launch my career. So ESSEC can be very helpful at the beginning, but after you still need to demonstrate your own skills and qualities. I feel that what I learned during my three years at ESSEC was of great help. Not only the classes, but also the associative life, which, in my opinion, contributes to the recognition of our school. ESSEC really has an entrepreneurship mentality, and this is often something that helps make the difference. Q: What do you consider as your role in the ESSEC family? I would like ESSEC students to be given the chance I was offered. And the ESSEC network has an important role to play in that matter. We have the players, and we are growing the team. Building a strong ESSEC network is important for the success and recognition of all of us. In order to achieve this objective, every player needs to come with the desire to make a difference. I encourage ESSEC students to leverage the asset represented by the ESSEC network, People can feel free to contact me. I generally reply to all the emails I receive. If I can, I want to help! Thank you...
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