Nicolas BOUDET (IMHI 1997)
Vice President, Acquisitions, Development & Asset Management, 
Club Med North America

Q: What is your background?

I currently head the real estate development and asset management department at Club Med for the North America and the Caribbean. In addition, I’ve recently been asked to oversee the strategic planning function.

I am based in Miami Fl, and have been living here for the last three years along with my wife. Previously, I worked for a real estate investment bank (Jones Lang LaSalle) in London for two years.

My education began in Paris, where I completed my BA in hotel management from EHP. Subsequently I went to London, where I worked for a year as a Catering Supply Analyst for the Eurostar. I then decided to go back to school to get my MBA at IMHI, where my studies were focused on structured financing and law. While I was attending classes at IMHI, I held an internship position (apprentissage) as an assistant financial controller for Queens Moat Houses plc (QMH) for the regional division of France & Belgium.

Q: Why did you decide to come and stay here?

For me, the U.S. has always represented adventure and the land of opportunity, based on countless business success stories. Though I had not really planned to live in the USA, my wife (who is an American citizen) effectively lobbied for our relocation to Florida.

To date, I like the culture and the people. I’ve found the Americans’ ability to accept changes fascinating. They are simple, practical and above everything else, constantly emphasize increasing convenience in every day life. With respect to business, I do not believe they have pre-conceived ideas, and are open to new concepts and theories.

Q: What advice would you give to ESSEC graduates who would like to come to work here?

Prior to crossing the Atlantic, one should conduct his/her research using relatives and alumni who have been and are currently exposed to working in the US. Information to gather ranges from very practical, down-to-earth input such as cost of housing in city of your choice (living in NYC or in DC costs 3 to 4 times more than Dallas or Detroit), to assessing when is the best time to cross the Atlantic according to economic climate. For instance, current economic situation does not favor relocating, given the recent and anticipated massive layoffs. In addition, the looming prospect of a US attack on Iraq bodes ill for the economy.

Irrespective of these current conditions, a transfer should be made preferably with a job in hand. It does not have to be the perfect one, but one that can give you income, health insurance, and a temporary work visa, while searching for the best fit.

Q: How do you think your ESSEC background helped you to be where you are?

A couple of things—First, my focused academic content enabled me to merge swiftly into the real world. Secondly, the network I carefully constructed proved to be critical. IMHI graduates have a clear advantage with the Cornell University partnership, in addition to the ESSEC network of alumni. We not only benefited from the ESSEC network but we also used the Cornell alumni group in spearheading our efforts to break through in the US.

In short, focused academic content and networks have worked for me thanks to my time spent at ESSEC.

Q: What do you consider as your role in the ESSEC family?

My role within the ESSEC family is twofold: 

• To become an ambassador of Group ESSEC / IMHI, promoting the school to potential candidates as well as to the corporate community
• To take an active role in energizing the alumni network -- in practical terms, participating within the Miami chapter and following the example of the NYC chapter of alumni

Thank you...

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