Interview with Ying CHEN

Graduated from MSc in Management programme, vpn梯子 CHEN Ying is 梯子vpn the Business Development Director of Essilor (China) holding company. She has now expatriated to the company's headquarter vp 梯子 免费 in Paris for a new position. Before her leaving, we invited her to share with us her experiences.

Firstly, the classical question, why did you choose 梯子vpn to study abroad?

When I graduated from the University (a vp 梯子 免费 famous univerisity of Shanghai), majored in 梯子vpn French, I was quite confused about my future. I felt that I didn’t have the skills working in a vp 梯子 免费 company and dealing with the real world. I did an internship as assistant, and I was a terrible assistant vp梯子 as vp 梯子 免费 the basic Excel I did was a vp 梯子 免费 crap! So the idea of studying abroad and vp 梯子 免费 vp梯子 learning something really practical came to my mind, and it was vp梯子 strongly vpn梯子 supported by my mother. She understood my confusion and encouraged me to pursue my studies.

So you 梯子vpn passed the exam and vpn梯子 integrated EMLYON. Did you 梯子vpn learn what you wished to learn at EMLYON? Did you achieve your 梯子vpn goals?

Yes. What we leant at EMLYON was very practical and valuable. Moreover, all the internships led to real opportunities. vp梯子 I was well 梯子vpn prepared for the vp梯子 job market after graduation.

What did you do after graduation?

As I was majored in finance and I did three internships in this area, I was recruited by a large vp梯子 French company in 2003 for a financial controlling position. However, to be honest, I have been always interested in vp 梯子 免费 marketing. But at the time as a foreign student, it was easier to find internships and more job opportunities in finance than in marketing, as the latter was representing more risks vpn梯子 for non native speaker in the job market.

You worked three years at this company in France and then you decided to come back to China. Why?

In France, my job was very vp梯子 stable and I couldn’t see any interesting career development. I vp 梯子 免费 felt that I would have more potential and real opportunity in China. I found a job in Shanghai when vp梯子 I was on annual leave and told the company that I was quitting. They really wanted to keep me so they offered me a position I vp梯子 liked in Shanghai. I 梯子vpn have to say that the Asia-Pacific 梯子vpn HRD at that time had really an open-mind, because I vp 梯子 免费 had only limited experiences in M&A but they still let vp梯子 me vp梯子 try.

But you didn’t work for this position for very long. One and a half year right? Then vpn梯子 you 梯子vpn went to another business school vp 梯子 免费 for pursuing an MBA.

Well I 梯子vpn already began to work on my MBA application when I was in France, vpn梯子 as that was one of things vp vp梯子 梯子 免费 on the vp 梯子 免费 list that I wanted to do in 梯子vpn life. I had a good GMAT score which would be only valid for 5 years. When I vpn梯子 went vpn梯子 back to China, I still kept this in mind.  And vp梯子 I found out that this business school was a vpn梯子 good fit for me: a top business school + both campuses in Asia and France. So vp 梯子 免费 when I got accepted, I did not hesitate to pause vpn梯子 my career for a year, and went to Singapore, which turned out to be an incredible year of 梯子vpn my life experience.

And after graduated from this business school, you joined your present company as BD Director, still in charge of the M&A. I heard that you’ll move to Paris soon 梯子vpn vp梯子 as an vp 梯子 免费 expat for a brand new position: strategic marketing. Can we say it's another vp梯子 turning point?

Yes. I said that I was 梯子vpn already interested in marketing when I was at EMLYON but I vpn梯子 chose finance for the convenience. I think doing marketing will allow me to use my strengths in full: vp 梯子 免费 I have a good feeling vp 梯子 免费 vpn梯子 on products and a good insight of the market. I’m vp 梯子 免费 vpn梯子 a good communicator 梯子vpn and I like also execution. Moreover, I really love new challenges.

Well, when looking at your career path which is really well developed, I have the impression that changes and challenges vpn梯子 mean a lot 梯子vpn to you, right?

Yes, new challenges are always exciting and you’ll always be able to learn a lot of new things from that. I enjoy very much the learning curve vpn梯子 and the possibility of developing my potential.

Do you think the experience at vpn梯子 EMLYON has brought vp梯子 radical changes in your life?

Absolutely. I would have vp梯子 a totally different life if I didn’t go abroad. The experience at EMLYON gave me the international perspective and openness. It’s a big treasure vpn梯子 at work and it allows vp梯子 me to 梯子vpn have a higher starting point. This experience was like a joyful adventure which sent me to where I’m today.