Hi there !

I was fortunate enough to be accepted to both the HEC and ESCP EMBA !
Now I have to choose, and I see that the users here have a lot of very good insight !

I'm french-american and did all my studies in France, in Law. I'm now a Leasing Director for a mid-sized retail development firm.

My goal, is to transition out of shopping mall leasing, obtain a general business education, capitalize on my international background, and hopefully, move abroad and work for a global company with a strong culture. I would like to stay in the same business, or transition to a retailer, but in more of a general management, strategic position.
The countries I'm targeting are the USA (easier for me as I have the double nationality), or UK, or the Netherlands. Staying in France is also a possibility I wouldn't mind.

I really have a good feeling with ESCP, but I'm under the impression that HEC has a more international aura.

That being said, HEC seems to be more tailored towards entrepreneurs, and even though I'm not closing that door, I enjoy evolving in a coporate world, which seems to be more up ESCP's alley.

What do you think ?

Thanks for the help.

Pierre-Antoine

I am not sure why you are targeting these schools given your goals. 

I'm targeting these schools for several reasons.
My job is in Paris, and as such I needed an EMBA based there to be able to continue in my position.
The other reasons are that, these two seemed to have a certain reputation outside of France (international for HEC and European for ESCP).
I haven't a business school background, or a diploma or even internship abroad. 
It seems I'm at a point in my career where, my background doesn't really speak to international companies, and in France, moving into a general management position without a business acumen seems almost impossible.

Are unable to take a US EMBA in Paris, or a more famous EMBA like Insead, or an online MBA, or an MBA in LOndon? I think you need to reflect more in your strategy if you are serious about US options. 

PS I think the double Executive MBA by École des Ponts and Temple University is closing. That is [was?] a great opportunity to get an excellent US MBA in France. See bit.ly/TempleFR

[Edited by StuartHE on Nov 06, 2020]

Go for HEC you can only it once so do the one that really helps you.

From an escp graduate.

I am nor discrediting escp it was the school and program that helps me but hec is the only wellknown french school.

It has to be all about goals. If this person wants profile outside francophone countries, a US MBA from BU or UIUC could be more recognised. 

Yeah, I would suggest studying where you want to work (the US or the UK). Being on the ground where you want to work is practically essential to make this kind of international transition.

Barring that, a distance learning program from one of these countries, as Duncan has suggested, is a secondary alternative.

Good morning,

Thank you for your answers ! 
US is a serious option but not my main goal. 

Doing an traditional MBA could be an option, but I would have to leave my job, and the time, and cost that this entails seems too steep...

I thought about an executive MBA at INSEAD as well, but when I see how they fell in the ranking these last years...I don't know if a program is sustainable on its' reputation alone.

As for an online MBA, you loose all the in person experience and networking...I don't understand why people do these to be honest. All the people I talked to in EMBA's tell me the real value is the human relations that you build during those 18 to 24 months. They told me that if it had been fully online due to covid, they woul've postponed their studies.

I think, HEC seems like the best compromise, especially if I stay in France or move to a European country. 

The Insead Executive MBA has not fallen in recent years in any meaningful way. It been continually in the top 20 for almost its whole life, and the school currently ranks 9th in the world. You need to consider the impact of PPP calculations of Chinese salaries. Insead separates out its China program, while HEC rolls in the China programme. 

I think you cannot look at the rankings outside of the context of your goals. I don't think I am alone in struggling to see how the US and other countries fit in your career goals.

[Edited by Duncan on Nov 12, 2020]