MBA Student Profile: Tisserand Yann, IAE

Tisserand Yann shares his stories from his MBA course at IAE.

1. What were you doing before your MBA?

I've graduated as an engineer, from a French engineer school (Grandes Ecoles) - Ecole Centrale de Lyon.
I've worked during one year and a half in a construction firm, as a construction controller (which aim at controlling the work of architects, Calculus and the construction process itself through two points of view: solidity of the building and norms against fire)     

2. What were your main reasons for deciding to attend business school?

To apprehend in a more global way the environment in which I live and to be able to lead projects in which various competencies (and not only technical ones) are needed.      

3. What research did you undertake in selecting your school?

Mostly, I have looked for a school in Argentina. Then I have compared various universities through their programs (internet sites) and through their level of ranking compared to the MBAs provided all over the world.

4. What were the main criteria in your selection?

As I said, the programs themselves, the rankings. Moreover, the full-time design of the master was an important criteria of choice.     

5. How well do your think the MBA is regarded in your home country?

That was an important point to take into account before choosing to get involved in the program.
First, the foreign experience itself is very well regarded, then, the ranking provided by an external and well known newspaper (Financial Times) played an important role in the way the program will be regarded.

6. How are you financing your studies?

50% with my own earnings, and the other half with a student loan.

7. What do you expect to do on graduation and where do you expect to be based?

I want to work for some time in Latin America to increase my knowledge of this market then Europe or North America (Canada).

8. How easy or difficult do you expect it to be to achieve these objectives?

I don't think it will be so difficult living up to expectations. It's an environment that demands a lot of hard work and commitment, but you get a lot of support, both from your professors and your fellow students. And it helps to be based in Madrid - a really exciting place to live and work.