Why I want six weeks in Shanghai

In Senegal, there are two dream careers: engineer or doctor. I chose engineering, and ten years ago I came to France to study it. Everything was new: when to speak in class, how people disagreed, how decisions were made. So I listened more, adapted faster and learned to question what I thought I knew.

On my first day at HEC, I met classmates from all over the world. About 95% of them had left their country to be here. Listening to their stories, I recognised my own first years in France. But after ten years here, my MBA is a different experience from theirs: I am learning in a country I already know. I want the experience they are having too.

So I am applying for the half-term exchange at CEIBS, in Shanghai. A full term was an option, but my last HEC term is when I need to be in France, looking for a job in Europe. Six weeks is long enough to live in Shanghai, not just visit it.

Why China? It is a huge market that keeps growing, and it is where products move fastest. Chinese carmakers launch a new model in about 18 months, while European brands often need three to five years. For a career in consulting or product strategy, I want to understand that speed from the inside.

And CEIBS was built to connect Europe and China. My classmates there will know Chinese companies better than any book. Those are the people I want to learn from.