Exploring excellence for the 13th French Touch
Bordeaux
The initial leg of the MSc International Business journey took students to Bordeaux, the global capital of wine. Throughout this expedition, they delved into the art and science of viticulture, touring prestigious vineyards such as Château Pichon Baron, ranked as the 2nd Grand Cru Classé in 1855, located in the southern reaches of the Pauillac appellation. Subsequently, they acquired their CCEF certification from Daniel Cady, a Foreign Trade Advisor for France. This certification followed several informative sessions throughout the year, culminating in examinations covering strategic themes of international commerce. The visits continued at the premises of EY - a leader in consulting and auditing - providing students with insights into global business practices and services offered by this renowned enterprise, a part of the big 4 with 312,000 employees across 150 countries. The presentation was delivered by two senior managers, specialising in risk management and finance and transactions, along with a human resources representative detailing application procedures and opportunities for prospective graduates.
The tour proceeded with an immersion into Bordeaux's dynamic ecosystem at Darwin, which they had the chance to explore. They then ventured to Laketricity, where they were welcomed by the company president and territorial development officer, both alumni of KEDGE Business School. This innovative enterprise, focusing on renewable energies, hosted the students for a tour of their facilities and a presentation of their activities. Specialising in floating solar solutions, this entity offers end-to-end services for the development of photovoltaic plants, with ongoing projects in 10 countries. They subsequently headed to Banque Populaire Aquitaine Centre Atlantique, a leading financial institution, for presentations on professions, strategic directions, and challenges within the banking sector.
Marseille
The journey then took the Master of Science students to Marseille, where they delved into the local entrepreneurial scene. Among the standout businesses explored was American Vintage, celebrated for its distinctive style and commitment to sustainable fashion. Fresh additions to the experience included Corania, where students toured the company and attended a conference. Another notable highlight was the Marseille Provence Cruise, providing a unique perspective on regional tourism. Guided by experts, students explored the Vélodrome stadium during the OM tour. Afterwards, they indulged in a visit to the historic Confiserie Léonard Parli, with its rich heritage spanning 150 years. Wrapping up the tour was a city bus excursion courtesy of Color Bus, offering students a glimpse of Marseille before their exploration of Docks Village, marking the fulfilling conclusion of their journey.
Paris
The second leg took the Master of Science students to Paris, the epicentre of innovation and technology. There, they will explore globally renowned companies such as Microsoft, a multinational in computing and micro-computing. Under the guidance of Clément Gumilar, communications manager, the students engaged in a series of interactive informational sessions; an in-depth presentation of the company, the role of a commercial director, and multiple discussions on artificial intelligence. They had the opportunity to peek behind the scenes of the French luxury industry with a visit to LVMH warehouses, led by Stéphane Fallon, logistics director. The brand's warehouses - the only enterprise bringing together 75 exceptional houses in each of the 5 major luxury sectors - provided insight into operational activities, with a full day dedicated to observing central and European group operations. Lastly, students visited globally renowned companies such as Sodexo, a global leader in quality of life services, and Adeo, a pioneering force in positive housing worldwide.
Each leg of this transformative journey afforded students invaluable insights into the inner workings of these enterprises, their activities, and their strong impact on the region. From Bordeaux to Paris, and onward to Marseille, they found themselves at the heart of innovations and challenges shaping the future of the French economy, forging meaningful connections with industry leaders along the way.
