Graduation series: How class delegate Virginie Lebidois discovered her daring spirit during the Executive MBA.

As part of our special 2020 graduation series, we’re asking our newest graduates to look back on their transformative journey and favourite moments from the program.

Virginie Lebidois had never dreamed of taking up a representative role during her schooling years, but a new daring spirit which she discovered during the EMBA gave her the courage to put her hand up to be the academic class delegate, a role that will stay with her for life.

While I was leaving my excellent job to move to Paris with my family, to support my husband who had been offered a new opportunity, I had a little voice inside asking me “Why are you doing all of this?”

I listened to this little voice and took the opportunity to do something for myself and my future.

That’s why I decided to step back and to take the opportunity to enroll in the EMBA at HEC Paris. I was ready to make a change, and I soon learned that we were here all for the same reason!

I remember coming home from my first day on campus back in March 2019 and I was so proud to tell my three lovely young kids that I was going back to a school of excellence to pursue my dreams, despite this feeling of apprehension which I had as a child at the start of each new school year. It was more difficult to explain in the evening that I had spent my first day singing and dancing with my 38 new classmates!

“I remember coming home from my first day on campus back in March 2019 and I was so proud to tell my three lovely young kids that I was going back to a school of excellence to pursue my dreams” – Virginie Lebidois, ‘One day per week’ Academic Class Delegate. 

Virginie Lebidois was the Academic Class Delegate for the HEC Paris one day per week Executive MBA track.

I remember two things we were told from this first day, which, I must say, left me at the time a little perplexed: “This experience will transform you” and “this is the last opportunity to make friends for life.”

So, with my newfound perspective, I applied the HEC Paris motto “learn to dare” for the first time by deciding to run for the academic delegate position, a way for me to do something I had never dared in all my school life. I wanted to embrace these ideas from day one.

And what a pleasure it has been to be a delegate of this extraordinary cohort, a truly cherished responsibility!

Eighteen months later, having acquired many new skills, I feel more open to the world, more confident and serene to take up new challenges. I know myself better today and believe it will make me a better leader.

What sublimates the excellence of the academic content are the many inspiring meetings we had and the possibility of confronting ideas, and points of view in total openness with my peers, who are all great professionals from many different sectors with multiple experiences.

“I feel more open to the world, more confident and serene to take up new challenges. I know myself better today and believe it will make me a better leader.”

I think one of the things I will miss the most is this diversity and I will continue to play my role as delegate to maintain this atmosphere and cohesion in my life. Besides, I don’t think I fully anticipate yet how transformative this tremendous experience will be for me in the coming months.

What I do know is that I have made many new friends for life. So, my dear 2020 co-trackers, I sincerely thank you all for everything you gave me and am confident we will continue to be each other’s delegates long after graduation, in our personal and professional lives.

To learn more about the HEC Paris Execuitve MBA visit our website.