#MyMBAStory - An American in...Nice: why I chose EDHEC
In this guest-written post, Global MBA participant Simone Whale shares why she chose EDHEC's Global MBA: a personalised, transformative journey blending diversity, sustainability, and leadership development on the stunning Côte d’Azur.
Simone Whale, part of the EDHEC Global MBA's Class of 2025 cohort, is an experienced digital marketing strategist with a demonstrated history of working in the US healthcare industry and a special focus on omnichannel orchestration and integration. She has a passion for supporting and developing people, especially women, to achieve their goals whether that's through coaching Ultimate Frisbee, professional team building, or individual mentorship.
My background and the decision to pursue an MBA
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Simone Whale. I'm 33 years old with over eight years of experience in healthcare digital marketing. I’m American by nationality, but I feel more like a global citizen since my parents are Japanese and British, and I’ve lived much of my adult life in Europe.
For the past two years I’ve lived in France, but always with one foot still in the US, as I worked remotely for an American company and kept east-coast hours.
After applying for jobs in Europe and making it to the final round of interviews one too many times, paired with my employer’s decision that remote working was no longer tenable, I was faced with the reality of either moving back to the US or finding a creative way to stay.
If two years ago, you asked me to consider doing an MBA, I would have laughed. The idea of being a student again was mildly terrifying. However, once the seed was planted under new circumstances, I quickly decided that an MBA in France was the right step forward.
They say love is a matter of chemistry and timing: for me that rang true for the MBA, too. The timing was right, all I needed was to find the school where I felt the chemistry too.
As you would expect of someone pursuing an MBA, I went about researching programmes with a methodical and data-backed approach, all documented in a tidy Excel spreadsheet.
On paper, EDHEC and a handful of other schools were on the list for the typical reasons: ranking, EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA Triple Crown Accreditation, tuition costs, and programme length.
"What EDHEC gives you from start to finish is a personalised touch. This philosophy permeates every aspect of the MBA experience, from the initial recruitment process to the daily interactions with classmates and faculty.
In choosing EDHEC, I didn't just select a business school; I joined a community that values personalised individual growth as the barometer for collective success.
It's shaping me into a global leader ready to make a sustainable impact."
More than a checklist
While these factors were important, what truly set EDHEC apart for me were several unique aspects:
Recruiters:
Every person in my cohort I've asked about why they chose EDHEC mentioned the recruiters cared about them as a person, and I completely agree. I didn’t feel I was being sold to, instead she took the time to understand who I was, what my reasons were, and made sure this was going to be the right fit for both parties.
Commitment to diversity:
EDHEC’s MBA boasts not only international diversity but also a wide range of ages and experience levels. The fact that the upper end of this range is 45 years old, and 15 years of experience, particularly appealed to me because you learn as much from your classmates as you do from your professors.
We have 26 nationalities in a cohort of 67 people and, for the first time at EDHEC, we have more women than men! Most of our coursework is case study-based in groups which creates an environment of collaboration and learning from each other. Having the opportunity to work in such a multi-cultural and international environment is essential to prepare us for the global careers we’re seeking.
Financial transparency:
Many schools have a very complex scholarship process, but EDHEC detailed clearly how much I was eligible for, through their Women in Leadership scholarship and early admission incentives. This removed a lot of anxiety around costs and demonstrated their commitment to gender parity through action.
Support after admission:
I was moved by the continued support I received even after I was admitted. When I suffered a knee injury requiring surgery just 3 weeks before the programme was due to begin, EDHEC offered various accommodations to support my recovery, illustrating their commitment to my personal well-being.
The experience
Two months into the programme, I've found that EDHEC offers the perfect cohort size. At 67 people, it's not so large that you become lost in a sea of faces, but it is big enough to have people from every background. This fosters a sense of community rather than competition, unlike many MBA programmes.
The programme's focus on sustainability is truly admirable. EDHEC doesn't just check the box with a single module on CSR or ESG. Instead, they have woven it into most, if not all, courses and have a five-month long Sustainability Impact Challenge project, where we partner with actual companies to solve live business challenges related to sustainability. For example, the project I’m working on is in collaboration with a French association dedicated to helping people with disabilities access technological innovations.
My favourite part of the programme to date has been the focus on development both as an individual and a leader. I’m still contemplating whether I will stay in healthcare or explore a new industry, but what I do know is my passion lies in people.
Something many MBAs share is that we have been high-achievers and an unfortunate side effect of this is you often lack constructive feedback to continue growing.
Inge De Clippeleer’s and Fabian Bernhard’s courses have been particularly enlightening, offering tangible frameworks for leading teams backed by academic research, and providing space for reflection on my own experiences to learn how I can become a transformational leader.
What EDHEC gives you from start to finish is a personalised touch.
This philosophy permeates every aspect of the MBA experience, from the initial recruitment process to the daily interactions with classmates and faculty.
In choosing EDHEC, I didn't just select a business school; I joined a community that values personalised individual growth as the barometer for collective success. It's shaping me into a global leader ready to make a sustainable impact.
Ready to write your own success story?
Discover how the EDHEC Global MBA’s unique blend of professional development, personalised learning tracks, and diverse cultural experiences can propel you to new heights in your career.
