The completion of a doctoral program requires originality of thought and the ability to conduct solid and innovative research necessarily validated by cutting-edge publications in leading international journals. This is how one enters the demanding world of academia in management higher education.

Institutions are facing strong competition in recruiting and employing PhD graduates. Entering the demanding world of a professor-researcher requires thorough preparation and permanent commitment under the guidance of the PhD office and HEC professors.

I have been supervising PhD students since about five years now. Two of ‘my’ students have graduated and both have obtained academic positions. Currently, I am (co-)supervising four students. I am extremely proud of all of them! Being a thesis supervisor is a bit like being a parent: you need to give clear direction, but you also need to give room to students’ personal discovery by trial and error. You need to give all the support you can give, and then you need to let them go their own way. I love working together with my PhD students. It is enriching to see them grow and become experts in a field.

When I applied for PhD programs in 2009, I hesitated between some programs in the US and HEC. When I look back, I don’t regret my choice. Thanks to the support of the HEC Foundation and the assistance of my supervisor, I had the opportunity to carry out my research at Columbia University as a visiting scholar. Here, I had the chance to receive the mentorship of well-known professors. More generally, HEC Paris gave me the keys to successfully make my first steps in the scholarly world and prepare myself to engage in a fruitful academic career.

I joined the Individual Study Program (ISP) at HEC Paris in 2010. I was able to tailor the program to my needs and was free to take any classes that interested me. During my first year at HEC, I was also eligible for research and grading assistantships. Thanks to that, I participated in a few very interesting research projects and shared experiences with other students and faculty members. Would I recommend the ISP? Absolutely! It is excellent because it offers flexibility in choosing the courses, but also an opportunity to continue with the full doctoral program.

A former PhD student from HEC, I'm now working as an assistant professor at Aalto University in Finland. I am extremely satisfied with my job. I consider my Ph.D. years as an outstanding period in which I really had the opportunity and ability to truly express myself. Thanks to its rigorous curriculum, which focuses on advanced conceptual and methodological skills, the HEC doctoral program offered me a first-class training to become a top professor-researcher. HEC has definitely provided me with the tools and support to launch a successful international career.