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Stéphane Perrier
Partner, Forests and Values
Veterinary Medicine PhD, HEC Specialized Master in Sustainable Development (Class of 1998)
« I found HEC extremely rewarding and met friends from all walks of life who were filled with the same openness to change and even though the course has ended, those friendships did not fade »
> In a few words, what does your job consist of?
The Forest and Values company advises businesses on how to manage their link with forest ecosystems. My role as a Biodiversity and Sustainable development expert is to explain to the businesses how they can create value for their business through products and services provided by the sustainable use of forest ecosystems.
> What are some important stages of your development (education and training, first job, evolution of your career, etc.)?
The curriculum of my veterinary course was orientated towards the conservation of biodiversity. I have worked for 5 years in organizations which are dedicated to biodiversity preservation, particularly primates; which then naturally led me to study the methods of forest ecosystem conservation. The socio-economical issues and the link with businesses is key to understand forest scenarios, I felt the need to become educated in these areas, hence the decision to join the one-year of HEC-Paris. I spent 6 months based in São Paulo through a partnership with FGV, working in a French consulting firm that manages reforestation projects for French companies. I continued this work experience for a year before starting a business venture with two partners at the end of 2009: one partner was a forester and the other a Polytechnic engineer. Now our company has six partners and at the end of 2010 we launched ourselves as ‘Forests and Values’.
> Does your job include an international dimension?
Today, Forest and Values works in European and Latin American forests. I spend half my time living in Brazil.
> Why did you choose HEC Paris?
In 2007, HEC Paris was the only institution who offered Masters in Sustainable Development in the Paris area, full time for a year. The partnership with FGV in Brazil convinced me that a part-time course would definitely not fit alongside my professional activity.
> Looking back today, what have you gained from the Specialized Master in Sustainable Development?
On a personal level, I found HEC extremely rewarding and met friends from all walks of life who were filled with the same openness to change and even though the course has ended, those friendships did not fade. On a professional level, the main advantage is the HEC network which is crucial when creating a BtoB company.
> Courses, conferences, meetings, outings… What are the most significant memories of your year at HEC Paris?
The field trip to Madagascar which I co-organized. The live meeting with the big names of economy and sustainable development: Ray Anderson, Franck Riboud, François Lemarchand…
> Finally, what advice would you give to students who aspire to join this program?
Be motivated by your vision, but never forget to be pragmatic with your contacts, your partners and with yourself. Define and assume your ethics.ecause of the diversity of the missions, of companies (based on different BM, culture…), sectors of activity. I love working one day in DIY segment for a new business plan and the day after in training the marketing team in the French BU of a chemistry. It’s a challenging work, made of discovering of co-working and wonderful meetings.
- Interviewed in September 2011 -
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