#WEAREHEC - Pursuing academic and sporting excellence - the inspiring journey of Nicolas Biffot
Some people are academically gifted, and others have a talent for sport. Nicolas Biffot is one of the rare exceptions who excel at both. He is not only following the Master in Management program at HEC Paris, but also practices judo at the highest level. His story is not just one of academic achievement or sporting prowess, but a testament to the power of dedication and determination in pursuing your dreams.
Academic Journey to HEC Paris
After successfully passing his ‘baccalauréat’ with merit, Nicolas joined the Talents program at Paris Dauphine University, which is aimed specifically at high-level sportspeople, entrepreneurs, and artists. The adapted schedule enabled him to combine a bachelor’s in economics and management with his passion for judo. Juggling between his studies and intensive judo training was challenging but Nicolas not only obtained his degree, but also a national medal in judo.
Nicolas then embarked on a Master’s degree on a work-study basis with an internship at Accenture, a global professional services company. His dream, however, was to join HEC Paris. The diversity, international dimension, career support and extensive ecosystem of the school were all particularly appealing. To achieve his ambition, he stopped judo for 3 years, focused on his studies and his grades, gained a high score in the Tage Mage test, and took lessons to improve his English. His dedication paid off and he was admitted to HEC Paris in September 2023.
Judo – a passion and a way of life
Nicolas started practicing judo when he was only 5 years old. At the beginning it was more of a hobby, but when he was 13, he won the departmental championship and was then selected for a national competition. This was a turning point and judo became a genuine passion. He changed club, trained intensively, and joined the regional center. Nicolas quickly became the second-best judoka in his weight and age category and joined the French national team.
While at Paris Dauphine, he continued to develop and improve his skills, winning a bronze medal at the national team championship and integrating the National Sport Institute in Vincennes. Although he stopped judo for 3 years to focus on his studies, Nicolas always knew that he would always return to the sport that had become a driving force in his life and that had helped him to grow so much as a person.
Combining high-level studies and intensive sport training
The big question for Nicolas was would he be able to combine his studies with intensive judo training. Although there is no official Sports-Study section at HEC Paris, Nicolas adopted a proactive approach when he was admitted to the school to explore the possibilities of doing both. HEC Paris was very accommodating and agreed to adapt his schedule in a way that would enable him to follow the same courses as his fellow students and pursue his passion at the same time.
Juggling 18 hours a week of judo training with the demanding academic curriculum at HEC Paris is by no means easy, but so far everything is going to plan. He has been able to pass his courses successfully and he is gradually regaining his previous level in judo. His current goal is to progress as quickly as possible, to win a medal at the university championship, rejoin the National Sports Center and then integrate the French national team. Nicolas is still taking a step-by-step approach, but his dream would be to represent France at the 2028 Olympics.
The impact of sponsorship
In judo, like all other amateur sports, sponsorship and funding can play a crucial role in reaching the highest levels. As well as combining his courses at HEC Paris with intensive judo training, Nicolas also has a part-time job to finance his studies and his sporting activities. Practicing judo at a high level can be expensive – buying equipment, nutrition and travelling to competitions. Sponsorship would therefore be life-changing for Nicolas as it would not only provide him with the necessary financial support, but would also give him more time to focus on both his studies and judo.
He is therefore actively looking for a company to sponsor him. Nicolas already has a strong presence on social media (YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram), so he sees sponsorship very much as a partnership and a win-win situation. Any company wishing to sponsor him would gain visibility in his growing social media community and have access to some of the best students in France.
Professional aspirations and ambitions
A key advantage of the Master in Management is that he can tailor the program to his specific needs. The comprehensive approach in the first year, allows Nicolas to delve into all the key areas of management and be sure that he is on the right track in terms of his professional project before deciding on his specialization for the second year. The optional gap year will also give him the opportunity to discover new sectors through internships and focus on his judo.
Looking ahead, Nicolas would like to capitalize on all the business skills he’s learning at HEC Paris to pursue a career as a consultant in the sports industry. Sport has given him so much and has helped him to grow as a person, an athlete and as a student, so in many ways it’s his way of giving back. He knows from personal experience just how difficult it can be to have the necessary financial aid to practice sports like judo at the highest level. So, his goal is to make this path easier for future generations.
Nicolas Biffot’s story is one of determination, hard work, and the pursuit of both academic and sporting excellence. His journey so far is a testament to his unwavering commitment and his personal drive to achieve his ambitions. Being able to combine his studies at the best Business School in Europe with his passion for judo really is a dream come true.
See how Nicolas combines his academic and sporting commitments in this short video
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