Celebrating Success: HEC PARIS MBA Summer Internship Highlights
Celebrating Success: HEC PARIS MBA Summer Internship HighlightsFour HEC Paris MBA students share their success stories about how they landed their summer internships.
Lia Ballard, MBA Class of 2025, Technical Program Manager Intern, New Product Introduction at Tesla Berlin
Formerly Marketing Planning and Operations Manager at Affirm, Inc. in San Francisco, now a Technical Program Manager Intern specializing in New Product Introduction at Tesla Berlin, with aspirations post-MBA to achieve a triple-jump in country, industry, and function.
How did you learn about the internship?
I have followed Tesla as a company for several years, and a friend of mine had great things to say about his experience working at Tesla in the U.S. after completing his MBA. So, I started to actively look for internship opportunities before and during Term 2. This internship sparked my interest given my background in project management within tech, as it would give me the chance to explore a new industry and job function prior to graduation. Knowing HEC’s summer break allows students the time to work anywhere in the world, I set my sights on working at Tesla’s Berlin, Germany location.
Describe your internship:
I work within a talented team of NPI engineers who are responsible for the planning and execution of all vehicle launches and engineering changes introduced into the factory at Giga Berlin. This internship provides exposure to supply chain management and production planning, all while learning about the intricacies of working within an automotive factory. The role involves working cross-functionally with multiple teams to ensure everything is in place to deliver successful launches. It’s incredibly fast-paced (not surprising for a company that produces a car capable of going “Ludicrous” speed) and it’s super exciting to be part of a team that is so instrumental to the company’s overall success.
What are you most looking forward to about this experience?
Learning! This is a great opportunity to put my project management skills into practice in conjunction with the takeaways from the MBA program; it’s been exciting to make connections between what I’m doing at Tesla with what we’ve learned in Operations, Supply Chain Management, and Organizational Behavior. It’s my impression that Tesla attracts top talent from around the world and I am seeing a whole new level of hard work, problem solving, and camaraderie that I’ve only recently been able to experience at HEC. At the end of this experience, it is my hope that I will have not only learned about change management and the automotive industry but also what it’s like to live and work in a multicultural environment at a multinational company.
Why do a summer internship?
Just like the HEC MBA, this is a great time to try something new and embrace the unknown! Think of it as another way to personalize the program to your interests and needs — perhaps you’re looking for more work experience in a particular field or hoping to relocate to the other side of the world after you graduate, the summer internship is an invaluable means of getting a glimpse of how your life could be after finishing the MBA. It doesn’t matter how much or how little experience you have, I would strongly recommend pursuing a summer internship to anyone looking to make a big life change — especially those pursuing the triple-jump.
Tanmay Datt, MBA Class of 2025, Amazon MBA Launch Intern, Luxembourg
Before my MBA, I worked as a Product Manager and Category Manager. Post-MBA, I aim to continue my career as a Product Manager, leveraging my expertise to drive innovation and impact.
How did you learn about this internship?
I learned about the MBA Launch internship at Amazon through several avenues, as Amazon has been my target company due to my aspiration to pursue a career in product management post-MBA. Initially, I became aware of this program during the Internship Day organized by HEC Paris, where the Amazon team provided insights into the various opportunities they offer. Additionally, I leveraged the strong HEC Paris alumni network, connecting with former students who participated in the program and are currently working at Amazon. Moreover, Amazon conducts informative webinars specifically tailored for students interested in internships and full-time roles, providing a comprehensive overview of the opportunities available and the skills required to succeed at Amazon.
Describe your internship:
The MBA Launch Internship at Amazon is an eight to 10-week program designed to provide MBA students with extensive exposure to one of Amazon's diverse European business areas. Interns collaborate with key business groups and cross-functional teams, focusing on analyzing unique business ideas, making data-driven decisions, and contributing to meaningful changes within the company.
This internship offers interns the chance to work closely with senior management, applying their general business and functional skills to support the development and execution of strategic initiatives. Interns are assigned to either a specific project or a functional role within various business areas, including Consumer, Amazon Web Services, Amazon Prime Video, and Devices/Alexa.
What are you most looking forward to about this experience?
I'm thrilled about the opportunity to join Amazon as an MBA Launch. Working at one of the world's leading companies, renowned for its innovative products and customer-centric approach, is a dream come true. I am eager to immerse myself in Amazon's dynamic environment, which offers unparalleled opportunities for networking and learning from some of the brightest minds in the industry.
Becoming part of the Amazon team means not just observing, but actively participating in and understanding the "Amazon Way"—its unique culture, processes, and relentless focus on delivering value. This experience will be invaluable in honing my skills and gaining practical insights that align perfectly with my career aspirations.
Moreover, I see this internship as a pivotal steppingstone towards my goal of becoming a product manager in Europe. The synergies between my background in product management and Amazon’s forward-thinking ethos create a perfect platform for growth and innovation. I am excited to contribute to Amazon's mission while also upskilling myself to thrive in a competitive landscape.
Why do a summer internship?
A summer internship is an essential part of my MBA experience because it allows me to translate classroom learning into real-world practice. During these two months, I get to dive into actual business problems, gaining hands-on experience that textbooks simply can't provide. It's a chance to test and refine my skills in a professional setting, preparing me for the challenges of full-time roles post-MBA. Additionally, an internship helps me build a robust professional network, connecting with industry leaders and potential mentors. This practical exposure not only clarifies my career goals but also significantly boosts my confidence and readiness for future opportunities.
Jade Petitprés, MBA Class of 2025, cMBA summer internship at Eli Lilly Madrid office
Currently a cMBA summer intern at Eli Lilly's Madrid office. Before my MBA, I worked as a Business Intelligence Project Manager, consulting for pharmaceutical clients and the French Ministry of Labour. Post-MBA, I aim to pursue a career in strategy and marketing within the pharmaceutical industry.
How did you learn about this internship?
I heard about the internship for the first time in January 2024, at the MBA career fair at the HEC Campus. Three ex HEC MBA students who currently work at Eli Lilly came to present the company and the cMBA summer program. On the day of this MBA career fair, some students were invited by the company (selected based on a CV book that was sent to them prior to the fair) to a networking session with the representatives that had given the presentation on campus. I was not part of them. But it didn’t demotivate me, I got in close contact with my HEC Talent coach and asked her help to review my CV and prepare my cover letter.
One thing to note is that I was already interested in the company before and had the opportunity to interact with an alumnus from the MBA program that currently works at Lilly France. I met her during one of our Capstone sessions in January 2024. After the session in Bellon, I talked to her about her role and how she jumped from the hospitality industry to pharmaceutical. I was worried that prior healthcare/pharma experience was needed to get into the industry. She reassured me that prior experience is not needed although it's appreciated by recruiters.
What are you most looking forward to about this experience?
Before starting my internship, I was most looking forward to having a hands-on role within the industry. Upon starting my MBA, I knew I wanted to enter the pharmaceutical industry, but I had only worked as an external consultant for pharmaceuticals. I had never been involved in any internal strategic decisions from the clients; my role stopped at providing them with insights and data analysis on commercial initiatives within their industry. Therefore, I was particularly excited to join Lilly to be involved in such decisions and understand how the pharma business works from inside. It turns out I am really enjoying my experience. The project I work on is highly concrete, and I get to see all the different aspects, areas and specificities of this complex industry. At the end of the summer, I must deliver a final presentation to the board of directors, I am also excited for this challenge. The objective of this presentation is to demonstrate that I have understood the issue and provide them with an actionable plan to answer the problem, and if they are satisfied, they might offer me a full-time position after I graduate!
Why do a summer internship?
To be completely honest, I had not planned to do a summer internship. I briefly considered it during the first term of the MBA but instead decided to travel with my MBA friends. I wanted to strengthen our bonds and enjoy one last full summer before returning to work again.
Still, I really liked the idea of working at Lilly. When I heard about this internship program, I applied, telling myself that at the very least, I was giving myself the chance to experience a summer at Lilly. It is the only company I applied to. Looking back, my goal was not to secure a summer internship but rather to work at Lilly.
Juan Pablo Waldraff Salazar, MBA Class of 2025, IRDP Intern, Lymphoma Team, Johnson & Johnson, Germany
Before starting my MBA, I worked as a Brand Manager. My post-MBA career goal is to advance my career in the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on strategic roles where I can contribute to the sector’s growth and innovation.
How did you learn about the internship?
Johnson & Johnson’s IRDP (International Recruitment Development Program) recruiters contacted me via LinkedIn. They informed me about the program and invited me to participate in the recruitment process.
Describe your internship:
As an IRDP Intern in Germany, I am part of the Lymphoma Team at Johnson & Johnson. My team is highly diverse, with members from Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. This program is designed to transform high-potential MBA students into leaders for the company. My primary responsibility is to lead an IRDP project, which involves conducting an in-depth consulting analysis on a topic that the Business Unit aims to understand better. The results of this analysis will be presented to the Oncology Directors at the end of the internship. Additionally, I am involved in the day-to-day operations of the business unit, working closely with the Senior Product Manager, Brand Managers, and contributing to strategic decisions for the brand.
What are you most looking forward to about this experience?
I am excited to apply the knowledge and skills I have gained during my MBA at HEC. This internship provides a unique opportunity to contribute to impactful projects and collaborate with a diverse team of professionals in a global setting.
Why do a summer internship?
A summer internship is a valuable opportunity to bridge academic learning with practical experience. It allows me to apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting, develop new skills, and gain insights into the operations and strategic challenges of a leading pharmaceutical company. Moreover, a summer internship helps to build a wider professional network and enhances career prospects post-MBA.