JP Ornellas Filho

The professors made complex concepts accessible, while the practical emphasis on Excel gave me tools I could immediately apply.

My first encounter with HEC Paris came in Summer 2024, when I joined the Entrepreneurship and Digital Innovation summer program in partnership with TUM at their Heilbronn campus. The program exceeded every expectation. Classes were insightful, covering the full spectrum of the startup ecosystem, from venture capital and angel investors to innovation frameworks. The two weeks in Heilbronn were not only intellectually enriching yet also personally unforgettable.

That experience convinced me that my story with HEC Paris was just beginning. As I progressed in my studies and founded my university’s Mergers & Acquisitions Society, I knew I wanted to deepen my knowledge in finance and transactions. The HEC Paris campus offered exactly that and I returned in Summer 2025 to do the Accounts & Restructuring program, followed by the Mergers & Acquisitions program.

Coming from an economics background, I entered accounting as a beginner. But the professors, Olivier Levyne and Hervé Stolowy, made complex concepts accessible, and the practical emphasis on Excel gave me tools I could immediately apply. Building on that foundation, the M&A course was more challenging but just as rewarding. Thanks to the skills I had gained in Accounts & Restructuring, I was able to engage fully with the material in M&A. Learning directly from professors and industry professionals who shared their own experiences of deals and strategy was invaluable. Once again, I was surrounded by ambitious, diverse peers who inspired me to push myself further.

The summer school was not just academic - the HEC Paris team created a real campus experience with social activities such as the cheese and wine evenings, barbecue nights, various sports and more. It felt like a true university community, not just a short program, and those interactions deepened the friendships that I formed.

Looking back across these three programs, I see how much HEC Paris  has shaped me, not only academically, but also personally. I have gained technical skills in accounting, restructuring, and M&A, alongside broader exposure to entrepreneurship and innovation. Equally, I have built a global network of peers and mentors and developed the confidence to pursue a career in finance while keeping an entrepreneurial mindset alive.

For anyone considering a summer program at HEC Paris, I cannot recommend it enough. Whether you are looking to acquire technical expertise, experience life on a world-class campus, or connect with international peers, HEC Paris offers an experience that is both rigorous and inspiring.
 

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