Hale de Vera On Why She Chose The HEC Paris MBA

Meet Hale Berry De Vera, a dynamic and accomplished professional from the Philippines, currently pursuing her MBA at HEC Paris. With a robust background in finance and strategy consulting, Hale chose HEC Paris to gain international exposure and specialize in sustainability.

In this interview, Hale shares her motivations, challenges, and transformative experiences during her MBA journey.

Name, home country and HEC Paris MBA intake

Hale Berry De Vera, from the Philippines, MBA January 2023 intake

Most recently held job, prior to your MBA

• Finance Manager in Coca Cola (3.5 years)
• Strategy Consultant at YCP Solidiance, an Asia-focused boutique consulting firm (1.5 years)

What were the main factors in your choice to attend HEC Paris for your MBA?

Two main factors influenced my decision to attend HEC Paris. First, I sought more international exposure to better prepare myself for a holistic career, especially as I plan to gain experience working in a global setting. HEC Paris has more than 90% international students, which allows me to learn from various cultures. Second, I wanted to specialize in sustainability, a pressing topic for the future, and HEC offers a specific specialization in this area.

What has challenged you the most academically at HEC?

Balancing rigorous academic commitments with other important activities such as networking, job hunting, managing student clubs, and taking time for myself has been the biggest challenge. Having a supportive community of over 100 students going through the same experience has made it more bearable.

What’s been the biggest adjustment as a full-time MBA student?

A major adjustment has been transitioning back to being a student after years of working. During undergraduate studies, I was fully focused on studying without any idea of how the real-world works. But as an MBA student with prior work experience, I see things and absorb new knowledge, that I probably already knew in undergrad, in a new light. Another adjustment is working with people from different cultures. Most of the work is completed in groups with peers who may have a different work ethic. While there definitely was an adjustment period, this was also an opportunity to get to know people even better beyond their culture. 

You were selected as an HEC Talents Success Story – what specific resources in our career center have been most helpful to you?

The stand-alone company events co-organized by the talents team were incredibly helpful. They allowed me to better understand my target companies through interactions with their current employees and get a sense of their culture. These events play a crucial role in securing a job in my target region.

How is the way you consider your career path different from before beginning your MBA at HEC?

At first, I wasn’t 100% sure that I wanted to venture outside of Asia because it was outside my comfort zone. The idea of going outside of Asia came a few months after I started my MBA. The more I was exposed to more people, or even case studies about topics I’m not as familiar with (e.g. energy or sustainability topics), the more I gained confidence to do take risks. My internship in Paris and the exchange experience in the U.S. further reinforced that I could thrive outside of my comfort zone. My confidence was especially boosted after performing twice in front of a huge audience as a band vocalist. It’s not every day that you get to perform in front of 1,000 people as a singer at MBAT!

What club involvement or other activity on campus has been important to you?

I was vice president of knowledge for both the Consulting and Sustainability clubs. Both clubs served different purposes for me.  The consulting club is one of the busiest helping students prepare for consulting careers through rigorous training and casing practices. I like that it allowed me to share whatever resource I can find from my own casing journey with my fellow MBAs. I also like that I could help my peers with their casing by arranging casing workshops. As for the Sustainability Club, it allowed me to share my personal research journey with others who are just as enthusiastic about this topic. It also meant a lot to me that I could help organize informational events that shed light on interesting topics such as sustainability in Asia, alternative meats, etc.

Hale de Vera’s journey at HEC Paris is a testament to the transformative power of international exposure, academic rigor, and extracurricular engagement. Her experiences reflect a commitment to personal and professional growth, preparing her for a promising future in sustainability and consulting.