HEC United: a journey through Europe on two wheels

HEC United is an ambitious initiative that forges meaningful connections between current students and the vast network of HEC Paris alumni worldwide. Each year, two students embark on a six-month journey to interview graduates about their careers, experiences, and insights, and then share these stories to inspire future HEC Paris students. 

This year, Camille Chantepie and Charles Duféÿ took HEC United to new heights - or rather, new roads. They decided to transform the project by swapping airplanes for bicycles and set off on an extraordinary cycling journey across Europe. Their mission was to not only connect with HEC Paris alumni, but to also embrace sustainability, and raise funds for a meaningful cause.

Pedaling for a purpose: the motivation behind the journey

Camille and Charles wanted to reinvent the way HEC United operated. They sought a more sustainable alternative to air travel like sailing or cycling. Ultimately, they chose bicycles, recognizing the unparalleled opportunities for meaningful encounters along the way. Their journey wasn’t just about meeting alumni - it was about proving that incredible adventures and professional connections could be found closer to home.

Europe, despite being home to some of the most influential HEC alumni, had been somewhat overlooked by past HEC United teams, who often ventured to more distant destinations. Camille and Charles set out to change that perception, showcasing Europe’s breathtaking landscapes and cultural diversity.

As passionate athletes, they also embraced the physical challenge of cycling over 7,000 kilometers. For five months, Camille and Charles cycled through France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, and Turkey. Their route took them through bustling cities, remote villages, coastal roads, and mountainous landscapes, each destination offering new challenges and memorable encounters.

Unforgettable encounters and overcoming challenges

One of the most rewarding aspects of the journey was the human connections they forged. Every evening, they knocked on doors, asking locals if they could pitch their tents in backyards. This simple request opened doors to deep conversations, unexpected friendships, and meaningful cultural exchanges.

For Camille and Charles, these encounters were an incredibly enriching experience that enabled them to discover the distinct cultures, cuisine, traditions and way of life in each country. Everywhere they were met with kindness and generosity, often from people who were initially wary but later took pride in having opened their doors to strangers.

Being constantly together in a context where you can feel vulnerable and are more sensitive to fatigue did present its share of challenges. Every decision you take, and your state of mind have a direct and immediate impact on the other person. Patience, adaptability and good communication were therefore key.

Winter added another layer of difficulty. Keeping morale high and staying motivated during the shorter days and freezing temperatures, as well as the persistent fatigue made perseverance essential.

Inspiring insights from HEC Alumni across Europe

Throughout their journey, Camille and Charles interviewed HEC Paris alumni from highly diverse industries and sectors, ranging from finance and luxury to petrochemicals, food-processing and culture. Their meetings took them to Parma, where they spoke with the Chief of Staff at the renowned Opera House, and to Ljubljana, where they met Špela Makovšek, a Full-Stack Marketing and growth leader. In Podgorica, they engaged with Biljana Vujovic, a member of the board at Addiko Bank Montenegro. Thessaloniki introduced them to Vasilis Sandros Co-Chief Executive at Metron a leading elevator manufacturer. In Istanbul, they spoke with Veronique Priour, a country manager for Turkey and head of agrotech exports for the Middle East, while in Izmir they interviewed Selim Unal - Chief of Staff at Refinery & Petrochemicals Business Unit at Socar Türkiye. Athens provided the opportunity to meet 3 HEC alumni - Katerina Paisiou, Sustainable finance expert at Bank of Greece, Kleopatra Kalogeropoulou, Partner at BDO Certified Public Accountants SA and 
Vasilis Danias, Co-Founder & CEO @ Bitloops.

These exchanges underlined both the incredible diversity of career opportunities and strength of the HEC Paris network. Camille and Charles found that the alumni community was deeply interconnected, with members maintaining lifelong friendships, organizing events, and offering unwavering support to fellow graduates.

Cycling for a cause: raising funds for L'Envol

Beyond adventure and networking, Camille and Charles used their journey to support L’Envol, a nonprofit organization that provides free, medically supervised stays for children with serious illnesses. Believing in the power of their story to inspire engagement, they set a fundraising goal of one euro per kilometer traveled, aiming for a total of €7,000.

By the end of their journey, they had raised €5,500 from friends, family, and people they met along the way. Additionally, they decided to personally donate €3,000 from their travel budget, reinforcing their commitment to the cause. Becoming ambassadors for L’Envol truly resonated with Camille and Charles and they were able to participate in a hospital workshop, as well as an organized stay, making their impact both tangible and personal.

Lessons learned and cherished memories

Traveling through different countries helped Camille and Charles to realize how privileged they are living in France. Not only culturally and socially but in terms of education, human rights and freedom of expression. They witnessed how genuine, warm hospitality can create deep human connections and they learned that perseverance pays. Their determination to complete the journey without staying in hotels or changing their itinerary, earned respect and inspired people to contribute to their cause.

They also realized that youth is a privilege that opens doors. People were more willing to engage, help, and share their stories, and they understood the importance of embracing this phase of life to step out of their comfort zones before settling down.

Among their most treasured memories were a couple in Ljubljana who offered them shelter without being asked, a joyful and welcoming family in Bari, and a Turkish father in Ezine who shared insights about on the importance of faith. Lisa from Doria continued to send them messages of encouragement, and throughout the journey, they experienced countless moments of laughter as they revisited absurd, unexpected situations from their adventure.

A journey that redefined HEC United

Camille and Charles’ journey was more than an HEC United mission - it was a transformative adventure that redefined what the initiative could be. By prioritizing sustainability, fostering deep human connections, and supporting a cause larger than themselves, they proved that impact is not measured in miles traveled but in lives touched. Sometimes, the most extraordinary journeys begin with a simple decision - to take the road less traveled, one pedal stroke at a time.


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