Mathilde TREIS
The Master is unique in its program design and its opportunity to choose between different tracks depending on the prospective student's interest. Further, the master is comprised by a very diverse student body, not only in terms of nationalities but also academic and professional backgrounds.
Before starting my MSc in Sustainability & Social Innovation at HEC Paris, I earned a bachelor's degree in law and Economics from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. After, I gained work experience in the start-up and social enterprise scene in San Francisco, Amsterdam and Colombia, notably in the Tech and Fashion sector. These experiences further reinforced my wish to study sustainability.
I chose the SASI master at HEC because it was clear to me that I wanted to combine sustainability and business in my professional life. The MSc is unique in its program design and its opportunity to choose between different tracks depending on the prospective student’s interest. Further, the master is comprised by a very diverse student body, not only in terms of nationalities but also academic and professional backgrounds, whom I learned a lot from, and which strongly enriches the debates in class.
A year full of highlights
It is difficult to pinpoint one experience as the highlight of my master. Its the combination of the courses, professors, students and special activities throughout the year that make this masters so great. Even in days that consisted of only library hours, I really enjoyed the work that I was doing. Of course, finishing the year with a trip with my fellow students — and greatest friends — was particularly special. This trip was 7 intensive days full of company visits and more unconventional visits such as visiting an organic farm and an NGO that combines meditation and mindfulness with sustainable development.
Learning by doing
Most grades are based on presentations and papers, which allowed me to go more in depth on topics that I was interested in and improve my research and presentation skills. The insights from excellent guest speakers that came to our lectures were very valuable because there was a strong focus on the practical aspects of implementing sustainability in a business. The speakers came from different sectors and often shared professional as well as their personal experiences with us.
Another personal experience that I learned a lot from is the organization of the Fashion Revolution Week on Campus. The program encourages everyone to work on individual projects and the master students are very motivated to provide support.
Career ambitions
After the MSc, I would like to go into sustainable supply chains, which I focused on in my thesis, from the consulting side or the business side.