From CEVA Logistics to HEC Paris MBA: A Full-Circle Moment

The HEC Paris MBA community welcomed HEC alumnus (H. 89) Frédéric Obala, Executive Vice President and Chief E-Commerce Officer at CEVA Logistics (CMA CGM Group), to campus earlier this month as part of the Leading for Impact colloquium series. For participants, it was an opportunity to engage with the leadership mindset behind one of the world’s largest logistics groups—operating across 177 countries with 160,000 employees.

For Federick Nasol (MBA '27), the moment carried particular significance. Having spent four years at CEVA Logistics in Melbourne—including navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis—before joining the HEC Paris MBA, the session felt like a convergence of past experience and future ambition. Introducing Obala to his cohort marked a full-circle moment: a meeting point between the professional world he came from and the one he is now building towards.

Yet what resonated most in the room was not only the scale of CMA CGM’s global operations, but the clarity and humanity of Obala’s leadership philosophy.

Several key insights left a lasting impression on the cohort:

• “Vision is meaningless without operations.” Strategy, he emphasized, is only as strong as its execution—brought to life by teams making real decisions in fast-moving, often high-pressure environments.
• People are the only truly irreplaceable asset. While technology, capital, and scale can be replicated, the teams leaders build cannot. Frédéric attributed his own career progression—from strategy consulting to the Executive Board—to the people who shaped his journey.
• Resilience must be embedded, not improvised. In a world defined by continuous geopolitical and economic disruption, successful leaders are those who create organizations that can operate comfortably amid constant uncertainty.
• AI is transforming supply chains at unprecedented speed. While frontline workers face the challenge of adapting to new tools, middle management must confront a deeper concern: the fear of becoming obsolete. Addressing this tension is a critical leadership responsibility.
• Sustainability comes with real trade-offs. While customer demand for sustainable solutions is growing, there remains a gap between stated preferences and willingness to pay. Acknowledging this reality is essential to driving meaningful progress. 

For the HEC Paris MBA’s highly international cohort—each participant navigating their own professional transition—these were not abstract ideas. They were leadership principles brought to life through the experience of a global industry leader, closely aligned with the concepts explored in the classroom.

The discussion extended well beyond its scheduled time, with questions continuing until the very last moment—a testament to the cohort’s engagement and curiosity.

The HEC Paris MBA extends its thanks to Obala and the CMA CGM Group for sharing their time and insights, and to Associate Director, MBA Allison Brown and Associate Dean, MBA Programs Brad Harris for making this exchange possible.