Fatima Shihade
Summer Student Story
Data Science and AI gave me hands-on technical skills to understand modern algorithms and data systems, skills that matter for where marketing is heading.
When I decided to join the HEC Paris Summer School, I didn't want just one focus. I wanted something that matched how I think. Growing up Syrian across three countries shaped that approach early on. It's carried through my studies too, from marketing at the Canadian University in Dubai to my current MSc in Marketing Science at UCL. So, picking two summer programs that seemed unrelated - Data Science and AI and Geopolitics, Globalization and Business Strategy - made total sense to me.
For me, they were always connected. Data Science and AI gave me hands on technical skills to understand modern algorithms and data systems, skills that matter for where marketing is heading. Geopolitics, Globalization and Business Strategy gave me a bigger picture view of the global forces that shape where those technologies get used. Data drives the insights, but geopolitics shapes the terrain. Together, they gave me real clarity about where I'm headed next, and they strengthened something I've wanted for a while - to do a PhD one day. HEC Paris is now on my list for that.
What made the learning stick wasn't just the material. It was how it was taught. A session with guest speaker Mikaa Mered on energy and its future felt more like a real conversation than a lecture, backed by projects he'd actually worked on.
Beyond the academics, the people made it special. It was the first time I'd been around more than 70 nationalities at once, and what stood out wasn't how different we were, but how quickly those differences turned into something familiar. Classes felt more like team spaces than school. From long study sessions to convincing an Italian classmate to try pizza with ketchup (a crime in his eyes), to late night talks and non stop fun, I made friends I know I'll keep for life.
HEC Paris gave me clarity on where I want to go next, as I head into my Master's and beyond. I'd recommend this to anyone. It's life changing. Whether it's the academics, the warm campus atmosphere, the kind faculty, or the amazing vibes and memories, this is an experience you'll never want to miss. People come to the school for different reasons, whether it's connections or knowledge, but what they all have in common in the end is that they leave with a lifetime experience they'll never forget. Don't be afraid to connect dots others miss, and dive into the community. As for me, I'll definitely be back. I've seen Paris before, but I hadn't seen it like this. This is the Paris I'll actually remember.