stories

SUCCESS
STORIES
CENTRE D’ÉTUDES FR ANCO-AMÉRICAIN DE MANAGEMENT
CEFAM
a lum ni
T E S T IM O NIAL S
AU T UMN 2 0 1 4
Après un séjour linguistique aux États-Unis l’été de ma fin de
Première, mon projet est devenu très clair : vivre une expérience
universitaire sur un campus Américain ! J’ai donc sélectionné le
CEFAM pour son projet à Lyon dans un environnement francoaméricain ainsi que son parcours BBA en université américaine. Je
n’ai pas été déçue par cette expérience académique assez atypique
il y a 20 ans en France. L’immense avantage que j’ai vécu a été cette
immersion dans la culture américaine dès la 1ere année à Lyon ! Tant
en termes de contenus de cours que de professeurs.
Christel
Bouzard
Graduating Class: 1993
Temple University
Consultante RH Senior
MACANDERSNEMROD, France
Après ma graduation à Temple University, j’ai délibérément choisi
de revenir en France pour suivre une formation spécialisée en RH.
Néanmoins, malgré un parcours RH uniquement en France, j’ai
toujours réussi à valoriser ma formation américaine : une maitrise
de l’anglais supérieure à mes homologues RH qui m’a permis de
me positionner sur de nombreux dossiers ou projets paneuropéens.
Cela a toujours été un « avantage concurrentiel » par rapport à de
nombreux profils franco-français. Par ailleurs, la formation CEFAM
et américaine m’a permis d’être plus à l’aise avec les présentations
orales, le travail en équipe et bien connaitre la culture américaine,
un plus à titre personnel et professionnel. Enfin, partir à 20 ans sur
un campus américain m’a permis de gagner beaucoup d’autonomie,
et de me lancer ensuite d’autres « défis » en partant faire plusieurs
stages à l’étranger par moi-même. Ce parcours aux USA apporte
beaucoup de confiance et assurance personnelles ; très utile pour se
construire personnellement.
Keep on building;
Work for the best and most difficult people you can imagine;
Test yourself outside of your comfort zone;
But be warned - Success is not a straight road. It is paved with failure,
setbacks, missed opportunities, and difficult decisions.
The journey is equally as important as the success of any endeavors
you will entertain.
Enjoy the journey. Enjoy your time at CEFAM.
Cédric
Canu
Graduating Class: 1997
Temple University
Finance and Business
Development Consultant
Canada
In High School, it was not easy for me to clearly identify what job
I wanted in the future and consequently what studies and schools
I should choose. I already knew that I really liked travelling and
speaking English, so I thought the best way to use both was to
study business in an international school.
Élise
Cartier
Graduating Class: 2003
Temple University
Area Sales Manager Travel Retail
COTY - Perfumes and Cosmetics Group (Calvin Klein, Chloé,
Marc Jacobs, Davidoff, Lancaster, OPI, Roberto Cavalli,
Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry), Switzerland
The advantages of an American education include (1) the flexibility
of choosing your own program with your “à la carte” classes;
(2) teachers who encourage students to actively participate in
class; and (3) faculty with a business background who provide
real-life practical cases we have to work on with our peers.
Please don’t miss the opportunity of going to the US!! Living
abroad opens your mind. The spirit of the American people is
fantastic: meritocratic, friendly and not shy, straight to the point!
The CEFAM experience really helped me to integrate and adapt
as fast as possible to an international work environment. Thanks
to CEFAM and TEMPLE University, today I work for an American group in Switzerland and I love my job!!
The reasons I chose CEFAM, what made it different in my eyes, were:
–t he extraordinary curriculum and unique partnerships with
universities in the US;
– classes taught in English by native speakers;
–the real American university experience, in Lyon, with top quality
teachers;
–the format: "contrôle continu" in small classes, as opposed to a
300 students amphitheater in a French "fac" where I would probably
not have worked a lot.
The advantages of an American education:
– in my opinion, the best education for business;
– interactivity between the students and the professors;
–classes based on current topics and real business cases, directly
related to corporate issues.
The life changing experience:
– Studying in an environment with students from all over the world;
–Working with Anglo-Saxon professors gave me a whole new perspective
on many things and was truly a mind opening experience.
Gabrielle
Dechant
Graduating Class: 2003
Temple University
Freelance Marketing Consultant
Domozoom, Tingerlaat, Guerlain, FRED,
Groupe LVMH, France
CEFAM was the perfect option for me since I wanted to have an
international career. The school opened the door to experience
abroad through both internships and universities in the US.
My studies helped me to broaden my mind, to be opened to new
cultures and to differentiate myself from others when searching
for a job after graduation.
Melinda
Mathisen
Graduating Class: 2008
Pace University
Merchandising Manager
MICHEAL KORS - Footwear division EMEA markets,
France
The Key to My Success
Originally from Senegal, I came to France right after High School
and attended the University of Strasbourg for 1 year before realizing
that I needed a more structured educational system. I then
applied to few private schools, and though I had many offers, I
knew immediately that CEFAM offered the best program for me.
Thanks to the CEFAM program and the support of its staff,
today I am fully bilingual and hold an American Bachelor’s
degree, a French Degree, an American MBA, and a certificate in
Project Management from the University of Toronto.
Ousmane
Lo
Graduating Class: 1999
Temple University
Project Finance Manager
in Sub Saharan Region
Ericsson, Canada
My time at CEFAM prepared me to effectively tackle many
challenging situations in the corporate world and helped pave
the way to a successful professional career in finance.
Currently, I am a Project Finance Manager with Ericsson
Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to joining Ericsson I worked for over
10 years in the Investment banking industry and the MIS field
in the United States and Canada.
Today I am proud to be CEFAM alumni.
Laura
Monfort Roux
Graduating Class: 2007
Northeastern University
Former Assistant Brand Manager UK
& Europe International
REVLON, Switzerland
CEFAM was a no-brainer for me. I grew up in the US and then spent
my teenage years in France. I wanted a double-degree to ensure that
I could work in both countries after college because I knew, with my
background, I would be going back and forth throughout my life.
CEFAM was the bridge back to the US academic system and helped
prepare for a smooth transition into a partner university in the US.
The double-diploma and international exposure that comes with
the CEFAM experience have been real assets on both a personal and
professional level.
Alexis
Roux
Graduating Class: 2007
University of Massachusetts Boston
Fixed Income Trader
BARCLAYS, Switzerland
I chose CEFAM because of its international aspect. Being able to go
the United States and finish my studies was the best thing that ever
happened to me career wise. The partnerships CEFAM has with some
of the top US schools are a tremendous asset that not many universities
can provide. I can safely say that CEFAM and the USA changed my
whole life. In the USA, I learned a new way of thinking, a new way
of approaching things which turned out to be an enormous asset to
my career. I strongly advice CEFAM for any student who wishes to
pursue international careers.
Riikka
Salo Thomas
Graduating Class: 2001
Temple University
Account Executive
AON RISK SOLUTIONS, Finland
Having somewhat of an international background, the typical
options (such as HEC) just sounded too "French" when it was time
to make decisions about where to study. I heard about CEFAM
from my high school principal, and being a fan of the U.S. back in
those days, I decided to apply. I saw it as my gateway to an American
education, while still being able to stay at home for a while.
The intimate setting of the school, the diversity of students, the
variety of teachers, the quality of the classes, and, of course, the
close friendships that I forged made my years at CEFAM among the
most memorable of my life. It was tough to leave this setting to go
into the big world, at Temple University in Philadelphia.
I doubled my major and completed my BBA in Finance and Risk
Management and Insurance in December 2000. I was still not sure
what this "RMI" business was all about at that time. I just listened
to a good recommendation from my CEFAM finance professor, and
knew that with the reputation of the program, I might have an easier
time finding a job in the U.S. And so it was... I was off to NYC, as a
brand new insurance broker.
Fast forward a few years (9/11 in NY, new job in Philly, MBA in
Finland, American husband, kids etc...) and Philadelphia became
my home again, the longest I have ever lived anywhere.
Since then, I’ve progressed in my career and now know more about
Risk Management and Insurance than I could have ever imagined...
If you ever need help with Global Insurance programs for large
multinational corporations, contact me at Aon. For the moment, I
am living in Helsinki on assignment, but hopefully, Philly will call
me back once again.
When I decided to join CEFAM in 1996, my intentions were to
acquire academic excellence and to immerse myself in an international
environment. At the end of day, everything went well beyond my
expectations and my experience in the US definitely changed my life.
The 2 years I spent in Lyon were indeed a fantastic human and
academic experience and I felt well prepared when I joined Northeastern
University to complete my undergraduate degree.
I am very grateful to CEFAM for giving me a great foundation for
success in a constantly evolving professional environment.
I lived in the US for 15 years and I was lucky enough during that time
to work for a big corporation and become an entrepreneur. Today,
I work for the 5th most admired company in the world.
Back in France for 3 years now with my wife and my son who was born
in the US, I am very proud to say that I too am an American citizen.
Every day I realize how lucky I was to be part of a great business school
and to be able to join an American university. I am sure many others
alumni share my feelings and gratitude to the CEFAM faculty and staff
for its dedication to our success.
Jean-Wilfried
Thibault
Graduating Class: 1999
Northeastern University
Franchise Business Manager
STARBUCKS, France
Sébastien
Rossi-Ferrari
Graduating Class: 2006
CEFAM, Double BBA Finance and Marketing
Global Operations Controller
GE REAL ESTATE, USA
Hello
Mr. President
Frederic
Schmuck
Graduating Class: 1995
Northeastern University
Co-Founder and Member, Liberation Capital
Former Senior Vice President,
GE Capital Markets
USA
Mohamed Ali
Niang
Graduating Class: 2011
Temple University
Co-Founder and CEO
Malô SARL, Mali
Garrett
Cottom
Graduating Class: 2014
Pace University
CEFAM Study Abroad Student, Spring 2013
USA
I chose CEFAM because it offered a great compromise between a cost
effective business school and a degree based on the highest international
and US standards, taught in English.
The teachers were great and the curriculum allowed me to learn a ton
about general topics solid business professionals need, as well as the ability
to do deep into multiple topics. I completed a double BBA in Marketing
and Finance, a degree which helped me get into GE.
After graduation, I entered GE’s FMP (Financial Management Program)
for 2 years and then their CAS (Corporate Audit Staff) for 4 years, quickly
climbing the ranks. I then moved into a senior audit manager position
and led up to 3 teams of 4 to 8 people each running consulting and
auditing engagements within GE Capital. I handled the planning and
scoping of the audit, as well as the execution and reporting to top senior
clients (officer levels). After finishing the CAS program, I accepted the
position I hold today – Global Operations Controller for GE Real Estate
in Norwalk, Connecticut, just outside of New York City.
WWW.CEFAM.FR
CONTACT
MARC-HENRi WACH
47, rue Sergent Michel Berthet
CP 606 - 69258 Lyon Cedex 09 - FRANCE
+33 (0)4 72 85 73 63 - F. +33 (0)4 72 85 72 13
marchenri.wach@cefam.fr
www.cefam.fr