Interview of an alumnus who is the Director of a business in Malaysia!

CLASS OF: 1990

POSITION: Director

COMPANY: Alpha Water Solutions

LENGTH OF TIME ABROAD: 12 years

INTERVIEW:

Hello Philippe! To begin with, please give us a quick introduction.

My name is Philippe Alliaume, Class of 1990. I’m currently the Director of Alpha Water Solutions in Malaysia

What does your job consist of? What are your duties?

I started the company in 2018, and so was in charge of all tasks related to the creation of the business. I also manage the company, and take care of a new area for commercial development. I have a Chinese partner who deals with the technical side, and with business in the Middle East.

Would you describe your education background at KEDGE? What did you study?

During my time at KEDGE, or rather at Sup de Co Bordeaux, I did two options: finance and international sales. I left to do a third year at Nottingham University for an Erasmus exchange for six months. At that university, I chose finance and business risk. I graduated in 1990 and, after that, I left for my Volunteer National Service at the Embassy in the United States.

How did the education you received at KEDGE help you develop and reach your goals?

I really liked the school’s way of thinking. It addressed a little bit of everything while I was there, which gave me experience with real-life situations I might face during my career, so it didn’t only focus on the business and money-making side, I learned to cope with financial, administrative, and business situations. I was also President of an association called MediaSup, whose purpose was to promote the school both internally and externally via corporate films. We also sold assignments to students, which gave us a foothold in the world of work. This practical side of studies is what I prefer!

How long have you been an expatriate?

Always! I’ve practically never worked in France. I’ve worked for French businesses, but was based in the United States. I studied in England, then did my Voluntary National Service in Atlanta, in the United States, and then began to work after that. I spent nine years going between the United States and France. After that, I came to Malaysia.

What were your reasons for coming to Kuala Lumpur?

I had two professional experiences: I worked for 15 years in the textile sector, and I’ve worked in industry since I’ve been here. When I was working in the textile industry, I made fibres, fabrics, and sold collectibles. I had stores in France in addition to my main job. The opportunity to move abroad came from my stores located in the south of France. I got angry with one of my partners at the time, and didn’t have the financial means to buy his shares in the company. So, I joined a company in the textile sector that also owned an investment company in Switzerland. The company experienced increasing growth, and one day they offered to buy my shares. They had investments in industry, especially in the water sector, and they proposed that I help them to make it a commercial activity. I got into the game and thought that, after 15 years in the textile industry, it was time for me to do something else. During my business trips for the company, I met a Malaysian company. Following an investment between the two companies, the Malaysian company was looking for a person to manage the operations on-site, and so began working for them in 2008!

Professionally, what differences do you see between France and Malaysia?

That depends upon who you are dealing with; the process isn’t the same. In Malaysia you are either dealing with the Malays or with the Chinese.

The Chinese business approach is somewhat pragmatic and resembles that of France. When you are celebrating a contract, you do so around a good meal or drink. The company has a large Chinese presence. They are very superstitious. For example, they are afraid of the number 4, while the number 8 is lucky. With the Malays it's different. It’s always complicated compared to Westerners. The Malays are still aware they were a colony. There is still a side of them that behaves like they are in an inferior position. I went on a trip with a Malaysian company, and the fact of my being there and being European was a positive aspect to their business and gave them importance.

What surprised you the most in this country?

I didn’t know much about the country at the time, and I didn’t even know where it was on a map. When I read about Malaysia’s history before I came here, I really expected at a society that was unified, but it absolutely is not. I find it to be an unjust society. The Malays want to keep what belongs to them, and I understood that right away. Only the Chinese, who make up a large part of the population, hold the keys to business. Unfortunately, relations aren’t always easy between the communities.

What are your plans for the future?

The first thing is to develop my business plan. Then, at some time or another, I think I will leave Asia and return to the United States to live. I’d like to go to a country that has seasons. I like the mountains, skiing… I miss it, so why not move?

Is there another country in which you would like to live and why?

The United States. When I was young, I dreamed about going to the United States, and I have great memories of my time there. I don’t like the superficial side of Americans at all, but they are very pragmatic. Everything is done to move forward. I love the atmosphere, and the Americans are very approachable.

If you had to do it again, what would you change?

When deciding what to study, I hesitated between the legal side and the commercial side. As I had already experienced the commercial side, I thought I’d try doing something else out of curiosity. Otherwise, I think I would have thought more about moving to Malaysia. When I was offered the job here, I made a quick decision. It probably would not have changed much, but my coming here was a bit abrupt. But overall, I’m very satisfied with my studies, my career, and the chances I’ve had to live abroad!

I think you shouldn’t move abroad for others, or just because it’s good. You have to do it because you really want to go. I must say that it’s not complicated. The hardest part is knowing whether you want to live permanently in different cultural and culinary environment, and in a country where the language is not the same as yours. Studies are a good way to test whether or not you want to be an expatriate. It lets you live abroad for a short time and see if you are made for it. I don’t think it is more difficult to move to England than it is to move to Malaysia. The distance mustn’t be a deterrent. If I want to go back to France, I have a 14-hour plane ride. Living abroad is really a question how willing you are.

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