Meet Maxime, a KEDGE Alumnus living in Warsaw

Hello Maxime. Would you tell us a little about yourself?

Hello. My name is Maxime Gourgouillat and I’m almost 32 years old. I’m a graduate of KEDGE Business School – which was called Euromed Marseille when I attended. I’ve lived in Warsaw for 11 years now. It’s a real pleasure to meet with you today!

What have you done since getting your degree? (Internships, first jobs, etc.)

Well, I didn’t do any internships when I attended KEDGE because I did an apprenticeship instead. It was a fantastic experience, and I have a lot of good memories. I decided to do my work-study programme in Poland, and I really want to thank KEDGE for making it possible. It’s the main reason for I chose KEDGE. So, a big thank you!

As part of my work-study, I worked in marketing and sales at a Building and Public Works company in Warsaw. French was the working language at the company, and its clients were French speakers. So I worked in French, but in an international environment.

After my work-study programme, I got a job managing an upscale boutique that sold clothing imported directly from France or Italy. It catered to business men, and carried merchandise like shoes, shirts, suits, etc. It was a very wonderful opportunity that lasted around three years.

After that, I spent a short amount of time working as an independent external consultant for several French and international companies that wanted to open, or establish themselves, in Poland.

And finally, I’ve worked for a Swiss luxury watch company since 2014.

What prompted you to move abroad?

I had already done a year of licence in Poland before I attended KEDGE, which was my first time living abroad.

So, when I returned to KEDGE in AST 2, I had already spent a year outside of France, and I knew that I was liked the international element. I had already travelled a lot with my parents. I love foreign languages, and I would say that I am open to other cultures. All these reasons played a part in my decision to move to and live in Poland.

What’s more, I came to Poland at the time when everything needed to be built. There were lots of opportunities, which was an enormous boost for my carrier. Finally, the two countries are close enough geographically, so it’s easy enough to go back and forth by plane.

Can you tell us about your job? Is it related to the training you received at KEDGE?

I am the Brand Manager for a Swiss luxury watchmaker in Poland, and so I manage the brand for the whole country. I have all the responsibilities that go with the job, such as the distribution system, retail (in-shop sales), wholesale, etc.

I also work in other areas, such as the financial side, profitability, marketing, human resources, etc.

Globally, there’s a team of 11, including me, that manages all aspects of the brand.

To answer your other question, there is in fact a strong connection between my job and the courses I took at KEDGE. The position I have right now is a very general one, and all the fundamentals I learned at KEDGE have been very useful to me.

I still remember some case studies of that we studied, and that I use daily in my work, whether they were about marketing, management, or finance.

What do you think are the essential qualities needed your job?

You must have a lot of passion in what you do. The watch business is a sector of passion, so you have to pay very close attention to details. Clients in the luxury market have high standards.

Our clients are people who travel a lot, and who want to compare our shops with those in other countries (Geneva, Tokyo, Warsaw, New York, etc.), so you have to be able to constantly respond to their needs, and know how to meet international standards.

As an expat, do you find the work culture to be different?

I’ve been in Poland 11 years already, so I’ve already integrated into the Polish culture, but there are still things that shock me, either positively or negatively.

One thing that I like very much about the Polish is their openness to other cultures. For example, here in Warsaw there’s no problem getting a job in an entry-level position if you don’t speak Polish. They understand very well that a foreigner may speak only English, and not Polish. Culturally, I find this very interesting. This is practically unthinkable in France. A foreigner will find it harder to find a job if he speaks little or no French!

What I also notice is the people’s enormous desire is to rebuild their country at the economic level. Poland is a country that is very scarred, very torn by the Second World War as well as by the soviet occupation. Then, in the 1990s, the doors to capitalism were suddenly thrown open. They want to go back to that glorious time between the two wars when Warsaw was a cultural and economic capital.

The people are hard workers. They try hard and do things themselves so they can get back to the same level as they were back then. They want it for themselves and for their country. They don’t want to throw the blame on others for their problems, but instead think about what they can personally do to make it better.

What are your goals for the future?

My goals for the future first of all are personal, because I’m the happy daddy of a little boy, and so I want to provide him with the best environment for his future. He’s lucky to be growing up in a home where two languages are spoken - French on my side, Polish on my wife’s.

That’s my main short-term project. To make my son and wife happy.

Any last words?

You’re the one who’s in charge of your coursework at the school. No two profiles are the same at KEDGE. Think about what you want to do. It’s your choice, and that is what you want to get from the school.

I really think it’s a magnificent school, and it’s because of them - the professors at the school who knew how to meet my pretty specific expectations - that I am here today.

That’s what they have done for me. And the question is: what do you want to do? The possibilities of the school are almost unlimited, so consider your career and don’t hesitate, do it at KEDGE.

Interview conducted by the student pro-act KEDGER TROTTER

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