Meet Thomas, a Kedger living in Stockholm

• CLASS OF: 2015
• POSITION: Operating Manager
• COMPANY: agap2
• LENGTH OF TIME LIVING ABROAD: 2 years 

INTERVIEW:

Hello Thomas! To start off, please tell us a few words about yourself:

My name is Thomas MORTAL. I’m 27 and I’m from Nice. I got a two-year DUT in Thermal Engineering and Energy in Marseille. Then I started at KEDGE Toulon in its Business Engineering programme for three years, which included a two-year work-study at Schneider Electric. After I graduated in 2015, I went to work for agap2 in Grenoble.

Would you tell us about your years at KEDGE? What programme did you do and what is your best memory?

The Business Engineering degree at KEDGE is mostly destined for students who have a fairly technical profile, such as a BTS or DUT, and who want to have a business dimension. At the time, the Toulon campus had about 500 students.

I did my Master 1 and 2 work-study in the Marketing Department at Schneider Electric in Grenoble, alternating between 2 weeks at the company and 2 weeks in classes.

My best memory from KEDGE is the network that we created. We all came from very different places, with backgrounds different, and we all came together around a common ambition.

What were your reasons for moving to Stockholm?

In 2015, I started working as a Business Engineer at agap2, which is an industrial engineering consulting company in Grenoble. I was there for three years. I started in a small agency that was in the process of being launched. There were only five of us at the time and I had the opportunity to advance quickly and take on new responsibilities. At the same time, I’d always wanted to live abroad and have a change. I talked about it with my management team, who at that time was thinking of starting a new business in Stockholm. So, things were decided quickly and I moved to Stockholm.

During 2019, our company grew with new client projects, and we had new talent joining us as consultants. Now we have a team of 15 people. Our goal for 2020? To have a staff of 30 people by the end of the year, and good news, the potential is there!

What are the essentials to see in Stockholm, and what is your favourite place?

The island of Gamla Stan, which is actually Stockholm's Old Town and its foremost attraction. There’s also the island of Djurgården, which is quite large and completely green with its parks and forests, which is amazing for a capital city.

If you want very good fish, I recommend "Tradition", a restaurant in Gamla Stan.

How are working and everyday life different from in France?

Swedish culture is known for its cultural differences with France, especially in terms of flexibility at work, relatively flat hierarchies, and work-life balance.

Isn't this flat hierarchy and team-based decision making what so many of us dream of in France? It's a very positive way of working, of course, and it also gives rise to discussions that are sometimes lengthy!

What are your plans for the future?

In the short-term, for this year, we’re looking for two new Business Managers and 15 new consultants on technical professions.

In the longer term, my goal is to continue the development of the company in Stockholm, to establish a stable team as well as long-lasting partnerships with our local customers.

What advice would you give to graduates and future graduates who’d like to move abroad?

Listening, curiosity and adaptation! Otherwise, travel will certainly be your best experience, both personal and professional!

Interview conducted in Stockholm by Damien, KEDGE Alumni Travel Northern European Pro-Act student. 

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