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Who are the managers of the Lyon branch of KEDGE Alumni?
Led by three volunteer graduates, this branch aims to give local Alumni and students the chance to meet up from time-to-time for afterworks, company visits, or other social events.
KEDGE Alumni has many branches around the world to which let their local Alumni meet, expand their network, share their respective experiences, and have a good time.
Today, we invite you to discover the portraits of the dynamic leaders of our Lyon branch.
💬 THÉO TREMSAL (MSC IA 2015) - LYON
1️⃣Tell us a bit about your career background. What is your current position? What educational and professional path did you take to get you there?
My career path has not been your typical one. In 3rd year (UK 10th year / US 9th grade). I didn't know what to I wanted to do as a career, but I think that it is inherent for everyone. My father suggested I get a technical diploma to get a job in a field that is recruiting. As I was from Belfort, A town whose main industry is metallurgy, with big names such as Alstom, General Electric or Peugeot in Sochaux. With my father’s support being what it was, I decided to get a BEP (professional studies diploma)in boiler making.
I enjoyed learning about this sector, which resonates with the industrial revolution. I acquired a taste for learning and, encouraged by the teachers, I stayed in college to earn a bac pro (professional high school diploma) then a BTS ( senior technologist's certificate) in designing and producing this type of equipment. I also did internships in France in both large companies and more traditional companies, such as Asservis and Romag Aquacare in Switzerland.
Boosted by these experiences, I decided to continue my studies at a management school near Reims to get a professional bachelor degree and then a master degree in production and industrial management. I did that while working as an apprentice as a project manager and deputy production manager in the mechanical-welding workshop of a company called Les Ateliers Roche. After a lot of discussions with the sales manager on several projects, he told me could see me finishing my studies with a degree from a business school so I would acquire the technical, managerial, and commercial skills that are in demand on the job market. He also told me that he thought I had a business profile.
So I decided to go on and get a 2nd Master at a business school. I found out about KEDGE through a former student who had gone to the same management school as me. I was accepted for the business engineering apprenticeship programme and worked as a business engineer at ArcelorMittal Solustil in 2015 and got my degree. While I was there, I was contacted by a recruitment agency for a position as a business development manager at Fédération BTP Rhône, a employers' union that specialised in the building and public works sector. This position consisted of meeting building and public works entrepreneurs to get them to join the union, where they would have access to lobbying, a network of professionals, and a range of support services for managers (technical, environmental, social, legal, litigation, training, employment, etc.).
2️⃣Now you are living in Lyon. What do you like about the city?
I have a deep love for the country I was born in - its culture, its heritage, its language, etc. I’m a very active and enterprising person. I knew that I would like living in a big city and hesitated between going to Paris, Lyon, or Bordeaux. I settled on Lyon because it's a big city with a human dimension. It has the advantages of living in Paris without the disadvantages. It is the capital of gastronomy and today has been named the second most beautiful city in the world after Kyoto. I’m very happy with my choice. The city is a very dynamic, magnificent with its various monuments, and has good weather and extraordinary people. Of course, I’m not objective about the city of my heart.
3️⃣Now you are helping manage the KEDGE Alumni branch in Lyon. What motivated you to volunteer?
I had only been in Lyon a few months before I got the email calling for volunteers. I wanted to get involved with KEDGE because I had a bit of time and a fairly small network. The other candidates already knew each other, but there was a good rapport with the team that so we were able to work together very quickly, easily, and with lots of fun.
4️⃣What are your goals for this branch? What are your plans?
We all agreed that the main goal was to put the branch back in the centre of our members, to offer regular and diverse meetings and of course, hold afterworks at iconic locations in Lyon and with themes related to the time of year, the start of the new school year, holidays, Christmas, etc. We also wanted to hold conferences and round tables on a topic Kedgers would be interested in, planning a major event where Kedger entrepreneurs could pitch their companies to gain visibility. Usually, we have 30-40 people at each event, which shows that our members are interested in what we do. However, Covid-19 has had a big impact on our events. We hope we’ll be able to meet again soon and make up for lost time. Maybe we can offer forums for discussions or KEDGE virtual happy hour. We’ll see what we can do to maintain connections.
5️⃣How did the process of becoming a branch manager go? Was communicating with KEDGE Alumni staff easy?
The process was easy because our Alumni were waiting for an event from the new team and I think it’s been a success. We’ve had great feedback from participants, and others who weren’t available have promised to come to the next one. There is a real community in Lyon. We are really pushing for more interaction so that Alumni stay in touch with KEDGE. A business school’s network is its strength.
6️⃣Lastly, what message would you like to pass along to graduates and students living in, or just travelling through, Lyon?
I’d like them to look on the KEDGE Alumni website to see if we’ve organised any events and, if not, to contact us directly. We would be delighted to meet him or her for a drink or a meal in the Capital of the Gaul.
💬 ANNABELLE WARNIER (PGE 2013) - LYON
1️⃣Tell us a bit about your career background. What is your current position? What educational and professional path did you take to get you there?
I grew up in the Paris region and got a high school diploma (focused on science). My choice of school was apparent during my oral exams. I recognised myself in the values of KEDGE and was attracted to the Mediterranean Sea and the city of Marseille. Dynamism, a mix of cultures, enthusiasm, and sea air - everything needed to be happy was there. So that was it in a nutshell. I’ve been settled here for many wonderful years. I was a member of the Arts Office with art and dancing projects, did an Erasmus exchange in Florence, did my gap year working in at Palace in Paris, and now I have a career. I managed to combine arts (of the table, hospitality, and beautiful buildings) with staff development with the hectic aspect of a hotel. I continued to work in human resources, initially just general work, in some very high-end Parisian hotels (Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris, Le Fouquet's Barrière, Le Paris Marriott Opéra Ambassador), and gradually specialised in training and risk prevention in the workplace.
At the beginning of 2018, I was attracted to Lyon and the Paul Bocuse Institute. I didn’t start over - once in the hotel business, always in the hotel business – but this time I was we're not doing it again, hotel business one day, hotel business always, but this time as a Talent Manager. I’m in charge of helping students in their career choice. I love this job, which combines my knowledge of the professions and the hotel sector with the personal and professional development of its future managers.
2️⃣Now you live in Lyon. What do you like about the city?
Lyon is a big French city but has a human dimension to it. I get around on foot in a city that has an Italian aesthetic, and take weekend jaunts to the Alps, Paris, and Marseille.
3️⃣Now you are helping manage the KEDGE Alumni branch in Lyon. What motivated you to volunteer?
I was motivated by the idea of creating links between Kedgers living in Lyon, networking, organising conferences, sharing experiences and information on professional issues, providing help for entrepreneurs. Personally, I really enjoyed taking part in its events when I arrived here and thought it would be good to take up the torch again previous managers left.
4️⃣What are your goals for this branch? What are your plans?
We wanted to hold regular and diverse meet-ups for Kedgers, such as classic afterworks, themed afterworks based on the time of year, conferences and round tables on a certain topic, and pitching events for entrepreneurs. There are a lot of us in Lyon, so we wanted to make these events accessible to all and create connections at different levels.
Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic brought us to a screeching halt, but we’d like to start again when we’re able to.
5️⃣How did the process of becoming a branch manager go? Was communicating with KEDGE Alumni staff easy?
The process was very smooth, and interacting with the KEDGE Alumni team has been easy.
6️⃣Lastly, what message would you like to pass along to graduates and students living in, or just travelling through, Lyon?
If you are looking for a career change, professional connections, want to help Kedger entrepreneurs, or simply want to have a good time, help us keep the network active. You can take part in a conference on a subject that is close to your heart or host one of our events at your company. Even if you just have some crazy ideas of activities to do together, don't hesitate to let us know.
💬 BENJAMIN COSTES (PGE 2014) - LYON
1️⃣Tell us a bit about your career background. What is your current position? What educational and professional path did you take to get you there?
After getting my high school diploma (science focus) and a BTS ( senior technologist's certificate) in accounting, I passed the Tremplin exam so I could get accepted to a business school. My initial objective was to experience living abroad, expand my horizons as much as possible, and increase employment opportunities. I chose KEDGE because I appreciated the diversity of its courses on offer, the quality of life, and the vitality of Marseille.
After my end-of-study internship at CBRE, I oriented my career towards commercial real estate. It's a dynamic sector that I recommend. It lets you meet people who have all types of jobs and the changes are increasing.
I’m currently a sales manager at Novelige, a subsidiary of Vinci Construction in Lyon. My main work is finding land for carrying out tertiary projects. So I meet mayors, local authorities, and private individuals, which is very interesting.
2️⃣Now you live in Lyon. What do you like about the city?
Since I’m originally from Lyon, I was eager to start my career in Paris, which I regretted a lot. Now I’m back in Lyon, a dynamic metropolis located close to the Alps. It's a pleasant city to live in, the job market is large and varied, and the cost of living is reasonable relative to salaries. What's more, commuting times to work rarely exceed 30 minutes. It’s a European metropolis on a human scale that I strongly recommend.
3️⃣Now you are helping manage the KEDGE Alumni branch in Lyon. What motivated you to volunteer?
Because of my studies and travels, I developed a curious and open-minded personality. Not only that, but I always had support and help from KEDGE Alumni when I was looking for work, so I wanted to promote and help this positive and driving network grow.
Since taking over the branch, I’ve met some really nice people whom I see regularly. This type of network is beneficial in the short-, medium-, and long-term.
4️⃣What are your goals for this branch? What are your plans?
We wanted to hold regular and diverse meet-ups for Kedgers, such as classic afterworks, themed afterworks based on the time of year, conferences and round tables on a certain topic, and pitching events for entrepreneurs. There are a lot of us in Lyon, so we wanted to make these events accessible to all and create connections at different levels.
Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic brought us to a screeching halt, but we’d like to start again when we’re able to.
5️⃣How did the process of becoming a branch manager go? Was communicating with KEDGE Alumni staff easy?
We worked together very well. We made proposals and maintained good contact with the KEDGE Alumni staff.
6️⃣Finally, what message would you like to pass along to graduates and students living in, or just travelling through, Lyon?
A network’s strength lies in both its number of members and their involvement in the network. Come and meet us at some of our next events to get an idea about what we do and see if you like it. We’ve had nothing but positive feedback so far.
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