ESCP

🎯 “Don’t just plan to achieve a goal, start taking steps towards it.” Career tips from ESCP alumni 👇

At a recent alumni roundtable organised by the ESCP Careers, four ESCP graduates shared the paths they have built across entrepreneurship, luxury, financial advisory and professional services, offering students practical perspectives on career choices and making the most of their ESCP Master in Management experience.

The panel brought together Adrien Penso, Founder of Atelier Penso; Anita Bottauscio, Planning & Allocation Manager at Moncler; Philippe Englebert, Partner at Lazard; and Antoine Danet, Manager, Audit & Financial Accounting Advisory Services at EY. The discussion was moderated by Emily Olyarchuk from ESCP.

From founding a leather goods brand and building a career in luxury to working in investment banking, public service, audit and advisory, their journeys reflect the variety of professional directions that can follow the MiM.

💡 Across their different experiences, several practical takeaways emerged:

• Start taking concrete steps towards your goals rather than simply planning for them.
• Meet people and engage with the ESCP community.
• Step outside your comfort zone and explore new interests.
• Stay curious and attend opportunities that may not come again.
• When applying for roles, understand the company and position, communicate clearly what you are looking for, ask questions and let your personality come through.

As AI continues to reshape recruitment and the first steps graduates take into working life, these human connections and opportunities to learn directly from ESCP Alumni are becoming increasingly valuable. ESCP’s latest Careers article explores this changing landscape, from AI literacy and critical thinking to the role of human judgement, personalised career support and connections with employers 💼

We thank our alumni for sharing their experiences with today’s students and the ESCP Careers Centre for organising this exchange, helping students turn career ambitions into action.

Read more about what makes a graduate valuable in the age of AI: https://escp.eu/news/ai-and-careers-what-really-makes-graduate-valuable-age-ai

What better way to kick off the semester than with a party overlooking Turin? 💙

On 11 September, students and staff met at Monte dei Cappuccini for the First Semester Opening Party, organised by our Student Experience.

The evening was a chance to get to know each other, catch up after the summer and network in an informal setting, with one of Turin’s most iconic views in the background.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made it such a great evening.

Want to see what’s coming up next in Turin? Explore our upcoming events: https://escp.eu/events?campus=25

From business school to European University of Management 🇪🇺🏛️ Dean, Thomas Jeanjean speaks to Poets&Quants about ESCP’s next chapter

In a new interview published by Poets&Quants, ESCP Executive President and Dean Thomas Jeanjean speaks with Pola Lem, Executive Editor at Poets&Quants, about the ambitions, opportunities and complexities shaping ESCP’s next chapter.

At the heart of the conversation is our European multi-campus model and the ambition to become the first EU University of Management. Prof. Jeanjean discusses the development of ESCP’s School of Technology, which is set to welcome its first undergraduate cohort in September 2027, with a master’s to follow in 2028, as well as plans for a School of Governance.

💬 “We’d like to become the first EU university of management. Expanding is not unique, but we’re doing that with our European multi-campus model,” says Prof. Jeanjean.

The interview also explores the realities of operating across different European countries, from regulatory complexity and the recognition of diplomas to student mobility and capacity across ESCP’s locations.

Looking further ahead, Jeanjean reflects on the enduring value of education and the importance of human creativity in an AI-driven world.

“What will make the difference is your ability to be creative,” says Prof. Jeanjean, highlighting how experience with others can help people make the most of AI.

For ESCP, this next chapter brings together business, technology and governance while building on the distinctive European multi-campus model at the heart of our institution.

Read the full article on Poets & Quants: https://poetsandquants.com/2026/09/15/the-pq-interview-thomas-jeanjean-on-taking-the-helm-at-escp-as-it-becomes-a-university/

🇫🇷 For a complementary perspective in French, read Thomas Jeanjean’s recent interview with Olivier Rollot, Executive Director at Higher Education Advisory: https://blog.headway-advisory.com/faire-de-escp-la-premiere-universite-europeenne-du-management/

Head, Heart and Hands: shaping the next chapter of leadership 💼

👋 This September, we welcomed the newest participants of ESCP’s (EMBA) and General Management Programme (GMP) for their Kickoff Seminar at ESCP in Paris. Representing 23 nationalities, this new cohort brings together diverse perspectives, a passion for lifelong learning and a commitment to responsible, impactful leadership.

Prof. Francesco Venuti, Associate Dean for the Executive MBA, and Manon Marinière, Director of Studies for the EMBA, welcomed participants as they began this new chapter.

💬 “Today, you are not simply starting a programme to upgrade your technical skills. You are embarking on a transformational journey. A journey that goes far beyond learning new concepts, strengthening your financial acumen, or sharpening your strategic thinking. It will engage you at three levels: Head, Heart and Hands.”

Prof. Venuti described this journey through three dimensions: , for intellectual challenge and critical thinking; , for relationships, values and the human dimension of learning; and , for turning transformation into action and creating impact in business and society.

The Kickoff Seminar continued with “Unleashing your Problem Solving and Decision-Making Potential”, a workshop designed to begin this transformational learning journey.

🌍 Flexibility is central to the experience. Participants beginning the EMBA in September can complete it in either 22 or 34 months, while January participants can choose between 18 or 30 months. Those undertaking the 12-month can also extend their journey by completing the EMBA.

As our newest participants join ESCP’s global community, we look forward to seeing how they transform knowledge and perspectives into responsible leadership and meaningful action.

Learn more about ESCP’s Executive MBA: https://escp.eu/programmes/executive-mba

To learn more about ESCP’s General Management Programme: https://escp.eu/programmes/open-programmes/general-management-programme

💡How can future managers turn technological change into meaningful business transformation?

At ESCP, gives Master in Management students the opportunity to delve into digital transformation directly with leaders from ESCP partner companies. More than 1,400 students connected across ESCP’s European campuses and, for the first time, with China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) students in Shanghai, to explore the forces reshaping businesses and managerial careers.

This year, students heard perspectives from three leaders working at the intersection of technology, AI, business and people:

Jeremie Profeta, Chief Transformation Officer and Executive Committee Member at , shared how the company approaches digital transformation as a business transformation, extending far beyond IT. He explored how Sonepar is connecting its customer channels while using data and AI across the business to improve efficiency, support employees and contribute to the wider electrification and energy transition 🔋

Jean-Philippe Doyen, President Europe at , shared how digitalisation and AI are reshaping mobility, while highlighting the importance of curiosity, adaptability and an entrepreneurial mindset.

Xavier Demilly, VP Business Transformation, Head of Projects at , invited students to look beyond technology and consider the human dimension of transformation, including adoption, judgement and influence.

Together, these perspectives reflect what Digital Spark is designed to bring to the Master in Management: direct engagement with the digital challenges organisations face and the leaders addressing them 🧠

For our students, understanding transformation means learning to connect technology with strategy, people and responsible leadership, preparing them to navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected business environment.

🔎 Discover how Jérémie Profeta and Sonepar are turning digital transformation into business value: https://escp.eu/news/turning-digital-transformation-business-value-jeremie-profeta-shares-sonepars-journey-escp-students

Stay tuned for our upcoming Digital Spark articles featuring Jean-Philippe Doyen and Xavier Demilly.

What does it take to reach the world’s top five? Our global ESCP community ✨

To our students, alumni, faculty, staff and partners, and to everyone who is part of our community: this achievement is yours too 👏

Today, we celebrate our results across the QS Quacquarelli Symonds 2027 Business Master’s and MBA Rankings:

• Master in Management: 5th worldwide, rising one place and entering the global top five
• MSc in Marketing & Creativity: 3rd worldwide, once again
• MSc in Business Analytics & AI: 11th worldwide
• MBA: 24th worldwide, rising in the 2027 ranking

From management and marketing to business analytics and artificial intelligence, these programmes combine broad management foundations with specialised expertise and international learning experiences, preparing students and professionals for an increasingly complex and fast-changing business environment.

💬 “These results reflect the breadth and quality of ESCP’s academic portfolio. From our flagship Master in Management and MBA to highly specialised programmes, our ambition is to provide both strong management foundations and deep expertise,” said our Dean Thomas Jeanjean.

As we implement our & 2026–2030 strategic plan, we continue to place academic excellence, interdisciplinary learning and the intersection of business, technology and global affairs at the centre of our development.

This recognition belongs within a much bigger story: a community learning, contributing and moving forward together.

🔗 Read more on ESCP’s website: https://escp.eu/news/qs-2027-business-masters-rankings

Meet the 2026 Blue Factory winners 🥇

The 2026 Blue Factory ESCP Innovation Prize celebrates three ventures founded by ESCP students and recent alumni, each approaching a distinct challenge across food, manufacturing and responsible AI.

Organised by Blue Factory, ESCP’s incubator, in partnership with the ESCP Foundation and AGORA ESCP Student Union, the annual competition provides funding and tailored support to help promising projects move from concept and prototype towards viable businesses.

This year’s winners receive a combined €16,000 from the ESCP Foundation:

🏆 , led by co-founders Martin K., Clemens Friese and Flora MOLIN DESWARTE, is developing cooking ingredients from high-quality circular raw materials, beginning with a reinvention of the traditional bouillon cube. The venture receives €8,000 and six months of Blue Factory support.

🏆 , led by founder Anna Bertoli and Ludovico La Tora, is addressing knowledge continuity in manufacturing sales by seeking to capture employees’ expertise, retain valuable know-how and accelerate quotation processes. The venture receives €4,000 and three months of support.

🏆 , led by Vlad Stanescu, Andi Aparaschivei and Stefan Dumitru, is developing a “Sovereign AI Governance” solution designed to help European companies use AI securely while retaining greater control over their information and how the technology is deployed. The venture receives €4,000 and three months of support.

From circular food products to manufacturing expertise and responsible AI governance, these projects reflect the entrepreneurial ambition of our community and the importance of testing ideas in practice.

Read the news on ESCP’s website: https://escp.eu/news/meet-2026-blue-factory-innovation-prize-winners

Discover Blue Factory: https://www.blue-factory.eu/

What does it mean to begin a new academic journey across borders?

🎒 For 1,450 new Master in Management students, it means discovering new cities, cultures and perspectives while becoming part of an international community.

This week, we welcomed the new cohort across five of our European locations: , , , and 🌍 Each brought its own character to the first days of the academic year.

In Madrid, students began their journey over breakfast with their new professors. In Berlin, they discovered their new home through a city rally, ending at a biergarten. In Paris, economist, entrepreneur, ESCP alumnus and President of Algest Investment Bank, Ibrahim Magassa, shared his perspective with the new cohort.

Across London and Turin, new faces became classmates as students began discovering the cities that will form part of their ESCP experience.

Starting at a new school, often in a new country, brings both excitement and the challenge of stepping into the unfamiliar. At ESCP, this international experience creates opportunities to cross borders, encounter different perspectives and grow within a multicultural community.

To all our new Master in Management students, welcome to ESCP. We look forward to seeing where this new chapter takes you ✨

Learn more about ESCP’s Master in Management ( ) programme: https://escp.eu/programmes/master-in-management