Agnès Faure MBA 2012
A French entrepreneur and mother of five who recently left her native Paris for San Francisco and left full-time work on the arts magazine she founded, Agnès Faure has undergone a lot of change in the last two years. Add to that the Berkeley-Columbia EMBA program, and Agnes feels fully prepared to manage a lifetime of change and new opportunity, beginning with a start-up venture at the intersection of art and science. “It’s a dream to be here at this age. In France it would be impossible, but it’s part of the U.S. culture to have new challenges at 30 or 40 or 60. When you move from Paris to San Francisco, you have to change—you have no choice—and this program will help me to always keep changing.” “I like that Berkeley is such an important part of American culture and that it encourages out-of-the-box thinking. I also like the culture of ethics here, and giving back.” “I like the team spirit in the Berkeley-Columbia program. It is most collaborative, encourages building relationships and working in groups. It’s a very human approach.” “The program encourages you to contribute with your diversity, whether, for me, that’s as a French person, an entrepreneur or someone in media.” “For me, especially if I want to create something around art, this alliance between New York and San Francisco is very valuable.” “I know the study team works because I see it in my group. We are five very different people with different backgrounds and different points of view. I think it works because we are so different.” “The professors are tremendous, very smart, friendly and accommodating. I like the pace of lessons, and I like the mix of practical questions and theoretical questions.” “I learn a lot that I can use as a consultant for my magazine. In Marketing, we talked about LVC (lifetime value to customers) in a way that was new to me and very clear. I can translate this new concept immediately in my business. That’s very valuable.” “I’m investing everything in my MBA, and what is most important? Investing in human resources. You invest in the faculty, your classmates, the admissions team. I am so happy to be where we share the same values. Already, my Berkeley-Columbia MBA is a very good investment.” “As an entrepreneur, you need to find the ideas, and I think mine—though I’m still at the discussion stage—is a good one, blending artistic and high-tech cultures in an innovative space. Then it’s a question of immersion networking, and this program is very good for that.” Entering this program has been like a dream. It’s an alliance of two top-tier programs at the heart of U.S. business.” [+] to top |
Independent consultant, Arts Magazine