Herve HELLEZ HEC pants. ESSAYS Answer each essay topic listed below as completely and candidly as possible. Essays should be typed and should not exceed the number of words assigned, My whole education has been geared up towards science, leading me unsurprisingly towards a career in engineering thanks to strong analytical skills. Since 2001, Ricarde Consulting Engineers has provided me with the background for a successful career mixed to good intemational exposure. In 2006, | started to reflect on my career after realising that despite offering increased responsibilities, my role was nat sufficiently challenging anymore. | was in fact turning my attention away from engineering and towards the business development aspects of my rale and the wide range of interactions they offer. My ‘career development had provided me so far with an excellent technical knowledge in several fields of automotive engineering and with a wide network ef contacts, which I was naw keen on using to support business strategies. | felt however that | was lacking in some of the fundamentals required In Strategic Consulting or Business Development. Particularly, modules such as Financial Accounting or Business Economies wauld support my understanding and prediction of companiest. performances. HEC would also help me develop my negotiation and marketing skills, arts aften misunderstood by engineers, These strengths are an asset that would allow me to build on my engineering experience to best support the strategy of automotive businesses. My knowledge of Argentina and more generally of the South-American market is another factor for my decision to pursue an MBA. Ih view of recent economical developments in South-America, I feel that ‘opportunities for foreign businesses could grow. Because of my personal attachment to the country, | am very much lagking forward to using my intimate knowledge of Argentina to support the development of new businesses. Through its international exposure and personalised curriculum, HEC provides a great ‘opportunity to discuss these opinions with students of varied backgrounds, gain a more mature understanding and assess the validity of onets views. If am to look at a career in Automotive and New Energies Business Development ar Strategic Consulting in South-America, HEC would unquestionably provide: one unique advantage: cultural diversity. Not anty do the students reinforce the international awareness required to. communicate Lfluentlyt. with businesses worldwide, but also the alumni association provides an incomparable list of useful contacts. Also, the option of a Double Degree is an undeniable opportunity for international awareness. In other words, | believe that HEC is a foree to be reckoned with in intemational business, a force that my partner and | would lave to Support with aur multi-cultural backgrounds. Ultimately, after proving myself during these first few years, | would look towards new challenges in General Management. I truly believe that HEC provides all the tools, knowledge and skill development required to be a successful business leader with an intemational ambition. More importantly, the cerganisation in groups provides @ unique opportunity to experience different viewpoints across cultural backgrounds and hence help future leaders gain the thinking flexibility required to succeed. Recently, while looking at a plot of land near Cordoba in view of building our home there, I was toying with the idea of our life after succeeding, Without a doubt, it will be hard work, but I will be locking back on the day | decided to apply for an MBA as one of the best decision in my life,Herve HELLEZ HEC PARIS In July 2006, a client approached my company to get support with the development of a high performanee car. All vehicles sold in the US from 2007 have to comply with stringent LEVII emissions requirements, which the highest performance derivative of their successful model did not. As team leader on the program, | started by assessing a target cost plan hased on a low risk approach in contrast to the traditional minimum risk approach used by my department, Using the knowledge of the recent LEVI update of the rest of the range and the known issues for this specific application. | carefully trimmed the resource plan to offer a guaranteed 20% saving, counting 271 words The team would be key to delivering this aggressive plan. A motivated team, more inclined to wark overtime when eritically needed, could save the project days of expensive facilites. This was achieved by carefully allocating tasks to fulfil individual development requirements, by team bounding and by letting each member drive the final product. This shift with the companyts traditional view that overtime is a financial burden ultimately proved successful. Each engineer also developed a new skil set while planning and managing costs for his own task. Thanks to careful progress tracking and a tremendous team ettort, we delivered the product on time and well below budget. Our customer was satisfied, our profit had increased by 130% and the project had set an example, which has been recognised across the Group, Most importantly however, | had managed to re-motivate one of our engineers, who was before then thinking of leaving the company and is still today a key team member. The automotive business has strongly contributed to society and has today an important environmental duty. Ethics are therefore naturally at the heart of my career. However, as I gained more responsibility, | realized that ethics were further intertwined with business and leadership. [had always worked long hours and as | started leading projects, | naturally expected the same from, my team, Although tasks were performed quickly and profitably for the projects, it quickly became apparent that stress was taking its toll, The communication across the team was inconsistent and ene technician In particular was getting fergetful and displayed low motivation levels, As my partner began criticizing my LworkaholismE, it was becoming clear that he was not the only victim counting 254 words In an attempt to improve the situation, | started to leam about stress and energy level management. | realized then that the sacrifice of a well-balanced personal life was killing efficiency. More importantly, the company cauld not expect such a sacrifice from the team and had a moral duty to support the well being of its employees. My first attempt at team leadership had therefore been flawed and this realization would lead to a new approach. Looking forward, overtime would be supported only if strictly required and extra. professional activities strongly encouraged. As a result, we were successful in building a far more dynamic, motivated and efficient team. On a more personal level, not only was I more efficient at managing energy levels, but | had also leamt how company elhics and efficiency can coexistsTHEC ‘Span Oe BugunaDHerve HELLEZ HEC PARIS