While ESCP Business School is comprised of six campuses in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin and Warsaw, this Admissions Director Q&A takes us to Paris to meet Isabelle Perna, the Global & Paris Head of Admissions & Recruitment for the MBA in International Management.
Isabelle Perna has over 35 years of experience in the world of recruitment, with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry.
Read on to learn her favorite aspects of the ESCP MBA program and how important it is to be your authentic self on your application.
Clear Admit: What is the one aspect of your program that you wish applicants knew more about?
Isabelle Perna: The MBA in International Management (IM) programme at ESCP is aimed at experienced professionals looking for an international career acceleration. It is the programme’s international dimension, its flexibility, and the human size of its cohorts that make our MBA unique. These characteristics ensure personalised guidance and support of our students, leading to a strong community where collaboration and giving back are key values.
Our MBA in IM programme offers a flexible and customisable learning experience, available on three of our five European campuses. Driven by innovative teaching methods, the programme allows you to tailor your education with various specialisations and the option to choose a hybrid or online track to suit your personal or professional needs.
The MBA in IM fosters a dynamic dialogue and cultivates strong ties with the professional world. Career Services are fully integrated into the MBA programme and provide individual support from professional awareness (goal setting, individual coaching sessions with ESCP career advisors for in-depth and thorough self-assessment, etc.) to career progression and network expansion through a series of events with companies from all industries and/or alumni.
CA: Walk us through the life of an application in your office from an operational standpoint. What happens between the time an applicant clicks “submit” and the time the committee offers a final decision?
IP: Before submitting their application, all applicants are invited to have a preliminary interview with an admissions officer, who will be their main contact at ESCP. Our goal is to provide the candidate with the best and most accurate guidance possible.
Applicants for the MBA in IM programme are recruited by our five European campuses (Paris, London, Madrid, Berlin, and Turin), each managing a specific geographical region. The programme, which included 27 nationalities in 2023-24, ensures fair assessment based on the academic and professional context of each applicant’s country of residence. Every year, there are over 25 different nationalities and a diverse array of backgrounds (e.g.: Automotive, aerospace, consulting, energy & renewable energies, Financial Services, healthcare/medical, luxury goods, manufacturing, international organisations/NGOs, Tech, etc.).
Once the application is submitted, it is thoroughly reviewed by the Admissions Team, considering all aspects before deciding to invite a candidate for an interview. If the application passes review, the admissions officer matches each pre-selected candidate with 2 to 3 suitable interviewers. Interviews are held either on campus or online, depending on the candidate’s location. The invitation to the interview includes the exact day and time, a link (if online), and a preparation guide.
After the interview, candidates are informed of the jury’s decision via email and an official letter. If admitted, the letter includes detailed information and guidance on the next steps for enrolment in the programme. Timelines can vary depending on the application round.
CA: How does your ESCP admissions team approach the essay portion of the application specifically? What are you looking for as you read an essay? Are there common mistakes that applicants should try to avoid? What is one key thing they should keep in mind as they sit down to write?
IP: The essays are critical in the admission process. They are a key element that helps us to better understand who the candidate is, why they are applying to ESCP, their potential contribution to the cohort and to the School, and how the MBA in IM programme can best help them achieve their career goals.
I would advise candidates to stay on topic; meaningful and impactful essays are generally short. It is important that candidates are authentic and do not attempt to impersonate someone else, both in terms of content and writing style. The essays, which are reviewed by the recruitment team and assessed by the admission jury, allow the candidates to show how they stand out, over and above the facts that are covered in the rest of the application. It is crucial to avoid generic responses or statements and to make sure that they effectively answer the questions.
CA: Could you tell us about your interview process? Approximately how many applicants do you interview? Who conducts the interview (students, admissions officers, alumni) and what is the nature of the interview (resume-based, application-based, behavioural)? Will your ESCP admissions interviews be in-person or virtual for the 2024-2025 admissions season?
IP: The interviews are conducted by a specialized jury consisting of the MBA Programme Director, the MBA Associate Dean, a professor and/or an alum of the programme.
They are an opportunity for the jury to get to know the candidate better. Going beyond the application file, they can learn more about the candidate’s personality, aspirations and expectations. The jury members will assess the candidate’s potential and how the MBA in IM programme will best equip them to achieve the desired career progression/transition.
Through the candidate’s answers, the jury members assess their fit in the programme and the school, as well as their soft skills, motivation, suitability as a student, ability to engage with their colleagues and ability to become an effective ambassador.
Like the essays, this is a great opportunity for the candidate to highlight their values, achievements, areas of improvement, desired progression and fit with the programme. We always value and appreciate it when candidates ask thoughtful questions about the programme.
Considering the diversity of regions and countries of our MBA candidates, many of our interviews are conducted virtually. That being said, we give applicants and interviewers the option to undertake the interview online or in person. We favour face-to-face encounters when possible, as we believe that live meetings are more engaging and both parties can make the most out of them.
CA: What is the ESCP admissions testing policy? Do you offer exam waivers? Why or why not?
IP: To be eligible for the MBA in International Management programme, applicants must meet the following entry requirements:
- Be proficient in English
- Hold a 4-year degree (240 ECTS) or a Master’s degree in any discipline + 2 years of significant professional experience
Or
- Hold a 3-year Bachelor degree (180 ECTS) in any discipline + 3 years of significant professional experience. A specific process of VAPP (Validation of Acquired Professional and Personal Knowledge) will be required to be considered for an interview. Candidates will need to complete a VAPP application that requires a Letter of recommendation, Copy of CV, Copy of recent diploma. VAPP applications must be sent to the recruiters before applying to the MBA programme. All applications will require final approval by our Admission Committee. Incomplete VAPP applications will be refused.
ESCP does not offer exam waivers with the exception of the English test, which is not necessary if a candidate studied in English or worked for at least 3 years in an English environment.
CA: In the ESCP admissions application data form, many schools ask for information about work experience, activities, hobbies, and much more. What advice would you give to applicants as they approach this component of the application process?
IP: As with your essays, it is best to be authentic. This is a great opportunity for you to show us who you are thanks to your achievements and the challenges you’ve experienced. Show us the person you would like to become thanks to your strengths and areas for improvement and how you believe you can achieve this.
CA: Tell us briefly about two popular courses at your institution.
IP: Our students often tell us that their experiences in the courses mentioned below have a lasting impact.
The International Business Simulation Seminar
The business simulation “The Car Challenge” provides students with the opportunity to experience the challenges of executive leadership and strategic decision-making in a realistic exercise that effectively emulates or simulates the full breadth and complexity of organisational decision-making in a complex, competitive marketplace.
The simulation involves teams of students, with each team operating a directly competing company in two different markets (regions 1 & 2).
This seminar has a strong practical orientation and approach, aiming at having a strong impact on the participants and promoting a change in their understanding of business, the society encouraging them to be key players in navigating the unfolding changes and, hence, to be mindful of their attitude and behaviour as future leaders.
This seminar offers a great opportunity for networking, as they are delivered for the entire cohort, with several activities ranging from social events to group activities, offering the possibility of sharing knowledge and experience as well as networking and experiencing intercultural dynamics.
The Company Consultancy Projects (CCP)
They are a key professional component of the programme. The first takes place during Period 1 and focuses on corporate sustainability challenges, the second takes place during Period 3 and is linked to the student’s chosen specialisation.
The CCP project is carried out in teams of 4 or 5 people. Participants are exposed to a high level of internationalisation and diversity (of backgrounds, cultures, experiences, skills, mindsets, approaches…) and have to work to achieve a common goal. Through this experience, they will develop the skills needed to work in a multicultural context. Supervised/Mentored by an ESCP tutor and working very closely with companies in a wide range of industries, the CCP enables students to demonstrate their skills to the companies engaged in these projects and to be offered an opportunity afterwards. Guidance is also provided by ESCP Career Advisors.
CA: Is there anything else you’d like to highlight about your MBA program or ESCP admissions process?
IP: We are also proud to share that our MBA programme has achieved third place globally for ESG and net zero teaching in the Financial Times 2024 MBA rankings.
In alignment with ESCP’s strategy and mission, the programme has adopted a holistic approach to sustainability to incorporate all ESG dimensions, including social sustainability, inclusion, diversity, gender parity, and digital sustainability, among several other dimensions. Sustainability and ESG are pillars of the MBA programme. In addition to the “Company Consultancy Project (CCP) focused on Sustainability in Period 1, sustainability topics are tackled in all courses from the induction seminar to the specialisation courses, always taking into account the consequences and solutions for our natural environment, society, business, and the affected territories. These actions strengthen students’ awareness and commitment to sustainable development and social responsibility, aligning with the programme’s mission of equipping future leaders to work towards a more sustainable global society.
Like sustainability, which is a cross-cutting focus of the programme, digitalisation and artificial intelligence are being gradually extended in a continuous and cross-disciplinary manner.
Lastly, we would also like to emphasise the importance the school places on gender diversity and equality. Our MBA in IM awards a “Women in Leadership” scholarship, and ESCP’s Women in Leadership Society was founded by MBA alumni and continues to be led by MBA students and alumni. With the support of the programme’s leadership team, the society organises encounters and networking events in a variety of formats with various business sectors to increase awareness and also dismantle stereotypes or preconceived ideas about careers, and career growth in some industries.
