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MBA at ESCP business school | London vs Paris | Entrepreneurial Journey



Name: Gulliana

Country: Peru 🇵🇪

How Moved to France 🇫🇷: For studies

University: ESCP Business School (MBA)


Meet Gulliana! In this episode of Tell Me Panda I Talks, she shares her journey from Peru to France, where she pursued an MBA at ESCP Business School, started a robotics business, and faced the ups and downs of studying and living abroad. Discover her inspiring story and get tips on following your dreams in a new country.


Timecodes:

00:00 - Intro

00:53​ - From Peru to France: Studying in France for an MBA

07:16 - Living abroad: London vs Paris

11:06 - Culture Shocks: UK vs France

16:18 - Launching a Startup in France

27:12 - Feeling Homesick While Living Abroad: Do You Miss Peru?

31:40 - Advice for Aspiring Students and Entrepreneurs


From Peru to France: Studying in France for an MBA


Elina: Why did you come to France, and what are you doing today?


Gulliana: I'm Gulliana. I'm from Peru, and I decided to do my MBA here in France because France has always inspired me. It sounds cliche, but I have always wanted to learn about another culture and language, so I decided to study here. I knew there was ample opportunity for a startup here in France, so I applied to several universities in Spain and France. In the end, I received many acceptances from universities, but in the end, I decided to go for ESCP, and I'm thrilled because they helped me with their entrepreneurship planning. I didn't know we had some courses in that area, so I took one in London. I did the Paris and London tracks and the entrepreneurial course. My team won the contest, so I'm happy about that, and it's great. I'm grateful after all these years of being here.


Elina: can you tell us more about this MBA program? Many people are thinking about an MBA, so what does it cost, and is it worth it, or should you be prepared to pass difficult exams to be accepted?

Gulliana: it was a tough decision because it is not only because you are traveling so far from your family; in my case, I'm from South America, but it just has to think about getting along and having the money at the time I had a car so I had to sell it and had to take my savings as well and I took a loan at the same time, all that helped me to come here and make my dream as this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to go to France, so I was very persistent and finally did it.


Elina: After your studies, have you decided to stay in France?


Gulliana: Yes, I decided to stay here, actually I wasn't sure about the deal to stay here because life is costly here in comparison, especially in Paris, like compared to Peru or Latin America it's different, but at the same time I'm very ambitious, and I said to myself that since I have a diploma and I have a double degree here so, maybe I can look for opportunities. That's what I did. I came back to Peru when I finished my MBA, and I still work for the company, but still in my head, all the time, it was like, oh, the idea of okay France, like you have to come back there is more there so go there like and I took a risk, I quit my job, and then I decided just to come here to France.


Elina: Okay, so if I understood, you're in the right way. You did your bachelor's and master's studies in Peru; they were in finance, right? It was business administration, then you worked for several years in finance, and then you decided to do your MBA in France, right?


Gulliana: Yes, that's right. I decided to do my MBA in France. It was an MBA in International Management, and it lasted 11 months. It's a program for 11 months, and then you can travel for six months in one place and the rest in another. ESCP has several campuses, so five campuses, so I decided to be in Paris and London, and I do not regret it. The cities are costly, especially London, but I am happy they have the best teachers, especially in finance. It benefited me, and I have a different mindset after this program.


Elina: So you had classes in English, right? And the class was International, so you had people from everywhere?


Gulliana: Oh, from every part of the world, like from Asia, Germany, from South America as well, so it was a great group, like we were a team of 150 in the first track well, so great people with different types of mindsets that was great.


Living abroad: London vs Paris


Elina: That's great. It's a very enriching experience, but now, can you compare London and Paris? What are the similarities, and what are the differences?


Gulliana: Oh wow, to start with, the rent is high. It's high in London. It can be like 20% more in London compared to Paris food, of course, and well, I could not allow myself as a student to go to as many restaurants as I did in Paris because it was expensive. Still, I went with many friends to some restaurants as well, but life is quite costly, so you need a perfect budget to go to London, but it's worth it. Life is more expensive, but the courses, classes, and school were great.


Elina: And what do you think about diversity?


Gulliana: It is true, like the French culture, they are very close and, as I mean, to integrate into the society here, the French society and you have to speak the language, so I mean for me, it's like I mean I came with basic knowledge in French and especially when I was like with many International people I just forgot like the basic french, but really to integrate here in France you have to talk in French so one recommendation for people who are coming to do their programs internationally and especially if you choose France it's like to talk about the language so learn the language and if you want to apply for jobs it's essential to learn. It's like you don't know if they are yelling at you or being nice to you, so it's bizarre to understand the French culture because I thought they were always screaming everywhere. Still, no, I was really like when I started learning in French, I understood, okay, this is the culture. This is how they talk. They are sarcastic as well. Okay, it's not the same humor as in America. Hence, it's like, okay, charming, charming joke. Also, it would help if you handled the culture, so it's great. You get used to it at the beginning, and it could be weird to adapt, but then French is a quirky culture at the end of the day.


Culture Shocks: UK vs France


Elina: What would your cultural shock be like, one for France and one for the UK?


Gulliana: I mean the way that here in France people are very independent they don't care I mean if you ask for help they probably would say yes okay they will help you but most of the time people are like I don't know but in UK they're like oh do you need help, they are more open like I mean if we have to compare cultures they are wide open, they are more willing, more eager like we need to help people so I haven't had like any complaint while I was living there but here in Paris well when I moved here in 2020 I think I saw the reality of living here every day not as a student but as someone that is living here and going to the Boulangerie to the supermarket or have to do some paper work like I mean then you really have to take the challenge that okay it's a natural barrier, the language this is what you need to really speak and be able to do that so I've been lucky because I have someone that could really be there to support me all the time but it's not easy at the beginning so it's hard like at the beginning. So I'm from South America, and we have an open-minded culture and are delighted to receive people. I'm thrilled to talk with tourists and everyone, and we are very helpful, but here, I found that it's pretty different. One of my best friends is from France, and she's from somewhere other than Paris, but she's cool, so I don't want to generalize. Still, it is mainly in Paris where they don't have an excellent impression. Outside, they're cool, but they're more arrogant in Paris.


Launching a startup in France


Elina: Now we are moving to the most exciting part of our conversation. So, struggling to find a job, you set up your own business? Tell me about it.


Gulliana: I am the founder of the Kidi Geek Project. The idea is to do robotics activities for kids. It started during the pandemic when I was in college because I didn't find a job, and I struggled a lot, so I decided I needed to have some income and do some jobs. I worked as a babysitter, the most straightforward way to earn money, and cared for two little girls. These two little girls were great. They were fantastic with me, and I loved them, but at the same time, I figured out that I'm more aware of their education. I started to do more research about education. I tried to find opportunities in the market. Then I discovered that, for example, kids could be better at mathematics and STEM activities in France, so I saw an opportunity here. In America, we are used to tutoring, like STEM activities, science addicts, technology, and Engineering, so I said okay, I will propose it. I started searching for that, and I found Kidi Geek. The children need to be made aware of robotics. I don't want my kids to use a screen they are not suitable for, but they are. The kids develop more self-confidence and different skills, so now the parents are switching the type of lines that they have, so it's great.


Elina: Do you remember your first Atelier?


Gulliana: Oh yes, I was nervous. I mean, it was in French, and they took me. I mean, they took me for one week. The whole week, I had to do a workshop for about an hour and a half, and by that time, I had an animator who helped me in French; he is a French native, and I had to explain to him in French as well with my little accent, but I did it anyway, and he understood my business. Hence, it was great because I connected perfectly with my animator, who helped me do a great job.


Elina: Why did you decide to apply for the Blue Factory incubator? Did you need some help to be supported and mentored?

Gulliana: Yes, I mean, it was a massive challenge for me to start a company here in France, so I decided that I needed a mentor since we have been in those types of entrepreneurial programs during the MBA; I was aware that there was an incubator at ESC. I found Blue Factory, so I always had it and decided to apply. When I applied, I passed several interviews. There was a selection process, and in the end, I convinced them. My mentor was great, and she helped me a lot of times with my struggle, like doing some one-to-one coaching, which enabled me to be more confident because, on this path as an entrepreneur, it's not easy. Still, you struggle a lot and sometimes want to give up. Still, it's like okay, no, you have your mentor, and when you have this type of problem and your mentors like already okay pushing you to do your best, so that's what I have done until now, so I'm grateful for that if you're an entrepreneur we recommend this program. We had different conferences with different people, which helped us understand our path to becoming an entrepreneur.


Elina: For you, what is the most exciting part about being an entrepreneur?


Gulliana: The most exciting part is the challenge of going to one of those workshops and teaching robotics to the kids without having experience as a teacher but being aware that the kids are human beings. They are there for you, and you are the leader for them, so it's like for me, it was essential to be clear that I'm the leader. I'm here for them and want to add value to their education, so that was the most valuable thing for me.


Elina: And what is the most challenging part?


Gulliana: The most challenging part for me is trying to control a few kids because sometimes they are, as I said, very excited, and sometimes it's tough to, okay, calm down, kids, calm down. It's tough because I mean, I don't think I have the skills to do that because I haven't had the education as a teacher but, but I mean, I have some tips from some mentors as well, so they are helping me in proofing that in a way.


Elina: Do you have a vision for your company within five or ten years?


Gulliana: Yes, I would love to be in South America. I would love to develop my business there. I would love to be International. South America is mainly a developing country, so they might need more help from us and offer free robotics courses, like helping kids grow and develop education, because the education there is unsuitable. It's not that we need to do more work; we need to work on that, so I'm aware of that and want to contribute in some way. Still, I'm doing my best here. I will see you in a few years.


Feeling Homesick While Living Abroad: Do You Miss Peru?


Elina: Do you miss Peru?


Gulliana: Oh yes, I miss my country. I'm going on vacation soon. It's been over a year, so I miss my country, family, food, and gastronomy. Like its delicious gastronomy and Peruvian gastronomy, it's fantastic.


Elina: What is your specialty?

Gulliana: Oh, for me, it could be "Lomo saltado," actually our gastronomy, and it's like a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese, so it's my thing.


Elina: But talking about Peru and France, what are the differences between the cultures?


Gulliana: In the French culture, managers are more direct. Like we're selling things, they come to you, they come to your house, they set up a meeting, and then they say to you, like okay, I'm selling you this quote. I'm offering you this product, but I like the interaction that doesn't have emotions. In America, it's different. We have emotions, and we prefer building the relationship first to have a good connection with that person and then developing the business. In Peru, it's like, let's go for the relationship now. I come from that culture, and I've been doing this kind of work in France. French people are stringent, and they go straight to the point, but it's like I prefer to get to know the people, their intentions, or the way they work and then develop the business with them because maybe the person is not the right person that you want to work with. I try to bring some of my culture to my finance environment, but it's working well.


Elina: And what about entrepreneurship in Peru? Do you have some opportunities to get some government support from incubators?


Gulliana: Nowadays, I have heard there that they're starting to develop and create some startups, so there are great opportunities right now for new startups in Peru. I know it's a challenging market as well. Still, it's not possible to grow as a startup in Peru, so definitely, like, I'm thinking someday, not too far in two years, maybe two years we've seen, I want to be there and contribute with dedication.

Advice for Aspiring Students and Entrepreneurs


Elina: What would be your advice for those thinking about France, like those who want to study here or probably just up to set up their own business?


Gulliana: Okay, so be aware that it's not an easy task, but if you are motivated, you will do well. For example, I came here to do my MBA and master's but decided to be an entrepreneur. Hence, it's not that easy cause, in the beginning, I had the mindset to be salaried, but the entrepreneurial mindset is there, so it's possible to develop a business in France. Suppose you have ambitions and goals; you are willing to focus on the entrepreneurial path and must be robust. In France, you have to learn the language to overcome some challenges like paperwork, with your accountant, or subscribing to your company in legal terms, so the conclusion is to go and learn French.


🎥 Note: this video was filmed in June 2022





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