Welcoming our January 2025 Intake!
With 100 new students belonging to the January cohort on campus, the HEC Paris MBA celebrates the completion of the Class of 2026. A 95% international batch, our J25 cohort is comprised of 46% women – a new record!
From backgrounds ranging from law to pro wrestling, experiences on the race track and the chemistry lab, we present a few of our newly arrived, uniquely talented participants.
Boston-based Kathryn Kochevar recently donated a kidney to a stranger. Kathryn, who works at Bain & Company, reflects:
“You have no idea the impact you can have on anybody, whether it’s donating a kidney or giving somebody a smile.”
In keeping with the camaraderie inherent in our MBA program, we are sure Kathryn will have a positive impact on the community.
Jose Harb of France and Lebanon joins us from the track, having worked as lead systems engineer for the Alpine Formula One Team. On how racing has prepared him for HEC, Jose says
“Motorsport is all about high-pressure decision-making, teamwork, and continuous optimization—skills that translate directly into the MBA. Just like in racing, success here depends on adaptability, strategic thinking, and execution under tight deadlines.”
Speaking of surprising sports backgrounds, Rafael Camus of the Philippines joins us as a VP of Content Production but is also a professional wrestler.
“Professional wrestling is, in essence, at the intersection of entertainment and entrepreneurship. Even if you believe it’s fake, wrestlers cultivate unique brands that have to capture audiences’ imaginations to sell tickets and merchandise while telling a story through sport. Storytelling becomes a powerful marketing tool, giving the audience a compelling reason to come back for each show."
Tatiana Ramirez has traveled in China, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, the US, and now France. If you catch her around campus, ask about her recent winter break trip across Southeast Asia! With a background in finance, Tatiana says she chose HEC because she wanted a globally diverse and collaborative environment that would challenge her to grow both personally and professionally.
“I was drawn to HEC’s strong academic reputation, dynamic network, and opportunities to engage with peers from all over the world.”
Tatiana is excited to immerse herself in the experience, refine her leadership skills, and pursue her goal of transitioning into consulting.
Already an ambassador for the Women in Leadership Club, and an HEC Paris MBA Scholarship for Excellence recipient, Soha Abou Ibrahim holds a PhD in Biophysical Chemistry and is a devoted mother.
“I’m looking forward to embarking on this dynamic journey, collaborating with inspiring peers from around the world, and embracing the challenges and growth opportunities that lie ahead.”
Making HEC a family affair, Uditi and Varun Rajput of India are pursuing the MBA together! She is from a prestigious law background, formerly of Atos, and Varun has worked at CapGemini and Airbus. Asked what it’s been like to study side by side, Uditi quips:
“The MBA is intense, but sharing this journey allows us to support each other while enjoying the little moments like grabbing coffee in between classes, exploring new ideas, and having deep conversations about what we're learning… until we remember we’re competing for the same internship!”
We are delighted to be joined by these talented students and all of their classmates representing 39 different nationalities. Welcome to the HEC Paris family!