When I finally received my acceptance letter from a business school, I was delighted that a new chapter in my life was about to begin. Despite my unconventional career background, I felt this was my last opportunity to follow a new career path.

I studied children’s education and psychology at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul before heading to the UAE to work for Emirates Group. I spent eight years flying as a cabin crew member and two years as a senior trainer at Emirates Group Training College in Dubai. 

It is difficult to move away from 10 years in the aviation without reeducation. I started to think about the steps I would need to take for a new career.

I was convinced that an MBA would present new opportunities that I wanted, but before selecting a school I had to consider my options ― what I wanted to do with an MBA, what I need to do, and which school would help me pursue my dream.

First, I decided I wanted to become a brand manager in a leading luxury company. Then, I needed to combine the leadership skills I had developed from my previous job with the business and management skills I would gain from an MBA. Listing these skill sets helped me decide the subjects I wanted to focus on, and create timelines for summer internships and job interviews.

Finally, I realized studying in France would provide the best route to my dream job. Why? France is the home of luxury, and Paris is at its heart. HEC Paris offers leading courses associated with luxury, in addition to rigorous academic programs and exchange opportunities all over the world.

Due to the school’s relationship with other top management schools around the globe, I had the opportunity to study abroad at HKUST in Hong Kong, to develop my understanding of the Asian luxury market.

There’s also the invaluable alumni network. I received advice from alumni in the luxury industry ― including Jun Ji-hyun, the country general manager of Balenciaga Korea at Kering Group and Jean-Paul Agon, CEO of L’Oreal ― regarding job searching, interviews and networking skills.

Thanks to them, I was hired as a consultant for L’Oreal Paris to work on their digital innovation project during the summer.

Living in Paris also helped me expand my horizons and understand different cultures.

The language barrier was quite challenging at times, but there was still a real sense of community. I benefited from learning the language, which helped me understand the culture of the country. Having an open and tolerant mindset helps to be a part of a multicultural family here.

Through studying abroad, I met amazing classmates. Though everyone had different dreams, we worked together to help each other accomplish them. I will always remember the many late nights spent working together on team projects or sharing a glass of wine.

Learning to collaborate with more than seven different nationalities has definitely helped me to become a strong team player and, more importantly, to become a better leader. I know these people will be a valuable network for the rest of my life.

By Kwon Yu-jung 

Kwon is graduating from an MBA course at Hautes Etudes Commerciales de Paris this month. She is a recipient of the HEC Paris MBA Scholarship for Excellence. ― Ed.