MBA: Quality counts

Paris is the place for an unusual programme

Kevin Sara, 37, did an MBA at the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees and is now head of technology investment banking for the Japanese investment bank, Nomura International, in London.

"I chose ENPC because of the quality of the courses being offered and because of the quality of the faculty. This is definitely a leadership type of programme. The strength of the MBA is its academic curriculum and the quality of the courses and the professors who teach there. It really does prepare you for business life. It's far in advance of other business schools. It's like a CEO type of fast track. They make sure you understand finance, operations and marketing.

"It's extremely well balanced. ENPC have a fantastic network of alumni which is truly global.

"Especially useful are the connections to Japan, the USA, South America and throughout Europe, as well as in Israel. I wanted to do an MBA because I wanted to make a career transition from management consultancy into investment banking. It worked. I was initially hired to start up a mergers and acquisitions practice in the telecommunications sector at the then Union Bank of Switzerland in London. From there I was headhunted by Salomon Brothers to co-found a telecommunications and media investment banking group. That lasted until I left for Nomura."