David Roe, United Kingdom
My background is in Engineering, and I have spent most of my career in the offshore oil and gas industry. Two years ago, I decided to do something completely different. I joined a start-up firm in a leading role to design and manufacture a cutting-edge insect-farm: feeding low value food waste to fly larvae as a sustainable protein source! The work was intensely challenging but rewarding, and has given me a wonderful insight into how to grow a young business. Sustainability is something I have a real passion for, and it was a great privilege to be a part of the company’s transformation to a fully-fledged commercial enterprise.
I chose to study an MBA to take the next step and accelerate my career. My partner Liz, and my 12-year old husky, Maddox, shall be travelling to Lausanne with me.
It was especially important to me that Liz would feel comfortable settling in a different country, and have the opportunity to grow from the experience. After talking to Marcella (head of the Partner Integration Program) and learning of the support and opportunities on offer for partners, I was convinced the move to IMD would benefit us both.
Liz and I have lived much of our lives in North-East Scotland, near the beautiful Cairngorms national park, and we are greatly looking forward to getting out into the Swiss mountains.
I was thrilled and flattered to receive one of the Merit Scholarship awards for this year. I have great hope and excitement for the year ahead, and I cannot wait to start.
David
Franck Calleeuw, France
I have been a supply chain engineer for the past 7 years now, and I felt that it was time for me to have an experience of this kind: to take a step back and reflect on what I achieved so far, to think about what I want for my future and pave the way in order to reach my next goals. This is what my MBA will be about.
I chose IMD because of the excellence of the academic experience, and because its recognition in the industry world is like no other.
I was fortunate enough to be chosen by IMD to be part of the next cohort, and to be supported by them through the Merit Scholarship. Since I was 16 years old, I have been financially independent, working nights and weekends to afford my previous studies that brought me to where I am today. This gesture of trust and comprehension goes a long way for me, and I can’t wait to give back in every way that I can – be it by sharing my experiences in class, or helping out foreigners to get to know the Lausanne area, where I have been living for the past 5 years.
Franck
