Discover the transformative journey of Joshua Arvind, who left India for the EDHEC Master’s in Management in France. In this article, we explore how Joshua’s experiences at EDHEC helped shape his career.
Joshua Arvind, an Indian expat now living in Paris, is a Data Migration Program Manager at L’Oréal. Joshua’s decision to live in France has its roots in his early fascination with the French language. As he recalls, “My grandfather spoke to me a lot about the country, about the influence of the French language on the English one…I think that’s where it started off.” (00:34)
The gateway to the life he has now began at EDHEC Business School, where he studied the Master’s in Management (MiM).
Despite being a prestigious business school ranked seventh in Europe by The Financial Times, Joshua’s interest in EDHEC was only sparked following a conversation with a representative at a fair. Joshua says, “The best exchange I had was with one gentleman who was then working for EDHEC, and he told me that he liked my profile.” (01:15)
This interaction blossomed into a lasting relationship, as the representative stayed in touch with Joshua and even secured an EDHEC scholarship for him. Financing his studies was a crucial factor in Joshua’s decision to enroll at EDHEC. Thanks to support from the French government and local Indian sources, he was able to secure more scholarships to reduce the amount he would have to borrow. (02:13)
Ultimately, Joshua only applied to EDHEC Business School, as he was impressed by the support they provided him. Of course, that was just the beginning of the benefits he would gain from the school.
When comparing his educational experiences in France and India, Joshua describes them as “night and day.”
He explains that during his time in India, the environment was more rigid, with long hours and strict expectations. However, “France is far more responsibility-driven where they give you a deadline a good six months in advance, and it’s up to you to get there.” (04:33) Of course, the faculty is there to provide guidance along the way.
During his time at EDHEC, Joshua had the opportunity to learn from two particularly inspiring professors. He fondly recalls a class on strategic thinking taught by Adil Meftah, a visiting professor, noting, “Two or three classes in, I realized the depth of his knowledge and how well he can onboard you.” (02:41)
Another professor who impacted Joshua was Christine Coisne, the MSc in Strategy, Organisation & Consulting Director at that time, who conducted a powerful one-hour workshop on personal branding. Kwon’s workshop provided Joshua with the tools to effectively communicate his value to potential employers, a skill that would later prove invaluable during his job search.
According to Joshua, she emphasized the importance of “bringing clarity of what your strengths are and how that translates to profit to the person sitting in front of you. … At the end, I came out with a sentence where I said, ‘I love learning and even if it seems that I’m taking a lot of time, at the end of it you can count on the fact that I’ve learned it well.’” (03:07)
These experiences illustrate the value of the diverse and enriching education Joshua received at EDHEC, both in terms of academic knowledge and personal development. The guidance and insights from dedicated professors like Mefta and Kwon shaped not only his time at the school but also his approach to his future career.
After graduating from EDHEC, Joshua’s career prospects were diverse, but he was determined to find a tech/data role. He says, “There were jobs available, but it was a little bit more of a struggle to find exactly what I wanted.” (05:52)
Although he had offers from various sectors, he decided to join an Indian IT consultancy firm in Paris. This job served as his stepping stone into the world of data, leading, after several more steps, to his current position at L’Oréal.
Throughout his career, Joshua has focused on building a strong professional network and driving value for his colleagues. He emphasizes the importance of these connections in his career growth, stating, “A lot of this job seeking is based on your network. It’s based on the value you drive to people that you work with.” (06:56) Joshua’s ability to communicate effectively and provide valuable insights has made him an indispensable asset to his employers and coworkers.
Joshua admits that he made some mistakes during his job career. Chief among them is prejudging L’Oréal based on its image rather than exploring potential opportunities within the company. While working as a consultant, he was given L’Oréal as a client and got the impression that only fashionable people could fit in there. That assumption led to him passing on an opportunity he would have been a fit for.
He shares, “I ended up working with them anyway after doing two years with another company. I could have started in-house, that was a possibility. But you live another day, you learn another day.” (10:12)
Joshua learned many lessons during his time at EDHEC, including how to make the most of his free time and manage his deadlines effectively. He advises, “Trust the process.” (11:04)
Attending EDHEC made Joshua’s profile significantly more appealing to potential employers. His experiences at the school and his perseverance in pursuing his passion for data ultimately led him to a successful career in France.
Trusting the process and being patient were crucial elements in Joshua’s transformative journey, proving that taking a leap of faith can indeed lead to remarkable opportunities and personal growth.
To learn more about studying at EDECH and to connect with ambassadors like Joshua, visit the MASTERGRADSCHOOLS ambassador’s page.
