ESSEC Alumni in Saudi Arabia: “The country’s economy is the locomotive of the region”

Bastien Blanc (IMHI 97), President of our Saudi Arabia Chapter, tells us more about our local alumni community and the services he provides them.

ESSEC Alumni: What are the profiles and backgrounds of our alumni in Saudi Arabia? 

Bastien Blanc: We have about 100 alumni registered in the country. Some have been living here for over 20 years, others arrived just a few months ago. Most are located in the capital Riyadh, though we have some in Jeddah and Al Khobar, which are major cities on opposite coasts, and a few others in remote locations. Jobs and positions vary from asset manager to CEO, with a good spread in between publicly led companies, private conglomerates, SMEs, and sometimes major players of the Kingdom’s economy.

EA: What opportunities are there in Saudi Arabia for our alumni?

B. Blanc: Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East with over 35 million inhabitants. It also has a young population: 70% of the citizens are below 30 years old. And the political drive is strong with the government’s strategic plan Saudi Vision 2030, which includes many changes of rules and regulations to fuel growth. All this makes for a very dynamic economy, the locomotive of the region really, and a significant force to reckon with on the world stage. Saudi Arabia has been investing, through PIF (Public Investment Fund), in over 12 industries, from aerospace and automobile, to real estate, utilities, and much more. There are many unique, sometimes gigantic projects on the way, providing a lot of jobs. For example, it is worth mentioning that Saudi Arabia has a 2 millions sq. km territory, nearly 4 times France, and is developing many new areas around the country, opening as many opportunities.  

EA: How strong is the ESSEC brand awareness in Saudi Arabia?

B. Blanc: The past few years have seen many visits by ESSEC leaders, including Dean Vincenzo Vinzi, which strengthened our visibility. Additionally, ESSEC was one of the few schools selected to take part in the ‘Tourism Trailblazers’ government program, a $100mn initiative to train Saudi youth on tourism jobs, via IMHI. We’re doing good for ourselves.

EA: What advice do you have for our alumni moving in Saudi Arabia?

B. Blanc: Saudi Arabia is very often misunderstood from outside, hence take the time to contact alumni who live here and can give you the right info from the ground. They’ll explain how and why the quality of life has evolved greatly over the past 5 years. All new comers are positively surprised!

EA: What are the offer and services of ESSEC Alumni’s Saudi Arabia Chapter? 

B. Blanc: We meet once a month, usually around C-Suite leaders of local key projects or companies to keep track of economics news while networking. Our latest events were an Iftar dinner for Ramadan, a talk with the CEO of Dan, an agri- and eco-tourism company, a conference on the future of luxury with a panel of experts, and an exclusive visit with VOV Gaming’s CMO. We are also committed to ensure we support the landing of new comers.

Join our Saudi Arabia Chapter and our 125 clubs and chapters!

Interview by Louis Armengaud Wurmser (E10), Content Manager at ESSEC Alumni 

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