Economic prospects are getting dull in Germany – but there are still many opportunities for our 1,000 alumni living there, says Aude Hennino (E97), Head of ESSEC Alumni’s Germany Chapter. 

ESSEC Alumni: How does ESSEC brand in Germany? 

Aude Hennino: The ESSEC brand is increasingly known in Germany, in particular thanks to the alumni of the ESSEC & Mannheim Executive MBA. The ties between ESSEC Business School and Germany are all the more important as Germany is, by far, the largest supplier and client of France. Both countries face the challenge of declining interest in learning the other country’s language though, with French and German people increasingly relying on English to communicate with each other. 

EA: Where do our alumni live in Germany? 

A. Hennino: Germany is a very diverse country with many industries (automotive, chemical, machinery…) and services, and relatively well-balanced economic power across the regions. This regional setup is reflected in the way our alumni spread across the country, with the largest communities being in Munich and Berlin, with almost 10% of our alumni each. Frankfurt hosts many banks, while Berlin attracts many start-ups and high-tech companies, and Hamburg has a long history of commerce and trade. Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Northrhine-Westfalen belong to the largest Bundesländer of the country in economic terms and account for 55% of our alumni altogether. 

EA: What opportunities are there in Germany for our alumni?

A. Hennino: Basically, any alumnus can come over to Germany and opportunities are similar to the ones in France. For alumni, it is a good opportunity to work and live abroad as well as discover a new culture while remaining close to France. 

EA: What is the current economics and/or politics situation currently in Germany? 

A. Hennino: Over the past decade, Germany was seen as being economically strong and having conducted structural reforms securing the country’s prosperity. Nevertheless, short-term growth prospects are pretty dull, with Germany's four leading economic institutes having recently slashed their forecasts and now expecting Europe's largest economy to slip into recession in 2023. Gross domestic product is expected to grow by 1.4% in 2022 before contracting by 0.4% in 2023. Germany is highly dependent on gas, and potential gas shortage could have a significant impact on the economic development. 

EA: As a foreigner, what makes it interesting to live in Germany?

A. Hennino: Workwise, there is some truth behind the cliché: Germans are very structured and organized. They also may seem blunt, but in reality they are just pretty straightforward, and favor constructive discussion over confrontation. Processes are usually well structured and once a decision has been made, it is followed – even if not fully adhered to – by everyone. As for leisure, you get easy access to skiing and hiking areas from the South as well as to the sea and various lakes in the North. There are also a lot of magnificent castles and landscapes to visit and enjoy. Hamburg in particular is known for its amazing villas along the Elbe and Alster rivers. You might also enjoy some highly popular traditions, such as Oktoberfest in Munich. Germans do love their beer – and food! When eating breakfast, the table looks like everything from the fridge has fallen onto the table. 

EA: What advice do you have for our alumni moving to Germany?

A. Hennino: I would recommend to learn German, even though many Germans speak good English. Try to be on time when you meet someone and remember that the working day tends to start earlier than in France. If you move to Germany for work, check the local tax and social security levels when negotiating your salary to avoid any disagreeable surprise when receiving your first payment. If you have children, carefully plan daycare and school ahead of moving: schools are often open until 1 or 2 pm at most (even if it has been improving lately). Last but not least, reach out to your local chapter president for local advice and support (see below for contacts).

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

A. Hennino: We have created regional chapters in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart and Düsseldorf/Cologne in order to reach out to as many alumni as possible and foster regular networking. Each Chapter organizes regular get-together events as well as some conferences about selected topics. 

EA: What are the latest events you organized? 

A. Hennino: In Munich, we just had a get-together at Osterwaldgarten in the English Garden. In addition, we seized the opportunity to celebrate the ESSEC Alumni Day with a focus on Diversity and Inclusion on October 13^th at Bistro Francais in Stuttgart and The Castle in Berlin. In Frankfurt, we had a boat tour on the Main together with Mannheim Business School alumni in July, and recently met for a crêpe-party at one of our alumni’s place. In Hamburg, our last get-together took place on October 27^th and it will be followed by a Christmas dinner on November 24^th. We plan to organize further get-together events in the winter as well as a rowing event in spring.

EA: How and why did you become the President of ESSEC Alumni’s Germany Chapter?

A. Hennino: When I came to Germany back in 2001, I did not know anyone and was very pleased to find some friends within the ESSEC alumni community. I even found my second job thanks to the ESSEC alumni networking in Frankfurt. Over the years, I built up some experience in organizing events, being an active member of other associations. Hence, it was natural for me to become the President of the German Chapter in 2019.

EA: Who are the members of your team? 

A. Hennino: The local Chapters are led by a great team, with Antoine Debore (M11) in Berlin, Verena Noske (IMHI 10) in Hamburg, David Svensson (IMHI 15) in Munich, Ayda Chamcham (M13) in Stuttgart, and myself in Frankfurt. Each local Chapter president is autonomous in organizing events together with their team. Whenever a local Chapter organizes a virtual conference, we evaluate together whether such event should be promoted to all alumni in Germany. For example, the alumni were pleased to join a conference on venture capital in Berlin as well as a presentation by a disaster relief organization in Hamburg by video. 

EA: Do you need more volunteers to get involved?

A. Hennino: We are looking for further volunteers. In particular, we are currently looking to revive the Cologne/Düsseldorf Chapter with a new President. If you are interested in taking up this challenge or supporting existing Chapters as a volunteer, do not hesitate to reach out to us!

Reach out to ESSEC Alumni’s team in Germany: 

- Berlin Chapter: Antoine Debore (M11) 

- Hamburg Chapter: Verena Noske (IMHI 10) 

- Munich Chapter: David Svensson (IMHI 15) 

-  Stuttgart Chapter: Ayda Chamcham (M13)

- Frankfurt Chapter & Germany Chapter: Aude Hennino (E97) 

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

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