A land of innovation and growth open to all cultures: Mamoun Guedira (E10), President of ESSEC Alumni’s Morocco Chapter, gives us his insight to this country and tells us about life for the 420 alumni there.

ESSEC Alumni: Is ESSEC a known entity in Morocco? 

Mamoun Guedira: Today, the ESSEC network is one of the most influential business school networks in Morocco. Our brand is recognised and sought after by both businesses and political decision-makers.

EA: What’s the ESSEC community like in Morocco? 

M. Guedira: There are more than 420 alumni, mainly split between Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakesh, and Tangier. They have varied careers, including executive managers in Casablanca and Rabat, senior civil servants in Rabat, and a number of entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs in every city.

EA: What opportunities can Morocco offer our alumni? 

M. Guedira: A lot of opportunities are opening up in the agri-food industry, healthcare, and financial services, especially in fintech and products to support computerized banking. Not to mention the whole innovation and start-up ecosystem.

EA: What aspects of Morocco are particularly appealing to expats? 

M. Guedira: Well, there’s the sun and the Mediterranean, but that’s not all! The country has launched major projects to facilitate mobility within and between cities, which enables tourists and expats to discover little-known historical and heritage gems. Indeed, Morocco lies at the crossroads of a great many civilizations, and is home to a large number of different cultures who live together in harmony, a fact that can be surprising to those who have never experienced it before.

EA: What advice can you give to alumni tempted by the Moroccan experience? 

M. Guedira: As soon as you arrive, get in touch with the Bureau of ESSEC Alumni’s Morocco Chapter

EA: What services does the Morocco Chapter offer?

M. Guedira: We work closely with the teams from the ESSEC Africa campus in Rabat, who participate in our events and whose executive training offerings we transmit to our members. We also publish cultural newsletters and organise numerous events.

EA: What are the most recent events you organised? 

M. Guedira: We ran a series of conferences with Moroccan decision-makers, both ESSEC and non-ESSEC, in keeping with our tradition of openness to the networks of other training institutions. The various themes included business opportunities involving Morocco and Israel, and the mechanisms of diversity and inclusion to foster women’s leadership in African organisations.

EA: Who are the members of your team? Do you need more volunteers to join you? 

M. Guedira: Our team consists of equal proportions of thirty- and forty-somethings working in Morocco’s public and private sectors. We welcome all willing participants with open arms! Don’t hesitate to send us your project for the local community and we’ll provide you with the necessary means and support to get things moving. In addition, it might interest some of you to know that the Bureau will be renewing its membership in April...

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

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