In Reflets #152, Tina Robiolle (E00) looks back at her career, from behind the scenes of the music industry to telecommunications, negotiation and international war zones. It is education, however, that has always been at the heart of her activities. Here is a free online translation of an excerpt of the article… subscribe to get the next issues (in French) 

During her admission interview for ESSEC, Tina Robiolle explained to the jury that she was destined for the ‘non-profit’ sector and international relations. ‘This was an atypical choice at the time, which set me apart from the others.’ 

She thus got involved in ESSEC’s Humanitarian Partnership association (EPH), which raises funds and collects books for African schools. Tina also co-founded a non-profit organisation devoted to promoting music, her other passion in life. She thus worked with several record labels, including Sony, which led to an unexpected opportunity.

‘They offered me a work placement in marketing, which became a permanent contract once I had completed my studies.’ Tina negotiated a sabbatical year on a temporary contract. ‘I was in charge of launching international artists on the French market. I found myself working with stars such as Shakira, Chayanne or Mariah Carey, All while continuing to read Le Monde Diplomatique...’ 

Two rooms, two atmospheres

Tina Robiolle never lost sight of her initial ambitions. She returned to the School to act as a mentor for the newly-created ESSEC IRENÉ (Institute for Research and Teaching in Negotiation). ‘Negotiation is a powerful tool in conflict management and international relations. It was only natural I should get involved.’ She began by taking on business development tasks for the institute, and was then asked to co-lead classes for Masters programmes at ESSEC and ENA. ‘I learnt everything on the ground.’ 

She nevertheless wanted to add practice to theory, and thus applied for the Telecom Talent programme, which France Telecom had just launched. This programme for high-potential candidates provided her with immediate access to senior-level responsibilities. ‘My first position was shop manager, heading a team of some fifteen people.’ She found herself facing a concrete reality. ‘How do you manage a dissatisfied customer, for example? The team and I set up a procedure: first, identify their level of anger; if it exceeds a certain threshold, call on a first person who crystallises their aggressiveness, then a second who suggests solutions.’ 

High tension

Sure, retail outwardly seems to be a far cry from the non-profit sector, ‘but I’m a firm believer in skills that are transferable from one sector to another.’ Tina Robiolle tested this theory while pursuing her actions for IRENÉ. ‘During my holidays, I led seminars on negotiation in business schools, or facilitated conferences in Burundi and the DRC in partnership with the UN. In Burundi, I had to bring together and teach negotiation techniques to people who had spent a decade fighting each other, to help them deal with their objections in ways other than armed conflict, to provide them with the foundations of a working relationship, discover the humans behind the positions and succeed in collaborating to find lasting solutions.’ She has vivid memories of this experience. ‘A man once asked me if we were magicians. One of the participants had ordered the assassination of his wife before his eyes and yet, thanks to our intervention, both men could now speak and even agree with each other.’ 

From Africa to Afghanistan

Tina Robiolle left France Telecom after a few years to move to the USA and devote her time to freelance consulting for international and non-governmental organisations. A PhD from the Fletcher School in Boston enabled her to specialise in the relation between education and conflict. Education in peace for UNESCO, assessment of the HD’s mediation missions for humanitarian dialogue in Libya and Syria, or facilitation of a stabilisation plan in the Lake Chad region for the UN development programme in Nigeria; each mission was very different from the last. She has a special fondness for one mission in particular.

From 2009 to 2019, I led the Afghan Women Leaders Initiative alongside my mother Fahimeh, under the initiative of Nobel Peace prize-winner Shirin Ebadi, who I had met at an ESSEC event in 2006. At that time, Afghan women were beginning to occupy a more significant role in politics. They lacked the tools, however, to exercise their duties. With the support of ESSEC, we developed Persian-language training programmes, notably to assist women deputies and the first female candidate for the vice-presidency of Afghanistan, or the only three women to take part in the negotiation process with the Taliban in 2019. 

International class

Tina Robiolle’s career may have opened many doors for her, but education has been her constant focus. She remained true to this on her return to France. ‘I began as Dean of the Master in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po PSIA. Then ESSEC offered me the position of Head of Studies for the Master in Management and Masters, which I am delighted to hold today. It’s a new opportunity to give back to the school what it once gave me.’ 

A return to the mothership - even if she never truly left it. ‘I stayed involved by regularly giving classes in negotiation, participating in admission jury panels, running the ESSEC Alumni’s San Francisco Chapter, following the EWA Boost’ mentorship programme by ESSEC Women Alumni and by joining ESSEC Alumni’s administration board, where I still sit.’ 

She completes the circle with her academic roles. ‘My career basically illustrates the possibilities of ESSEC’s teaching model, i.e., the agility and flexibility of the Master in Management and the true individualisation of the study path. This empowerment incites students to think outside the box, stray off the beaten path, embrace their choices and accept the unforeseen as opportunities. I would never have had the same career if I had gone to another school. And I don’t regret a single detour.’ 

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

Translation of an excerpt of an article published in Reflets Magazine #152. Get the next issues (in French)