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For Chilean native Plinio Herrera Schuwirth, the decision to move to France wasn’t driven by the usual considerations. A self-professed adventurer who's "addicted to learning new things and getting to know new cultures", Plinio's relocation was in pursuit of a different kind of French dream.

Having spent much of his career as an operations manager and general manager at an agricultural company, Plinio had developed a passion for sustainability. Keen to pursue his interest in working with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues, he began exploring opportunities in ESG education.

On his online journey, he came across EDHEC, a prestigious French business school with campuses in Lille, Nice, Paris, Singapore, and London. He was instantly drawn to the school, attracted by its personalised approach, diverse cohort and reputation as a global leader in ESG education. EDHEC's Global MBA is renowned for its focus on ESG, consistently ranking among the top four in the world by the Financial Times.

"I watched their videos on YouTube and was instantly interested," says Plinio. "I was particularly drawn to some unique courses that are not widely available on other MBA programmes, such as Leadership Coaching and Criminal Risk Management."

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A foot in the door

Plinio took the leap, enrolling at EDHEC and moving to France on a student visa with his wife and two young daughters. From day one, the school was there to support him and make sure the relocation went as smoothly as possibly. “EDHEC goes above and beyond to provide a tailored experience. They even connect you with other students who have faced similar situations, such as moving abroad with a family, finding schools for children, or other challenges.”

Thanks to the small size of the Global MBA cohort, Plinio had no trouble settling into French life and feeling like part of the professional community. "You get to know everyone, unlike schools with large impersonal cohorts," he explains. "Even today, four years after the MBA, I keep in contact with some professors and directors."

While Plinio acknowledges that a foreign resident can build a network in France without attending business school, he believes access to such a high-quality network would have taken years to develop independently. "It gives you a head start, especially when moving abroad and starting from scratch."

These contacts proved pivotal when Plinio graduated in 2020 and decided to settle in France and establish his business, The Regulated Carbon Project, a fintech company dedicated to democratising access to the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). He was granted a talent visa for his company’s potential to positively impact the French economy, allowing him and his family to stay in France for up to four years.

The establishment involved overcoming bureaucratic hurdles and adapting to cultural differences, but his EDHEC network was always there to provide Plinio with support and guidance. "You will always find someone to ask the questions you need to ask to open the business. It's not easy, for sure, but it's something you can totally achieve."

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Building a life in France

Having decided to make France their home, Plinio and his family fully committed to learning the language and embracing French culture. “When you step out of your comfort zone, you step into the learning zone,” he reflects. “That’s when you become open to learning new things. Among those is the language, of course.”

Although making friends was slow at first, Plinio found that once he broke through the initial barriers, his French friends became some of the most loyal and supportive friends he could hope for.

Relocating to any new country is never without challenges, but Plinio believes the Global MBA has opened – and continues to open – doors for him. With EDHEC's extensive alumni network, you never feel like an outsider; there's always a fellow graduate ready to lend a helping hand. "I always aim to contact that person, and they introduce you to another person. In that way, it's helped a lot."

Begin your journey to a new successful career in France with EDHEC's world-class MBA programmes