Former circus performer Sydney Martinie is swinging into a new career after EMLYON Business School.
Two decades of intensive dance and aerial training has given Sydney Martinie, a sassy business development executive based in Texas, a career as a circus artist at groups including Cirque Imagine, a leading French performance company. But you wouldn’t know it. The EMLYON Business School MBA is expanding Sylpheo, a company which creates apps and helps businesses integrate with Salesforce, its partner and the NYSE-listed cloud and enterprise software corporation, into North America.
After working for world-renowned productions such as the French opera festival Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, she moved to Dallas and launched her first company importing stonework from France with her partner and now husband.
She chose to study at France’s EMLYON for its focus on entrepreneurship and enrolled in 2013. She finished the MBA in March this year.
She has no plans to leave Sylpheo but eventually pictures herself mentoring venture capital-backed start-up companies.
Why did you decide to begin an MBA degree?
I always knew I wanted to pursue a business degree after my undergrad, I just wanted to take my time experiencing life beforehand.
The EMLYON International MBA focuses on entrepreneurship and actively seeks atypical profiles like mine. I’m a former circus artist — albeit one with an entrepreneurial background and more moxie than you can shake a stick at — and I needed a degree to help connect the dots. Business school gives you the analytical tools and framework to do that.
How helpful was the MBA in securing your current job?
It was helpful in that it indirectly gave me a network through Allyage [a foundation which helps students and alumni succeed in their careers] and French EMLYON alumnus Nicolas Pujol — a self-proclaimed nomad and a great guy, I might add — who currently lives and works in the US.
What is your biggest lesson learnt?
Never give a potential employer the impression that you doubt yourself in the role you’re seeking. I think women tend to do this more often than men; if we aren’t pro’s at something, we feel incapable of saying we can do it.
If you want to evolve professionally you’ve got to think: "I’ve never done this but I’m good enough; I’m smart enough, and I’m capable of learning how."
How do you deal with male-dominated environments?
I don’t notice it to be honest. We should draw attention to our capabilities, not to our gender.
What advice would you give to MBA students who are about to graduate from business school?
I’d say the degree per se will lose its value with the sheer volume of MBAs being cranked out these days. So I probably wouldn’t list it in my headliner on LinkedIn, for example.
Set yourself apart and incorporate any quixotic experiences that you consider an integral part of your identity. In the end we’re all storytellers, so tell a story that is brief and compelling. All your experiences have value, the key is finding how to market them.
What has been your greatest challenge at Sylpheo so far?
Sylpheo is one of the top Salesforce and Heroku partners in Europe, but until now has [had] zero visibility in the US, so my biggest challenge has been opening up a new market, building contacts, and aligning our marketing and sales [while] keeping in mind that the approach varies between Europe and the US.
I think I’ve held up pretty good so far. “Gotta roll up yer sleeves,” as one would say in Texas.
What are your future career plans?
I plan on continuing to develop Sylpheo in the US and build the core team here.
Eventually I see myself playing a role as a mentor for early-stage VC-funded start-ups — perhaps with a Trans-Atlantic twist — aiding young companies on their path to greatness. Or maybe I’ll start a goat farm or aerial yoga retreat in the Hill Country. The jury is still out on that one.
Student Reviews
Intense courses, helpful professors
I am an international student in my 3rd year and I love going to this school and do not regret chosing it for my BBA.
The classes are helpful, professors are always there to help as well and we have a very understanding administration.
Leadership in an amazing city
I decided to do my exchange in Emlyon because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, and I found a space with very capable People.. participatory, empathetic and full of leadership. I will never forget Lyon, apart from giving me an unforgettable experience, he gave me great friends
A lot of opportunities professionally and socially. A unique program in France.
You can choose your courses and do your internship, exchange whenever you want. It's flexible and adapted to the needs of each student. A great program and a great city! Professionally, it opens a lot of doors for you to find internships or jobs in France or abroad thanks to the network and career events.
MSc in Digital Marketing
Combining both worlds into one, this course gave me all the on-demand technical skills in data science while maintaining a business-oriented approach. Thanks to the strong academic profile of this university I was able to secure an internship and full-time job at Amazon.
Top Business School fostering innovative entrepreneurs
EMLyon is one of the best business schools. The campuses, associations and courses offered provide the students with the best options to build the future they have chosen. The various opportunities to study and work abroad also offer a deeper understanding of the world, not only economy-wise but social, which helps the student become as well a better individual and not only a pre-formated business school student.
Emlyon campus in Paris
It has a great international community and you have access to many international tools, courses and professors. I had many networking events and workshops for students. Campus and some details of the program could have been improved or need to be bigger in order to have a better student life.
Entrepreneurship
Overall good content and good activities.
Lack of administration but still ok.
Good flexibility and liberty offered to the students. Finally, the amount of internship is also a good way to improve qualifications.
Good Reputation and International Business School
The course was not well adapted but it was up to the mark.
The professors are very well experienced and their experience comes in handy while working on assignments.
The facilities on the campus are top class. Truly professional. I really like spending time in the learning hub and using all the available resources.
Lyon is an amazing city. You will never get bored.
MSc International Hospitality Management
The best educational experience of my life so far!
It’s been full of exposure and great connections. From Lyon to London, Paris, Los Angeles and Las Vegas! Truly an exceptional way to discover the world of hospitality.
Real networking opportunities
- meeting new people, specially professionals during seminars or evening meeting at school.
- going abroad to study luxury
- being involved as an ambassador to promote the school and the program I was into (MSc LMM)
- having such a great professional core
white baccalaureate in the world of work
I really appreciated the MS SDAI as a whole. The teaching staff, the different subjects, the university exchange, TEM... I started my internship in a consulting firm having acquired a solid foundation. Downside for CentraleSupélec, which I found far too academic for a program such as this.
Great
Pretty great !
Emlyon business school is a top educational institution known for its outstanding academic programs, nurturing environment, and state-of-the-art facilities. It fosters creativity, critical thinking, and leadership in students.
