ESSEC Global MBA grad Michael Paraschos describes the finance industry in Russia as high-risk with high returns. And he loves it!
It all started with a class trip to the Russian Federation during the ESSSEC Global MBA. Michael Paraschos developed an attraction to the risks and opportunity of doing business in Moscow.Paraschos, who had always worked in his native Greece, now works there as a wealth consultant at deVere Group after graduating from ESSEC in 2012.
ESSEC is known for familiarizing its students with international business through class trips – and it was during a weeklong trip that Paraschos’ class visited with a traditional watchmaking company in St. Petersburg and companies such as Christian Dior, BMW and Abbyy in Moscow.
The energy and activity that Paraschos observed in Russia caught his attention and gave him the idea to work there after graduation, even without being able to speak Russian!
“Russians have a unique style of doing business,” Paraschos said. “It’s like a small child discovering the world; they are still in the infancy period with capitalism.”
As a Greek national who previously worked at ING Group in Greece as an investment advisor, Paraschos was intrigued by this Russian way and he said his sense of curiosity was sparked.
“You have to think more than twice if you want to get into finance in Russia,” Paraschos said. “You have to have a great spirit of adventure.”
This “adventurous” attitude is needed because the market in Russia is quite dependent on the country’s oil and gas industry: Paraschos describes it as high-risk with high returns, especially in his field of wealth management.
“The mentality that Russians have towards investments… from the very little things I have understood, Russians aren’t into long-term investment; they want more short-term returns,” Paraschos said.
“With their history, it makes sense that they think ‘We need to make as much money as we can now because we don’t know what will happen in one year.”
Despite this attitude, Paraschos said he enjoys the challenge of working in Russian finance and said that, as an MBA, he likes to be pushed each day – something that he experienced during his time at ESSEC as well.
“Generally, the ESSEC program was very intensive from every angle and the business trip we had gave me exposure to the market,” Paraschos said. “The major reason I chose ESSEC was this.”
Student Reviews
The best intercultural university
There are more than 50 nationality in the grade, so there are opportunities to interact with people from all around the world. In terms of academics, the BBA course offers diverse courses for the 1st
Creativity, adaptability and entrepreneurship
The Master in Management program at the ESSEC Business School allows the students to choose their courses accordingly to their preferences and their professional targets. We can also go through international exchange and take part in internships with companies that are also partners with the school. The school is also next to the city of Paris.
Top business school in France
Doing PhD in essec took some time, to be precise about five years. But the experience was very good and cost effective too. There are opportunities for the student for teaching assistantship and that helps both financially and in career. In the final year I could manage to teach marketing to M1 students and this helped shape my career
Great college
The program is well suited for early professionals with an engineering degree preferably or a degree in economics. I would suggest taking the ceasure irrespective of the experience level as it helps you take your time to adjust to the job market.
Good school in France
I am currently enrolled in M2 in Essec business school. I am specialising in marketing management. The Grande Ecole programme is valued in France and my school ranks very high up. There are a lot of opportunities for internships and CDD.
The program curriculum
BBA program. The program is really practical and useful, provide us many international opportunities. Like internship and humanitarian experience, and the flexibility is also really cool, we can choose different campus and tracks as we want.
International Course
This school is very international and business oriented. Highly recognized by the companies The campus has been renovated and is very functional and modern from now on. Excellent atmosphere. Reputation of essec is a plus
Friends, Career opportunities.
The program I did gave me the opportunity to start in Singapore. I got the chance to know all the students that started there and we bonded and made some friends for life. The career opportunities that ESSEC also gave me were unbelievable.
Practical and useful
I think the best thing about Essec is that it's not focusing on academics rather it emphasizes on future job mindset and professional experiences..
The classes are interesting and we have plenty of workshops attributing to different sectors..
The campus is very nice with a good cafe and wonderful library.
The only problem is the location of the campus. It's quite far from Paris.
Amazing experience! Must try
I think its a very amazing school with great and experienced faculty. Also the alumni network is very solid and useful. The school has a great balance of studies and work experience which is really essential for a student.
GBBA: Diverse, Enriching, and Career-Boosting
My experience at ESSEC Business School has been outstanding. The Global BBA program offers a rich academic curriculum and diverse learning opportunities. I appreciated the chance to study on different campuses, including an international exchange, which broadened my perspective. The social environment is culturally diverse and vibrant, enhancing both my personal and professional growth. The administration is attentive, constantly offering new academic and student life opportunities. The campus facilities and classrooms are excellent. I highly recommend ESSEC for its excellence, global exposure, and career opportunities.
ESSEC BS BBA REVIEW
The English track BBA program at ESSEC is simply exceptional. Courses are taught by internationally renowned professors who are experts in their field. The subjects taught cover a wide range of disciplines from marketing to finance, strategy and entrepreneurship. The English track is a major asset because it allows you to develop perfect mastery of professional English, essential in today's globalized business world. Some students love student life at Essec, which is one of the best in France, but it all depends on taste.
Great program, incredible school
I love almost everything about this school, from the student life to the academic program and the opportunities it provides.
I'm currently at the Paris campus, in Cergy, and I'm really enjoying it.
The BBA program is very rich and diversified, you can start with geopolitics and then finance, what I mean is that there's a great balance between the subjects in this program.
I was also lucky enough to spend a semester at the Singapore campus, and I loved that experience on the other side of the world.
ESSEC is also known for its dynamic and rich student life, with access to several parties a week and the various associations within the school.
If I could recommend just one school, it would be this one - I'm 100% satisfied.
Great experience
First of all, what I appreciate the most is the academic environment. The courses are extremely stimulating and are taught by high-level professors, often experts in their field. The diversity of subjects offered, ranging from marketing to finance, including entrepreneurship, allows you to acquire a complete and versatile education. The group projects, although sometimes stressful, are also an opportunity to learn to work in a team, which is essential in the professional world. One area that I feel could be improved is the management of student events. Although many activities are organized, I have noticed that some events can lack organization or communication, which can frustrate those who want to get involved. Better coordination between the different student associations and the administration could really improve the overall experience.
