Hernan | Associate, OnPurpose

WHAT WERE YOUR EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND BEFORE JOINING THE MASTER CORPORATE STRATEGY AT SCIENCES PO?

I have a degree in Psychology and I did my specialization in Organizational and Work Psychology at the Universidad Catolica de Chile. Since high school I was very curious and I started to develop my personal entrepreneurship projects. My first professional experience was at PwC, with the Human Resources consulting team, a very formative experience. After that, and wishing to return to the path of business and entrepreneurship, I joined my family's company, a small business structure with a social dimension in the real estate and construction business in Chile.

WHAT DID YOU EXPECT FROM THIS YEAR OF STUDY IN MASTER CORPORATE STRATEGY AT SCIENCES PO? 

My objective in the Master was to find technical tools that would allow me to perfect my managerial and business skills. Through the experiences of the guests, the professors and the courses, I was interested in learning about different business models and growth stories that would help me to avoid making mistakes in my future experiences and inspire me to continue developing myself.

In the family business I had the responsibility of leading several projects and teams, and in this sense, I needed a specific training that would allow me to be more performant and have a better management of the strategy for a smoother execution. On the other hand, I was interested in developing a better understanding of the world of social and environmental impact, its theoretical foundations and main actors.

WHAT ARE YOUR PROFESSIONAL PROJECTS AND PERSPECTIVES

T>oday I am part of the OnPurpose program, which seeks the professional reconversion of young professionals towards the social and environmental impact economy. In this context, I am Project Manager at Télémaque association, where I lead the implementation of a Social Franchise system, in order to increase the impact of the association on the French territory. The most fascinating thing about my role is the facility to innovate. The fact that I feel comfortable with my own managerial skills allows me to create and be more free in the implementation of innovative solutions.

What advice would you give to others?

Take the time to enjoy this year and explore the alternatives that the Master offers. It is a very rich year academically, but also a year of much personal reflection on what I want for my future.

In that sense, the program includes a period of reflection on the career path. In my case, it was a year in which I let myself be carried away by the program and it led me to get to know areas of myself that I did not think I would develop.

The program allowed me to open new professional veins, and I think that is something that every student should try to develop.