Agnès Casado, Class of 2013

Can you tell us about your academic background?

After gaining a Baccalaureate in science from the French School of Luxembourg, I enrolled at the Sciences Po Poitiers Campus, where I studied Sciences Po’s core disciplines: economics, law, history and political science. This was followed by a year studying at the Catholic University Argentina (UCA), after which I joined the Master’s in History at Sciences Po’s School of Research.

What inspired your interest in history?

My interest in history was inspired by a leading history teacher from the University of Poitiers, Jérôme Grévy, who also taught students at the Sciences Po Poitiers Campus. He taught us the fundamentals of historical research with a lot of patience and kindness, and he supervised our very first research projects. Later, he also gave me the opportunity to produce my first communication and my first publication. 
I then explored this interest more deeply during my academic exchange in Argentina. The courses I took there were almost exclusively history-related, and I wrote my dissertation on the renaissance of Jewish nationalist thought in Europe and its repercussions in Argentina. That was my first contact with archived material.
At the end of that year, it seemed like the logical next step to enrol in the history course at the School of Research.

What skills did your years as a student at the School of Research (formerly the Doctoral School) give you?

My years at the School of Research equipped me with a working method and a solid skillset. For example, I gained the ability to analyse and cross-reference multiple sources in different formats and the ability to structure and present my thoughts in an intelligent and convincing manner. I also acquired a broad base of general knowledge and an awareness of how subjective each of our views of the world is. All these skills (and many more!) are tools which allow me to feel at ease in any kind of professional environment today.  

Which lecturer or course made the greatest impression on you?

So many teachers made a lasting impression on me. For the purpose of the question, I’ll just mention three:

• Jérôme Grevy, for his generosity and erudition.
• Pierre-André Rosenthal, for his innovative approach and dedication to the Master’s programme.
• Gerd Rainer Horn, whose classes I never took but who was willing to supervise my thesis, for his  availability and encouragement.

What role do you work in now?

Today, I am a manager in a management consultancy firm specialising in the health sector. That involves leading a team of consultants and heading up projects for our clients. It is an intense and stimulating job.

Do you have any advice for students hoping to enter your field of work?

My main advice would be not to let yourself be held back by limiting beliefs! Management consultancy is a fascinating industry, with closer links to research than you might initially expect. It’s also a sector which is recruiting intensely at the moment. In terms of concrete advice, I would suggest applying to roles that interest you, starting with an internship. 

Learn more

• The Master’s in History

=> See all the Graduates' Portraits

[ July 2022 ]