Tahnee PERROT RAMIREZ, Class of 2017

As a Franco-Mexican, I grew up between two countries with strong cultural and historical differences. Their differences, but also the stories of a grandfather who was a trade unionist and senator, nurtured strong convictions of commitment that led me to plan to study political science from a very young age. After starting my studies at the IEP in Lyon, specialising in Latin America, I came to Sciences Po to do a master's degree in political science, majoring in comparative politics. At the time I wanted to train through research, not necessarily for research. And I haven't regretted my choice!

The School of Research was an extraordinary learning experience. I've never experienced such stimulation. I particularly appreciated the rich exchanges between students and lecturers, made possible by the small group format of the courses. The School of Research allowed me to take a sabbatical year to further my research, a year that enabled me to study at Yale, work in Havana and then carry out a long fieldwork in Mexico. My main memory, apart from the wonderful encounters, is clearly the quality of our teachers.

I particularly enjoyed the classes given by Olivier Dabène, a specialist in Latin America. 

When I left Sciences Po, I became a consultant for the public sector at PwC, where I specialised in public health. After 4 years of highly formative consultancy, I worked in a social incubator while freelancing on occupational health issues. Today, I've set up my own small consultancy and training company specialising in balance management and health at work (Balanced France). So I've switched to entrepreneurship.

My research skills have greatly benefited my career path and my professional development as a consultant. But I even think that it was this research career that fuelled my desire to go further, to deepen my expertise and now to set up my own company.

Training via a research master's degree does not limit our options to a research career. The possibilities for career development are much wider. Such analytical skills are highly valued in organisations and should not be underestimated. They can even lead to entrepreneurship! (This is not limited to the hard sciences!)