Careers: Maxime, Chief of Staff in Madrid And Four-Time Graduate

I had the opportunity to enroll in two dual degrees thanks to Sciences Po: the first one was a 4-year programme in political science with the University of Hong Kong (HKU) at bachelor level, and the second one was in corporate and public management at the master level with Sciences Po's School of Public Affairs and HEC Paris. These two experiences between Europe and Asia enabled me to access an extended network of professionals and experts who continue to enrich my thoughts. 

My intention has never been to collect degrees. However, I firmly believe in the complementarity of these disciplinary fields. By combining social sciences and management, I can grasp the political, economic, and social implications of strategic decisions made, for example, by large corporations. Nowadays, CEOs have no choice but to integrate this complexity as they become opinion leaders. Their organisations can play a considerable role in addressing public issues. It is even more relevant when you are working in a technology company. 

I am Chief of Staff to Nourdine Bihmane, CEO of Atos, an IT services company with 111,000 employees in 69 countries. Based between Paris and Madrid, I am responsible for external affairs, particularly strategic communication and institutional relations. Imported from the United States, the Chief of Staff role incorporates some features of positions such as "Directeur de Cabinet" and "Chef de Cabinet" in the political sphere but applied here in the private sector.

You are both a strategic advisor for decision-making and a manager of day-to-day operations. Your role is somewhat of an "air traffic controller" ensuring the smooth flow, collection, and analysis of information across and outside the organisation. On any given day, you may find yourself orchestrating a last-minute trip abroad, structuring various messages for a media interview, or working on a long-term global partnership project at the CEO's request. It requires a constant ability to prioritize topics. Your ultimate goal is to enable the CEO to share and deploy his vision to all stakeholders, both internal and external. 

Above all, it is an incredible human adventure! Everything is based on the complementarity and cohesiveness of a duo in a very strong professional relationship. Each day is a test to demonstrate that you are worthy of this trust.

Le Havre is a city that will seduce you. Abrupt at first glance, it unfolds a remarkable energy and charm with its location by the sea and bold identity. It was a fundamental milestone in my personal journey. My classmates could come from Normandy, as I did, or from anywhere else in the world. If I remember correctly, at that time we were nearly 200 students on campus, representing over 55 nationalities... Trust me, our debates could sometimes be lively, but above all, fascinating!

The Europe-Asia program offers a unique perspective on our two continents, allowing students to navigate between history, international relations, law, and economics. The campus is also well-known for the quality of its artistic productions with very dynamic student associations. Lastly, there is a strong sense of mentoring. For example, my class mentor has supported and guided me for over nine years since we first met. Without a doubt, you will not regret it if you choose Le Havre campus!

No, I don’t, but it is probably due to the fact that I never really felt like I was gone! Sciences Po will always count on you, even after graduation. I had the opportunity to be involved a lot within the Alumni community (Sciences Po Alumni). I chaired the Sciences Po - HEC Paris Alumni Chapter which aims to animate the network of graduates from both schools. Today, I am involved in structuring a mentoring program for young professionals, which will be launched by Sciences Po Alumni in the fall of 2023.

If I had to give a piece of advice to a future student, I would emphasize that it is not your diploma that defines you, but rather what you intend to do with it. Every experience, whether academic, professional, or associative, shapes you as an individual, much like a series of layers that will reinforce your legitimacy. Each step of your path is an opportunity to question your achievements. Sciences Po is only an the first step of a lifetime learning journey.