From 1 to 5 July, ESSEC APAC hosted the ESSEC Business & Leadership Immersion Program, an event that gave high school students worldwide a taste of business education.

This year’s program welcomed 52 high school students, including 21 participants from prestigious institutions such as the International French School of Singapore, Lycée Français Pierre Loti d’Istanbul (Turkey), Northbridge International School of Cambodia, Tzu Chi School of Indonesia, and Lycée Français International de Tokyo (Japan).

The five-day program offered a series of academic workshops on business principles and practices, by professors Gautam Kiyawat, Rick Marchese, Pierre Alquier, Abhilasha Krishnan, and Brice Degeyter.

The program also featured a session with Josh Frost, founder of Best Perfume Store, who shared insights into the perfume-making industry and the importance of understanding consumer behavior. His talk provided context on industry business propositions, and was well-received by our participants.

Another key component was the career workshop led by Leo Tan, Head of Career Services & Alumni Relations at ESSEC. Participants learned about their potential career paths, and heard the personal stories and practical advice of ESSEC alumni Janice Liu and Sameeksha Tomar.

Finally, participants tackled a Project Challenge from partner company AG1, to devise marketing strategies for their regional expansion. Drawing on what they had learned from the previous four days, the participants presented their solutions to a panel of judges, including Sandeep Raj from AG1, Gautam Kiyawat, and Yvonne Tan, Director of Recruitment, Marketing & Communications at ESSEC.

To conclude this experience, participants gathered for a final networking dinner to reflect on the past few days, celebrate their achievements, and bid farewell to their peers and mentors. The event also included a session for parents to learn more about their children’s experiences and the opportunities offered by ESSEC.

We commend all participants for their dedication and enthusiasm throughout this experience, and look forward to another successful run next year!

Let’s hear from our participants and Project Partner:

“I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the camp – from the friendships I forged to the valuable knowledge and experiences gained. The time spent on campus has further solidified my aspirations, particularly my desire to pursue my dream school, ESSEC, and a career in communication and marketing.”
Ella Qin, Student, Shanghai Ganquan Foreign Language School (China), Winning Team of Project Challenge

“My experience with the students was highly positive. I was particularly impressed by the diversity of ideas they generated in a short amount of time. Their proposals showcased new radical ways of communicating with consumers in different markets, which was refreshing and inspiring. Their ability to quickly understand our business challenges and propose creative solutions was remarkable.”
Sandeep Raj, CCO & CFO, AG1 Asia-Pacific

“ESSEC is home to many high-caliber individuals who share a passion for teaching and passing on actionable experiences and life lessons. I felt at home at ESSEC and wanted to provide what I wished I had as a student. Through the Industry Deep Dive Session, I hope students gain valuable insights into actionable steps for starting their entrepreneurial journey.”
Josh Frost, CCO & Founder of Best Perfume Store