How my MBA changed the direction of my career

Orphelia Yangamen knew exactly what she wanted from her MBA. She was eager to transition from technical aeronautics engineering to a more business-oriented role.

“The goal from the beginning was to pivot careers,” she says.

This is a popular ambition among MBA applicants. According to our Prospective Students Survey 2026, learners typically pursue business school to gain specific skills, seek out career pivots, or progress into more senior roles.

Why an MBA was the right next step

Before enrolling, Orphelia had spent the previous seven years working in aeronautics engineering across both France and Canada. One of her key study motivations was to expand her knowledge outside of the sector, and learn more about consulting, finance, and operations.

“I wanted to learn more about the business of an industry, not just the technical part,” she explains.

She sought an MBA in France that would offer a broad business education. Having already completed a master’s degree, Orphelia says she chose an MBA for its curriculum and its senior positioning.

The HEC Paris MBA met her requirements, offering a broad range of specializations, including finance and consulting, as well as elective courses, international exchanges, and internship opportunities. This breadth appealed to Orphelia and stood out from other options in Paris.

How can an MBA help you to transition careers?

One of the most valuable parts of Orphelia’s MBA experience was the HEC Paris alumni network.

“It helped being in contact with people working in sectors I hadn’t even considered,” she says.

Early in the program, alumni visited to discuss their career journeys. One was an investment banking consultant who offered insights into the career transition process revealing how it differs across countries and cultures.

“I discovered that where you want to relocate afterwards determines how quickly you can make a transition,” she explains.

Equally beneficial was the opportunity to take part in an international exchange program at Columbia Business School in New York City—an opportunity Orphelia says would only have been possible through the HEC Paris MBA. She says the finance foundation built through her core classes at HEC Paris prepared her to pursue further learning at Columbia.

“Having that specialization in finance helped me broaden my portfolio of experience on my CV,” she says. “It gave me an edge in finance.”

The career center at HEC Paris, HEC Talents, was also impactful for Orphelia. Across six career sessions, she worked on building a career plan, tailoring her CV and positioning her profile for different roles.

Using these skills and the resources available to her, Orphelia secured an internship at Amazon during her MBA. Having never worked in an operational role before, this internship was her first experience in e-commerce.

The realities of transitioning careers

For those looking to transition careers, Orphelia advises completing an internship in their target sector. This helps build connections with professionals in the sector, while also providing a chance to decide whether it is the right career path for you.

Orphelia graduated at the start of 2026, earning an MBA from both HEC Paris and Columbia Business School.

She has now moved into a more strategic role as an internal consultant that blends strategy and financial analysis, a significant change from her pre-MBA background in aeronautics engineering.

“That first milestone has been achieved, which was getting into a consulting role. This will bridge my engineering background into something that is more business or strategy oriented,” she says.

One of Orphelia’s key lessons from her MBA is that a career is a long-term path. Your next role might not be perfect, but it can be a stepping stone toward where you want to be.

“I haven’t yet made the full career transition I want to do, but I’m moving towards it, which is a really good thing. I now do a bunch of things in my role I wasn’t doing before my MBA, and I know that in two years or so I will be able to transition completely into the field I wanted to go into from the beginning,” she says.

Challenges in moving sectors

Transitioning careers is rarely straightforward, and there will be obstacles along the way.

Not everyone will understand why you’d leave your current sector. Orphelia was often advised to seek out senior positions in aeronautics engineering rather than move sectors.

“It’s about convincing people that I have transferable skills from my previous role, and that this, along with my MBA, can help me get into a new role,” she says.

Orphelia adds that patience is essential when you’re looking to pivot. You must have a clear understanding of why you want to change which can guide the steps to make it happen.

“You must be very sure about what you want,” says Orphelia. “Networking helped me to understand where exactly I wanted to go.”

For those looking to follow in her footsteps, Orphelia emphasizes networking, the importance of research, and finding ways to build up the skills you’ll need.

“Use all the resources you have,” she concludes.