Julien Roy has built his career step by step, making the most of every opportunity offered by EM Normandie. With three international placements, a specialisation in Supply Chain and a dual degree in Germany behind him, he has developed a global outlook that enabled him to secure a permanent contract even before graduating. He looks back on the key moments that shaped his five years at the School.
A path guided by opportunities
Could you please introduce yourself (first name, programme, campus, year of study)?
My name is Julien Roy. I joined EM Normandie as a first-year undergraduate student on the English-taught programme in Caen. During my studies, I specialised in Supply Chain Management by enrolling on the Master’s programme in Le Havre, before completing my studies with a double degree at ISM in Frankfurt in International Logistics & Supply Chain Management.
I’ve only just handed in my final-year dissertation and, even before I’ve graduated, I’ve already secured a full-time contract in what I consider to be my dream job. It’s a great way to conclude five years of study.
Why did you choose EM Normandie?
When I chose EM Normandie, I knew exactly what I was looking for: a reasonably sized school, where a culture of collaboration takes priority over competition, in a city where I could truly grow and thrive. The prestigious Parisian business schools did not meet my expectations.
One of the key factors was the international focus. The School promised a year of study abroad; in the end, I was lucky enough to spend two years there. So, as far as I’m concerned, that promise was more than fulfilled.
How would you describe the atmosphere and student life?
What struck me most was the diversity of the students. Despite popular belief, there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ student at EM Normandie. Everyone arrives with their own story, ambitions and personality.
This diversity creates a particularly stimulating environment. There’s always something going on on campus; everyone can find their place, and you quickly get a real sense of community, almost like a family.
Which skills have you developed the most during your career?
Over five years, you are bound to develop a wide range of skills, but the one that most influenced my career is undoubtedly my ability to always go beyond what was expected of me.
I didn’t just want to pass my exams: I wanted to understand, explore in depth and make progress. Thanks to some passionate teachers, I threw myself fully into the subjects I was interested in, and I never minded putting in the hours when the topics really fascinated me. This curiosity and constant desire to take on new challenges enabled me to push myself beyond my limits.
I have also made significant progress in the way I communicate with people from very different backgrounds. This skill has opened many doors for me, enabled me to build a broad network, and taught me the importance of listening to and understanding others before trying to persuade them.
Do you have a memorable moment or experience you’d like to share?
These five years have been particularly intense and remain, to this day, the best of my life. More than any single event, the whole journey itself has shaped me. Every encounter, every project and every challenge has helped build the person I am today.
If there’s one experience that stands out for me, it’s meeting my Alumni mentor. She came into my life at just the right time. Our conversations allowed me to take a step back, learn as much from her successes as from the challenges she’d faced, and expand my professional network. The mentoring programme is a real opportunity that I’d recommend to all students.
How do you see your career plans at the moment?
Today, above all, I’m grateful that I have plenty of options. Thanks to the experiences I’ve had during my studies, the people I’ve met and the hard work I’ve put in, I feel capable of thriving in a wide variety of environments.
Whether it’s in supply chain management, business, artificial intelligence or even entrepreneurship, there are many opportunities open to me. In my view, this freedom to choose my own future is a real luxury, and I realise how fortunate I am to be able to shape my career path with so many possibilities.
What would you say to a prospective student who is unsure about joining the School?
First and foremost, I would advise him to think about what he’s really looking for. Choosing a school is an important decision, but it isn’t necessary to have a perfectly defined career plan right from the start.
When I joined EM Normandie, my aim was simply to gain some international experience to find out whether life as an expat might suit me. The rest fell into place gradually.
This is, in fact, one of EM Normandie’s strengths: the School offers enough opportunities to enable everyone to refine their career plans over the years.
My only advice would be to make the most of all these experiences whilst gradually building up a field of specialisation that suits you.
Which country and which university did you go to?
I have been fortunate enough to have three international experiences during my studies. The first took place in my third year in Japan, at KGU University in Osaka. It was a goal I had set myself as soon as I started at EM Normandie, and after two years of studying Japanese, I was finally ready to make it happen.
That experience fundamentally changed the way I see the world. I left as a curious student and returned with a maturity that my family and friends immediately noticed.
The following year, I returned to Japan, this time in Tokyo, to Chuo University. I wanted to take things a step further and experience what daily life as an expatriate was like over a longer period. Finally, I completed my studies with a double degree at ISM in Frankfurt, Germany, in order to enhance my profile within a European environment focused on international logistics.
Why did you choose these locations?
For my first study abroad placement, I was torn between Scandinavia, the Middle East and Japan. Several students at EM Normandie advised me to make the most of this opportunity to go as far away as possible, both geographically and culturally.
I took that advice and I’ve never regretted it. Living in a completely different environment allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and truly immerse myself in the culture. It’s an experience I’d recommend to anyone who has the chance.
What differences have you noticed in teaching methods?
Japan introduced me to an approach that was very different from what I was used to. Once I started university, I was surprised by how much more relaxed the atmosphere was than I had imagined. On the other hand, the emphasis on the collective is everywhere: decisions are made more as a team, and reaching a consensus is essential.
In Germany, I found a way of working more similar to the French approach, but with particularly high standards. Rigour, precision and attention to detail are at the heart of the teaching. This experience taught me that high-quality work depends as much on content as on presentation.
What have you learnt, both academically and personally?
These experiences have taught me far more than just academic knowledge. They have helped me develop my attention to detail, my patience, my open-mindedness and my ability to thrive in multicultural environments.
They also confirmed to me that the Master's specialisation had come at just the right time. It was when I discovered supply chain management that I found a field I was truly passionate about. I then wanted to take my studies much further and devote all my energy to this discipline. Looking back, I couldn’t have imagined a better way to complete my studies.
How did you manage to settle in (in terms of culture, language and daily life)?
My first time living abroad in Japan really tested my ability to adapt. I was living in a hall of residence with students from all over the world, but I soon decided to get to know Japanese students so that I could experience their culture first-hand. This balance between an international lifestyle and immersion in local life made the experience particularly fulfilling.
During my second stay in Tokyo, I had a much more immersive experience. I had my own flat, most of my friends were Japanese, and I shared in their daily lives. Often being the only foreign student in certain groups allowed me to see things from a different perspective and gain a better understanding of the country’s cultural norms.
In Germany, the process of settling in was different. The proximity to France meant that things felt more familiar, but I was part of a very international cohort. This cultural diversity encouraged me to further develop my ability to listen, adapt and be open to others.
Did you develop any particular skills or a broader outlook thanks to this time living abroad?
These experiences have provided me with much more than just an international outlook: they have changed the way I see the world. Today, I have friends and professional contacts across several continents, which is a real asset, both personally and professionally.
They also taught me to take a step back. Living in very different cultures, I’ve come to realise that there isn’t just one way of working, communicating or living. This open-mindedness is probably one of the greatest things I’ve gained from my years abroad.
Can you share a memorable moment from your stay?
Of the many memories I have of those years abroad, one of the most memorable remains a party held at a friend’s house in Tokyo. We shared a meal with his neighbours over a barbecue, though I didn’t immediately realise that several of the guests held very influential positions in Japan.
As our conversation progressed, they showed great curiosity about my background and told me they had been inspired by my experience. That moment made a deep impression on me. It reminded me that the most memorable encounters often result from curiosity, life experiences and an openness to others, far more so than from status or material success.
How does this experience influence your plans for an international career?
These various stints abroad have convinced me that I can live and thrive internationally. They have also enabled me to see France from a different perspective, recognising its many strengths whilst discovering the riches of other cultures.
I am currently working in France in a highly international environment, where English plays a key role in daily life. If a great opportunity were to arise abroad, I would be happy to move there again. But I also know that France remains a country where I could see myself settling in the long term. This freedom of choice is undoubtedly one of the greatest benefits I have gained from my career so far.
The freedom to choose
For Julien, EM Normandie has enabled him to discover himself as much as it has to develop his skills. The experiences he has had both in France and abroad, the people he has met and the support he has received have given him the freedom to build a career path that reflects who he is. His journey illustrates the wealth of opportunities offered by the School and the importance of seizing them.
