Sweeta: "This entire year has been a blessing in disguise for my career!"
Sweeta has spent one year in France in 2020/2021 at HEC (Haute Ecole de Commerce) as a part of the Grandes Écoles Exchange Programme! Read her story, from how she learned to adjust to a country where she didn't speak the language to discovering new interests and career perspectives!
Tell us a bit about yourself (where you’re from, what you do, what you have studied in France, and where)
Hello, I am Sweta Moda. I live in London but was born and brought up in India. I am studying for a bachelor’s in Management at the London School of Economics and Political Science. I had an opportunity to pursue an incredibly competitive year in France and study at HEC Paris
What decided you to study in France in the first place?
Since early in my academic career, I had a passion for the aviation industry. Living in the country of “Airbus” and being close to this industry was a dream come true for me when I moved to France. Moreover, many of the unparallel courses in the “Grande Ecole” HEC Paris were designed to mould managers of the aviation industries. My experience of the French culture and eagerness to learn the language and learn more about the aviation industry was my initial motivations contributing to my decision to study in France.
What has been the biggest challenge whilst in France?
The biggest challenge after moving to France was definitely the language barrier. France is a beautiful country designed for unity, but living and working with the French was quite tricky. Being from a varied international background, I expected a welcoming blend of cultures. However, it was pretty difficult to socialise with French students. The national identity is way too strong for foreigners like me to come and call themselves a part of France. In adverse situations, like when I was ill for a while, not knowing French fluently was the biggest challenge.
Can you share a special memory from your time in France with us?
It is hard to pinpoint one special memory from my time in France, but the entire country is diverse yet united by its values. The first time I travelled outside of Paris was when I went to Toulouse, and it was a surprise to see France beyond Paris. The accent was so different, the weather was warmer, and the entire feel of the region was just happier. When I travelled to Giverny last March, the full bloom of spring took me by surprise. South of France is breathtaking, and the beaches are just rejuvenating for one’s soul. My most special memory is when I came back to Paris after visiting several other places in France and realised how the entire country is so close to its art and culture. Indeed, the beauty of this country inspired countless artists, but the people, the food and the architecture are pillars of French identity. France is such a huge country beyond Paris, and the way everything fits together is just amazing. From the streets of Montmartre to the ports of St Tropez, from the beaches of Normandy to the beaches of Nice, France took a lot of time to imprint itself in my memory as the most beautiful country I have ever been in. However, the time I visited the Aeroscopia Museum in Toulouse and saw the French work in an international setting with all grandeur and passion, I was certain that it’s the people of France that bind the country and makes it such a beautiful place to live and work in. Finally, I can never forget how evident the seasons are in France. The entire vibe of Christmas, with “marchés de Noël” and winter fashion to fairy lights all over Paris, made it my favourite place on the planet to spend my Christmas nights. However, spring in Paris with cherry blossoms, daisies and tulips blooming in every nook and corner after a long chilly winter definitely left prints of elation in my heart forever.
What did you learn from your mobility in France?
I learned a lot of things from my mobility in France. I saw myself grow as a person, shed all my biases when meeting new people and develop compassion for various cultures. The one habit that I would keep from my time here is travelling. France was very accessible to its neighbouring countries. I have built numerous cross-cultural bridges by travelling from France to neighbouring countries like Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Monaco, Germany and Luxembourg. The clear influences from Italy, Spain and Belgium could be seen in the French food itself. There is so much one learns when one travels, and France made me a more open person to travel. I realised that it is very easy to be captivated in my own world and problems for way too long and not realise that sometimes a fresh perspective on life can be gained just by a change of surroundings. I was impressed by the diversity, from the icy Alps to sunny beaches in France and a place perfect for each season. I will try and retain the habit of taking inspiration from differing perspectives and looking at a deeper artistic meaning of everything around me.
How did studying in France change who you are as a person and impact your career?
After studying at HEC and attending countless events, I discovered my passion for sustainability and luxury apart from the Aviation sector. I connected several dots of my scattered interests and realised my passion for travel and not just the industry. My luxury conferences with managers at LVMH, Richard Mille, L’Oréal and several other companies made me realise my drive to work for the sustainability of brand image and the planet simultaneously. I could then connect this to my passion for Aviation and figure out that I want to contribute to making luxury travel more sustainable in future. Researching numerous projects with Airbus and Emirates in my course at HEC helped me pinpoint the roles I would be interested in taking up and how I can contribute to the industry in a position that delights me. Certainly, this entire year has been a blessing in disguise for my career.
Why would you recommend studying in France to somebody else?
I would recommend studying in France to somebody else not only just for its exceptional educational standards but also for the holistic growth it offers to an individual. It is a big challenge to move to another country following a different language and a different culture. It teaches us numerous values of compassion and makes us better cosmopolitans to coexist with people quite different from our comfort zone. The career perspectives opened to me by studying in France have been invaluable and definitely something to not miss!
