[Alumni Story] - Barthelemy Joubert Du Cellier

I graduated from the Programme Grande Ecole (PGE) at Rennes SB, where I was treasurer of the R'Store association and carried out assignments for Bretagne Conseil, RJS and BDS. I was also a class delegate. My academic exchange was with the University of Saint Petersburg, with my studies there carried out online because of the Covid pandemic. On the professional side, I did my first internship at Leroy Merlin, followed by my gap year internships at Barilla and TF1 Publicité. Then, as part of apprenticeship/alternance programme at Microsoft, I had the opportunity to stay on and take over my manager's job when she left. Today, I'm the Business Program Manager at Microsoft France, where I manage the financing of B2B marketing activities.

• What do you do?

As the Business Program Manager at Microsoft France, I'm in charge of financing B2B marketing initiatives. I work closely with go-to-market teams and sales specialists to maximise the impact of marketing investments. 

• What's your greatest achievement?

During my apprenticeship/alternance period at Microsoft, I was lucky enough to get up on stage in front of the entire subsidiary for a demonstration to mark the 40th anniversary of Microsoft France. It was one of the highlights of my career.

• What does the Alumni network aim to do?

The Rennes SB Alumni network is a real strength to help us make professional connections. It enables us to contact alumni working in companies that interest us, as well as to share experiences and useful advice. It stands out for its accessibility and the solidarity between graduates, creating unique opportunities at every stage of your career.

• Can you tell us about an opportunity you had thanks to the school?

Thanks to the Alumni network, I had a mentor working at Google in Dublin who gave me invaluable advice, even if I didn't always follow it! This relationship helped me better understand certain professional dynamics and guide my career choices.

• Your commitment to the Alumni Network

I speak at the school whenever the opportunity arises. For example, I took part in a masterclass on blockchain, an exciting subject.

• Your best encounter at Rennes School of Business?

Without a doubt, my wife. We were in the same class, and I can't thank the school enough for allowing me to meet her. We got married on December 7, and this relationship will always be associated with my time at Rennes SB.

• Have you taken advantage of a service offered by the careers department?

I attended several workshops and found most of my internships thanks to Job Teaser. I highly recommend this platform, which is an excellent tool for discovering opportunities and fine-tuning your career choices.

• What advice would you give to a recent graduate?

Listen to the advice of others and don't hesitate to rework your CV as much as necessary. Don't rush into working life. If I'd had the chance, I'd have taken the time to travel after my apprenticeship/alternance placement. Finally, remember that success is subjective: nobody can define what you want to achieve better than you. But always think about the sacrifices it may involve, and whether it's worth it.

• Do you have a hidden passion/talent?

Negotiation! I love thinking before I spend and maximizing every euro. This has often served me well in both my personal and professional life. (And just for the record: the Rolex isn't all it's cracked up to be 😉 ).

• The final word?

Success is not the result of luck, but of preparation, hard work and learning from failure (Colin Powell).