Franck Fangueiro graduated the Executive MBA programme of NEOMA Business Schools (France) in 2013. He has been Group HR Director at ECONOCOM since 2008.

What are your key takeaways from the programme you graduated at NEOMA?

I come from a high-level legal background, and the NEOMA Executive MBA enabled me to learn about businesses and their competitive environments. Today, my learnings empower me to better understand business and therefore to improve the contribution that I make to the company in my HR responsibilities or other assignments. Over and above the theory, the 18 months of training were an opportunity to strengthen my leadership abilities, and to exchange and interact with professional students from all sorts of backgrounds.

Why did you choose that particular programme and school?

I chose NEOMA Business School because of its decidedly innovative approach to education, with in particular two study tours: one in California and the other in China. The seminar schedule was versatile enough to fit in with my work. Finally, the close relationships that were promised with experienced teaching staff caught my attention.

In your opinion, is it preferable to apply in-house customized trainings or to go for external executive educational programmes and why? What educational tools do you include in your talent management programmes?

In my opinion, in-house and external training programmes are entirely complementary. The former allows for a corporate approach which enriches the company’s own discourse, while the latter promotes a broad perspective and the sharing of experiences between professionals from different companies. At Econocom, we believe in offering our colleagues multiple training tracks, be it in-house or external. We are also looking at digital learning in detail due to its flexibility.

What is the most common specific reason or primary goal that motivates companies to sponsor executive education programmes for their employees?

We are responsible for the development of our colleagues’ skills. Executive Education is a way to boost our employees’ careers. It can also bring people who were unable to follow training of this level before up the social ladder.

How can companies best take advantage of formal training (degree programmes) to improve internal productivity and increase profitability?

As I have said above, the company benefits from students who can complete their current jobs better or take on new responsibilities. It is an unforgettable human experience which undeniably marks even the most hardened professionals. For this reason, they recognise the opportunity that the company has given them.