On Friday, June 19, I had the privilege of coaching at the headquarters of Ardian, one of the world’s leading private equity firms—and the undisputed leader in continental Europe. According to the 2026 Financial Times rankings, four of the world’s top five Master’s in Finance programs are French.
My mission as a Business English coach? To work with 30 scholarship students from France’s leading business schools (HEC Paris, ESSEC, ESCP Business School, and others) and equip them with the essential cultural and communication skills of international business English. Their technical expertise is nothing short of exceptional.
Yet when you’re competing on the global financial stage, technical brilliance alone isn’t enough. If you’re about to join the world’s leading private equity firms or Anglo-American investment banks, financial expertise is simply the entry ticket. What truly sets candidates apart is their ability to navigate cultural nuances, negotiate effectively in English, and communicate with impact. That can be the difference between winning or losing a deal—or even securing the job in the first place.
A huge congratulations and heartfelt thank you to every student who took part in the session. Your energy, curiosity, willingness to challenge your habits, and openness to feedback were genuinely inspiring. You have everything you need to succeed.
My sincere thanks also go to Vox Populi for its outstanding work in supporting these talented students, and for giving me the opportunity to share the practical side of Business English—not classroom grammar, but the art of pitching with confidence, reading between the lines, and challenging senior decision-makers with credibility.
The next generation of French finance is ready to make its mark on the global stage. 🌍
Feel free to check out my LinkedIn page for more insights and discussions on this topic 👇