Benjamin D. - Maintenance and Electrical Engineering Manager, SNCF Réseau

MINI PORTRAIT

" Born and bred in Nantes, I started my engineering studies there and then joined Ecole Centrale de Nantes. I specialised in Industrial Engineering and Production and Energy Management.
For 18 months during my studies, I paired up with an Audencia Business School student to tutor a group of six high school students from underprivileged backgrounds, as part of the BRIO project. I was also in charge of organizing the school’s annual gala in 2016."

YOUR CURRENT POSITION


" I work for SNCF Réseau in Rouen. I am currently following a theoretical and practical training course for young managers at the SNCF to acquire the fundamentals on the technical aspects, security and markets in the rail industry. Then, in a few months I will be fully operational in my position of Maintenance and Electrical Engineering Manager. I enjoy the strong field dimension of this position, the responsibilities inherent in it and the many facets involved: management, technical skills, incident management ... a perfect match for my multi-disciplinary background. Moreover, contributing to the mobility of millions of users in France on a daily basis is really satisfying. I would like to progress towards managing ever larger teams."

WHAT DID YOU ENJOY THE MOST AT CENTRALE NANTES?

" The diversity of options offered by the school is an undeniable strength of the Centrale programme. I was able to combine a very technical option with another more organizational and business-centric option. A dual approach, which I discovered during my professional experiences, is a real asset.
International exposure - whether through my internship in Scotland in a small marine renewable energies company, or through the school’s international environment (large proportion of international students on campus) - has also allowed me to see the bigger picture with regard to the world of work in France."

ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

" Under constant evolution, Centrale Nantes is very dynamic across the board – teaching (MOOCs, updated programmes, course diversity etc), associative life, corporate partnerships and international reputation. I would say that choosing Centrale Nantes means not only choosing a quality school that is sought after by employers, but it also means choosing a school that knows how to transform itself in a constantly changing world.
Set yourself an ambitious goal for the entrance examinations and stick to it. Your hard work and tenacity will be rewarded!"

CENTRALE NANTES IN THREE WORDS?


• " Openness -
• Dynamism
• Excellence"