“Rami Hassoun, a 2017 graduate of the MSc Investment Banking and Financial Engineering, has achieved the goals he set for himself by joining the Lyon campus. After several successful internships, he is now a Venture Capital Investment Officer at Crédit Agricole Alpes Développement. He looks back on his career and the key elements of this success.
What are your daily missions?
I meet the fundraising needs of innovative startups in the Drôme Ardèche Isère Savoie and Haute-Savoie regions. Once I became an investor, I participate in the strategic advice of the company in order to support and sustain its development.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy meeting young entrepreneurs who are generally between 25 and 45 years old and discussing their projects. I chose this sector of activity because I wanted to contribute to the economic development of the territory and to accompany the entrepreneurs in the strategic development of their company as a co-shareholder.
What was your background before getting this job? How did you find this position?
Following a 3-year entrepreneurial experience, I went back to school to study at the INSEEC Msc&MBA. I completed two internships there: one as an assistant group administrative and financial manager at Gindre Duchavany; the other as a business manager at Crédit Agricole des Savoie.
My Msc2 internship went very well. As I had a strong interest in private equity, Crédit Agricole trusted me to join its investment department.
Why did you choose the specialization Investment Banking and Financial Engineering and what did you learn?
I chose the Msc Business Banking and Financial Engineering because I wanted to be trained on the equity side, i.e. any operation related to the equity (capital) of companies. The training allowed me to better understand these different issues (financial analysis, valuation calculation, LBO scheme, …).
What were your objectives in joining the INSEEC MSc & MBA? Were they satisfied?
I went back to school and did the Msc training in order to join an M&A firm or an investment fund as an account manager. Objective achieved!
What was the added value of this training for you in terms of your professional career?
Having a more empirical than theoretical training, the Msc allowed me to better identify the financial vigilance points of a company. Today I am able to respond to them, and even anticipate them.
Do you have any advice for students who want to have a career in this industry?
Financial literacy is important because it is the foundation of any discussion. Legal knowledge is also important because any capital investment involves a letter of intent, a shareholders’ agreement, closing clauses, etc. And finally, interpersonal skills are essential. You have to know how to create links, have empathy, dare to say “no”, listen, speak in public or in front of a committee of experts. These are the postures and human qualities required for such a career.
How do you see the next step in your professional career?
“True generosity towards the future is to give everything to the present” Albert Camus
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Updated 24 February 2022