The Carpentier family: 150 years of EDHEC experience across three generations

In the Carpentier family you’ll find Jacques, 104 years old, class of 1938 and the doyen of EDHEC’s alumni, his daughter-in-law Marie-Madeleine, class of ’76, and his granddaughter Sarah, class of 2006. Between them they boast more than 150 years of EDHEC experience! We caught up with them for an inter-generational interview about their memories. The encounter took place just a few metres from the EDHEC campus in Croix, which as it happens is where Jacques now lives.

They all answered the same questions, offering us a very personal view of the changes at EDHEC and in French society since 1935.

Tell us about your arrival at EDHEC

Jacques: I joined EDHEC, then known as HEC Nord, in 1935. I belong to the generation of 1918, we were born during the war and there weren’t many of us! If I remember correctly, my class had just 10 students whereas the following year there were more than 40. That must seem low compared to today’s class numbers, but for us it was a mini revolution!

Marie-Madeleine: I had my heart set on joining EDHEC. Instead of preparatory studies, I chose two years of a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and sat the probationary accountancy exams to be admitted through the parallel scheme. The school was already attracting quite a few Parisians, but as yet very few girls, no more than 20%. I think now it’s 50/50, and all the better for it. It was already a very open-minded school with an entrepreneurial dimension that it has never lost.

Sarah: I joined EDHEC in 2003 after 2 years of preparatory studies. mine was one of the last classes from the Rue du Port campus. It was during my studies that we were asked to vote: expand using the Medicine faculty premises or move to a new campus in Croix. The second option won the vote and the new campus was unveiled in 2010! I remember my class was very big, because that year a lot of students had chosen EDHEC in Lille. There were more than 600 of us! In the years that followed, management decided to revise the breakdown of student numbers between the Nice and Lille campuses. 

What were the iconic subjects taught back then?

Jacques: We had quite a bit of accounting and law, and there was also some English and German, but nothing like nowadays! We were taught very concrete subjects, because immediately after graduating many of us were in line to take over family businesses or at least take up senior positions. Many professors from the Catholic University taught us classes, including some priests! They had very different learning methods from those used today.

Marie-Madeleine: We also had a lot of law and accounting classes. I remember one iconic professor in particular: Gaston Duytschaever, who was highly demanding but recognised as a superb professor. Computers were also bursting onto the scene, so we were learning the binary system.

Sarah: We were taught about strategy and entrepreneurship. Indeed a recent chair had been set up dedicated to those topics. We also did quite a bit of finance and marketing, and many students moved on to careers in those areas. My mother just mentioned learning about the binary system; well we had a whole new e-learning platform known as Blackboard. That just shows you the incredible pace of change in IT! CSR-related topics were gradually beginning to emerge, it was mostly about opening up perspectives. I am glad to see that these issues have taken on so much importance both in society and at EDHEC.  

Describe the atmosphere at EDHEC

Jacques: You could really feel the tension of the impending war. I had to interrupt my studies at EDHEC after the second year to prepare for it, joining the military school in Saint-Cyr. Then, when the war broke out, I was assigned to the 6^th Regiment of the Tirailleurs Marocains and dispatched close to Verdun. On the day of the armistice (22 June 1940), we were hiding in the forest. We came out because we heard a lot of noise. The Germans told us the war was over and invited us to have a drink … but they actually took us to a detention camp. I was held captive in the East for nearly 5 years. When I returned, I caught up with my family and travelled a bit in France before beginning my career.

Marie-Madeleine: I loved EDHEC, the atmosphere there was more relaxed than at the Catholic University. We all had different backgrounds. I made some very good friends there, and we’re still close! I remember the dean, Daniel Leroux, who was a great traveller and imbued the School with an openness to the outside world. For the competitive admission process, he already had the ambition of setting common exams with the other Grandes Ecoles. EDHEC taught us to adapt to our environment, to listen, and to be daring – values that are still very much to the fore and demonstrate that this School has always been one step ahead.

Sarah: the atmosphere was all about life in the associations! Especially the Chti and Course Croisière EDHEC. For my part, I took part in the creation of an association that is still around today: Cheer Up! EDHEC, a project developed simultaneously in different schools. One of our friends had got cancer in his first year of preparatory studies and found that there was a lack of help or entertainment for teenagers in hospital. He set up the 1^st branch of Cheer Up! when he joined ESSEC. 

What did your career plans look like?

Jacques: We were mostly sons of industrialists from northern France, many of whom were expected to take over the family firms, while others planned to join companies and stay there for their whole career. After the war and the end of my captivity, I joined Suchard, where I stayed until retirement. I developed a passion for chocolate and shared that passion with my family! Nowadays I see young people travel, change companies and even professions several times within a lifetime. Times are changing, and it’s fascinating to watch.

Marie-Madeleine: There weren’t many women graduating from business schools. You had to find your place and assume your position in business with confidence! EDHEC offered us excellent help and advice. For me, much of my career was spent in an association that promotes CSR. We set up a partnership with EDHEC, which made a commitment to partner the World Forum. As Sarah was saying, I’m proud to see that this is an issue that continues to be present in the life of the School today, because when she was leaving EDHEC, we were just getting off the ground!

Sarah: Because we did a lot of internships in companies in France and abroad, we got a taste of professional life more quickly than my mother and grandfather’s generations. EDHEC encouraged us to develop as much experience as possible. When my friends and I discussed our career plans, we used to imagine joining a major firm and changing companies 2 or 3 times to climb the ladder. But we ended up moving even more ... and it’s still nothing compared to the generations that followed us! We did have to face the stress of getting our first job though. Our generation was affected by the 2007 financial crisis. Some sectors were tied up, and you had to stand out. Our in-house experience was very important in that regard. EDHEC left us with many tangible tools and a network to help get our career off the ground. That was a real trump card. 

Made thanks to the EDHEC family trio, Jacques, Marie-Madeleine and Sarah, for sharing their memories with us together. They make for wonderful reading!

The EDHEC Alumni team