Gautier Alassaire is an Alumnus of the Bachelor of Science in Mathematics & Economics double major from Ecole polytechnique.
He is currently pursuing an MSc in Finance at the London School of Economics.
Could you please introduce yourself?
Hello everyone, I am Gautier Alassaire, alumni of the Bachelor program from Ecole Polytechnique. French and Swiss, I grew up in Morocco and Tunisia. After obtaining a scientific baccalaureate with highest honors, I decided to join Ecole polytechnique's Bachelor of Science program and follow the Mathematics and Economics double major.
What program are you currently studying and in what institution? What made you choose this university/program?
I am currently studying an MSc in Finance at the London School of Economics (LSE). The academic prestige of the university, its presence in London (one of the most important financial hubs in the world) and its strong presence in the investment banking industry made me join this school. Indeed, you have 1,000 alumni from LSE at Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan or Morgan Stanley for instance.
What skills/knowledge gained during the Bachelor of Science have you been using in your current program?
I really enjoyed my time at Ecole Polytechnique and I strongly believe that joining the Bachelor of Science program was one of my best decisions in life. I had the chance to develop strong relations with friends, to meet diverse and smart people and to discover so many new cultures.
My experience at Polytechnique was really intense and I got to learn a lot about myself. I went from being a child to being an adult with defined and clear professional objectives. Moreover, thanks to the complexity of the subjects studied at Ecole Polytechnique, I am able to complete most of the tasks I am facing this year in London. I have also developed a strong capacity to organize my time and to apply for internships, do interviews and produce work at LSE to the highest standard.
When you entered the Bachelor of Science, did you already know what you wanted to do after the program?
Before joining the Bachelor of Science I didn’t know precisely what my professional career goals were. However, I always knew that I wanted to work in finance and be related to the growth of firms in some way. These three years at Ecole Polytechnique and my research of master programs helped have a clear professional objective in mind.
What memories do you have of your time spent at l'X and in the Bachelor program?
I can definitely tell you that I miss my moments at Ecole Polytechnique. The Bachelor of Science program is such a unique experience that no one can really understand. Everyone knows each other, everyone is nice to one another.
It is the only time in my life I felt like everyone was part of my family. Working together, playing football every week, having dinners together all were moments that I will forever keep.
By joining the Bachelor program, one would build friendships that he or she wouldn’t have built anywhere else. If you like sciences, if you like people, then you should definitely join this program and live this unique experience.
I am definitely missing playing football three times a week with the other bachelor students. These moments were some of the best moments of my life.
What are your ambitions for the future?
In the future, I hope to become an investment banker. I am currently looking for an internship in this field in Paris or London. I want to help firms maximize the value they get when selling their companies but also help other firms acquire other companies to help them in their growth.
A goal of mine would be to be able to do investment banking in the sports industry in the future and help football clubs, rugby clubs, or other sports clubs in their acquisition strategies. I hope to become one of the financial leaders in the sports industry.
Any piece of advice to current Bachelor students when deciding about the pursuit of their studies?
Don’t stress before joining Ecole Polytechnique. My advice would definitely be to open up to meeting new people during your first days. The first weeks are the most important ones as it is when you get to meet everyone, understand how the campus works, and find your group of friends.
From this point, just go to the library, study with your friends and everything will go well.