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From Deloitte China to Pernod Ricard France: How Tailin Li Leveraged the EDHEC Global MBA to Build an International Career

For many international professionals, France can feel like a difficult market to enter. Tailin Li arrived at EDHEC with seven years of consulting experience in China and no European work history. Less than a year later, he secured a global technology role at Pernod Ricard, one of France's most recognised multinational companies. His experience offers valuable lessons for professionals considering an MBA as a pathway to an international career.

Reading time :

10 Jun 2026

When Tailin Li began exploring MBA programmes, he was not looking to reinvent himself.

After seven years at Deloitte in China, he had built a successful career in SAP consulting and digital transformation. He had progressed from consultant to a trusted contributor on large-scale projects, developing strong technical expertise and project delivery capabilities along the way.

Yet he recognised that the next stage of his career would require a broader skill set.

"I gradually realised that if I wanted to progress further into managerial and eventually business leadership roles, technical skills alone would not be sufficient," he explains. "I needed to develop more comprehensive management capabilities, including leadership, stakeholder management, teamwork, conflict resolution, and cross-cultural communication."

At the same time, he wanted to deepen his understanding of business strategy and management while exploring opportunities beyond China. The changing global economy following the pandemic encouraged him to reassess his long-term career ambitions and pursue a more international path.

The EDHEC Global MBA offered the ideal environment for that transition. The programme brings together participants from around the world, combining rigorous business fundamentals with personalised career development, international exposure, and practical project experience. Participants benefit from the Lead360 career and leadership development programme, company projects, networking opportunities, international learning expeditions, and close support from the MBA Career Centre.

Looking Beyond the Reputation

Like many international candidates, Tailin arrived in France aware of the country's reputation.

"As an international candidate with no prior European work experience, I initially also expected the French job market to be very challenging."

What followed was a more nuanced reality.

Through his job search, he discovered that many internationally oriented organisations actively value global experience and cross-cultural perspectives. Rather than applying broadly across every sector, he focused on multinational companies undergoing digital transformation and seeking professionals with international project experience.

He also made a strategic decision that many MBA candidates overlook.

Instead of pursuing a complete career pivot, Tailin built upon the strengths he already possessed.

"Maintaining continuity in career positioning is critical," he says. "I focused on roles that aligned closely with my existing experience, such as SAP digital transformation and global project management positions."

This approach allowed him to present a clear professional narrative to employers. Rather than asking companies to take a risk on an entirely new profile, he demonstrated how his existing expertise could create immediate value in a new market.

What Employers Are Really Looking For

One of Tailin's biggest discoveries during his search challenged a common assumption among international candidates.

Many people believe language is the primary obstacle to finding employment in France. While French proficiency remains important, he found that employers often evaluate something broader.

"Many companies also value a candidate's willingness to integrate into local culture, their long-term commitment, and their motivation to continue improving their French."

Throughout his search, he actively invested in language learning, networking, and understanding French business culture. He discovered that employers were often looking beyond immediate technical qualifications and assessing whether candidates could build a sustainable future within the organisation.

He also developed a disciplined approach to networking. Rather than treating every conversation as a job application, he used networking to understand industries, company cultures, and business priorities.

Many conversations never resulted in immediate opportunities. Yet they helped him develop a far deeper understanding of the French market and build relationships that proved valuable over time.

"Some of these connections even developed into genuine friendships," he says.

From Consulting to Pernod Ricard

That combination of strategic positioning, networking, and relevant expertise ultimately led to an opportunity at Pernod Ricard.

For Tailin, the move was not driven by chance.

The company was pursuing global digital transformation initiatives that closely matched his experience in SAP finance implementation, global rollouts, and cross-border projects. His consulting background had also given him extensive exposure to stakeholders across finance, procurement, supply chain, and senior leadership functions.

"I believe the key factor was a strong alignment of professional experience," he explains.

His previous experience working with French clients also helped demonstrate familiarity with local business culture, while his continued commitment to learning French reinforced his long-term ambitions in the country.

The result was a successful transition from consulting in China to a global technology role within one of France's most recognisable international organisations.

The Role of the Global MBA

Tailin credits several aspects of the EDHEC Global MBA with helping him achieve that outcome.

The Career Centre played a particularly important role.

The Career Centre helped me structure my career positioning in a systematic way. From self-assessment and CV refinement to interview preparation and post-interview debriefs, each step was carefully guided.

Tailin Li

Edhec Global MBA Alumni

Equally valuable were the programme's collaborative projects.

Working alongside classmates from diverse professional, cultural, and national backgrounds mirrored the realities of global business and provided regular opportunities to develop leadership skills.

One project in particular became a turning point. During a sustainability consulting project, Tailin served as project manager, coordinating the team, managing timelines, and communicating directly with the client.

Following one meeting, a classmate observed how he had structured the discussion, aligned the team, and guided the project forward under pressure.

The feedback became a defining moment in his professional journey. It strengthened his confidence, validated his leadership potential, and encouraged him to look beyond technical expertise.

Previously, he had primarily identified as a finance Tech process manager. The experience helped him recognize his leadership capabilities and strengthened his desire to pursue roles with greater impact and responsibility in the future.

A Message for International Candidates

For professionals considering an MBA as a pathway into France or Europe, Tailin's advice is clear:

Build upon the strengths you already possess. Stay close to market developments. Treat networking as a learning opportunity rather than a job search tactic. Invest consistently in your communication skills and maintain a long-term perspective. Most importantly, focus on relationships.

Professional capability is important, but human connection is equally critical.

Tailin Li

Edhec Global MBA Alumni

His journey demonstrates that international candidates do not necessarily need prior European experience to build successful careers in France. They need a clear professional story, relevant expertise, genuine curiosity about the local market, and the willingness to invest in meaningful relationships.

For Tailin, the EDHEC Global MBA provided the platform to combine those elements. The result was not only a new job, but a new chapter of his career on an international stage.