18.6.2026
Originally from Kolkata, India, Pravin Agarwal joined ESSEC’s Master in Management program with a childhood passion for cars and the dream of turning that passion into a career. A few years later, he is working at Stellantis as a Serial Life Project Manager for Citroën. His journey reflects one of ESSEC Business School’s founding promises: helping students build their own path by exploring their interests, embracing new experiences, and relying on the strength of a supportive community.
“ESSEC was the only international business school I applied to. I was not really looking for a school. I was looking for a path into the automotive industry.”
A passion he has carried since childhood. Pravin still remembers the day a supercar accelerated past his middle school classroom.
“I spent the rest of the day wondering what model it was. To this day, I still stop to admire cars on the streets of Paris, sometimes to the frustration of my friends.”
Before joining the ESSEC's Grande École Program, Pravin studied engineering while exploring entrepreneurship on the side. He chose France’s most international business school for several reasons: its apprenticeship model, flexible curriculum, global outlook, and access to one of the world’s most influential automotive ecosystems.
“I arrived with a passion for cars, but also with a desire to understand the business, strategy, and industry behind them.”
His journey was shaped by several defining experiences. One of them was an academic exchange at Duke University in the United States.
“That experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and exposed me to a completely different academic culture.”
Back on the Cergy campus, he discovered the Auto Mobility Industry Strategy course. The class played a key role in broadening his understanding of the sector.
“My discussions with Professor Jan Lepoutre helped me see the automotive industry from a much wider perspective. I became deeply interested in the challenges shaping the future of mobility.”
Beyond academics, Pravin became involved in several student initiatives, including 180 Degrees Consulting and ESSEC Metalab.
These experiences helped him develop leadership, communication, and teamwork skills while working alongside talented students from diverse backgrounds.
Another milestone came while he was taking the automotive strategy course. At the same time, he secured his first internship at Stellantis.
“It was the first time my long standing passion for the industry became a professional reality.”
That internship led to an apprenticeship and eventually to a full time position within the group.
For Pravin, one of ESSEC’s greatest strengths is its community.
Toward the end of his apprenticeship, he faced a period of uncertainty in a challenging job market.
“Professor Jan Lepoutre went far beyond the role of a professor. He took the time to advise me, encourage me, and connect me with people who could help.”
At the same time, an ESSEC alumnus he had met during his internship encouraged him to trust the process rather than rush into an opportunity that was not the right fit.
“Those experiences reminded me that ESSEC is much more than a school. It is a community of professors, students, alumni, and friends who genuinely want to see each other succeed.”
Today, Pravin coordinates business functions, technical teams, and international markets for two global vehicle programs at Citroën.
What he enjoys most is the breadth of his role.
“It allows me to understand how a car evolves from concept to launch while balancing technical, commercial, and strategic considerations.”
Looking back, he believes ESSEC prepared him well for an international and fast changing environment.
“I learned how to work across cultures, navigate uncertainty, communicate effectively, and adapt quickly to change.”
When speaking to future students, his message is simple: stay open to people and opportunities.
“Talk to people. Talk to everyone. Every person at ESSEC is here for a reason, and some of the most valuable opportunities in my journey came through conversations rather than plans. Be ambitious about what you want from life and keep moving toward it, even when the path is not completely clear.”
