Benjamin D. - Maintenance and Electrical Engineering Manager, SNCF Réseau

MINI PORTRAIT
Born and bred in Nantes, I started my engineering studies there and then joined Ecole Centrale de Nantes. I specialised in Industrial Engineering and Production and Energy Management.
For 18 months during my studies, I paired up with an Audencia Business School student to tutor a group of six high school students from underprivileged backgrounds, as part of the BRIO project. I was also in charge of organizing the school’s annual gala in 2016.


YOUR CURRENT POSITION

I work for SNCF Réseau in Rouen. I am currently following a theoretical and practical training course for young managers at the SNCF to acquire the fundamentals on the technical aspects, security and markets in the rail industry. Then, in a few months I will be fully operational in my position of Maintenance and Electrical Engineering Manager. I enjoy the strong field dimension of this position, the responsibilities inherent in it and the many facets involved: management, technical skills, incident management ... a perfect match for my multi-disciplinary background. Moreover, contributing to the mobility of millions of users in France on a daily basis is really satisfying. I would like to progress towards managing ever larger teams.


WHAT DID YOU ENJOY THE MOST AT CENTRALE NANTES?
The diversity of options offered by the school is an undeniable strength of the Centrale programme. I was able to combine a very technical option with another more organizational and business-centric option. A dual approach, which I discovered during my professional experiences, is a real asset.
International exposure - whether through my internship in Scotland in a small marine renewable energies company, or through the school’s international environment (large proportion of international students on campus) - has also allowed me to see the bigger picture with regard to the world of work in France.


ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
Under constant evolution, Centrale Nantes is very dynamic across the board – teaching (MOOCs, updated programmes, course diversity etc), associative life, corporate partnerships and international reputation. I would say that choosing Centrale Nantes means not only choosing a quality school that is sought after by employers, but it also means choosing a school that knows how to transform itself in a constantly changing world.
Set yourself an ambitious goal for the entrance examinations and stick to it. Your hard work and tenacity will be rewarded!


CENTRALE NANTES IN THREE WORDS?

Openness - Dynamism - Excellence