Alumni Success Story: Sophie Caroline VANEL

Sophie Caroline VANEL is a former student from Class PGE 13. She is now Principal / Head of Strategy at American Express and also Rennes School of Business Alumni VP.

What is your career path?

I have been combining human capital and intrapreneurship for more than 10 years.

Once I got my Master in International Business from Rennes SB & my MBA in Shanghai, I seized the opportunity to create and run the 1st Chinese office of a Franco-Bangladeshi trading company in the textile industry. My mission was hiring and managing a Sino-Bangladeshi team, while developing the Asian sourcing network and handling the Western clients. Only captain aboard of a ship of 30 sailors and many millions, a superb human and professional challenge that lasted 3 years.

Then I joined the consulting world in strategy and human capital, from the cross-cultural perspective. I have been moving up within this industry for the last 9 years. I accompany big corporate structures, but with the sense and challenges of entrepreneurship.

What are your priorities within the Alumni network?

One third of our Alumni lives abroad. Myself included. Over the last 15 years I have been living in 6 different countries. Today, I live both in France and Germany and travel the world for professional trips. It is another way to « interact » with the network worldwide. An experience that allows me to follow the development of our international network and reinforces the synergies among the country’s Alumni clubs. I’m also supporting women’s right and gender equality, especially regarding equal pay and leadership positions for women.

Source:  Rennes School of Business Alumni