by Nahia Onchalo–Meynard
“Proximity is a very big indicator of your success.” This quote wrapped, on Feb. 22, the end of the 2026 Global Research and Consulting European Summit at Sciences Po Reims, filled with insightful talks, attentive speakers and dynamic participants.
This summit was not only a series of conferences and delightful chocolatines; but it also went way beyond as a networking event, enlightening the attendants, broadening perspectives and creating strong ties.
Participants attended three conferences targeting sustainability, brought to them by four notable speakers.
With Miruna Senciuc, chief sustainability officer at BNP Paribas Personal Finance, and Aylin Aldana, Sustainability Program manager in the same firm, the summit opened on the potential death of sustainability; dreadful but certainly relevant nowadays. Perception shifts, geopolitical situation and economic pressures are worsening the position of sustainability as a priority in firms’ evolution and plans; quite contradictory regarding the fact that sustainable plans and practices are more needed than ever. Methodology is therefore essential: from the framing, diagnosis, strategic stakes definition and finally implementation, sustainability becomes a criteria, not an afterthought.
One conference that stood out for its originality, intimacy and kindness of the speaker was Serban Toader’s. As a former Senior Partner at KPMG Romania, Mr Toader provided us with an insight into the life of a consultant. It helped not only to grasp the full picture of the consulting world and its implications, but also to reflect on our own qualities, predispositions, ambitions and the sacrifices we are willing to make. I was lucky enough to converse with the speaker later on to discover that he likes to define his mindset with a single word: serendipity, the luck that one makes for itself. Having aspirations and goals is undoubtedly useful, but strong and meaningful networks are the best means to make your way and create your luck, to insert yourself in this highly competitive and exclusive field that is consulting.
The conferences on Saturday ended with Craig Stock, Associate at McKinsey in sustainability. Conforming to the theme, he spoke about how sustainability could unexpectedly be respected and aimed at in such a big firm. Drawing from his experience, he dove into the heart of the problem: is sustainability a constraint or a strategic advantage? According to him, it can actually be more of a perk; with the current innovations, sustainability can only open markets, enhance brand reputation and provide a stable initiative and a competitive differentiation.
The following day, part of the GRC participants were taking part in a case competition revolving around sustainability, tariffs and growth, in teams mixing the Reims, Le Havre and Menton campuses. It has been an additional way to bond with people, discover personalities and minds and improve teamwork. Many solutions were developed and many more discussed, highlighting how the research and consulting world is simultaneously diverse, complex, fascinating and tricky. Le Havre was well represented across four teams out of seven, and placed on the podium twice! Congratulations are therefore in order for Emily Fan, Zonglun Li, Amanda Deng, Aryan Shukla (Reims campus) and James Liu (Reims campus) who made their way to the first place, as well as Lynne Mizushima, Elena Hayashi, Eng Yi Seow, Nahia Onchalo–Meynard and Alice Loy (Paris campus), reaching the second place. All other contestants also deserve the warmest compliments, as each presentation demonstrated different kinds of wit and organisation. Beyond the satisfaction of seeing the work pay and the risks in the strategy-making being acknowledged, it was mostly rewarding on a more personal scale. New relations, new experiences, we are all coming back with our heads, hearts and stomachs full, impatient to travel back to our little windy port and return to our busy student lives. We leave the compelling consulting world and an unexpectedly sunny Reims with strong memories and energy.
Le Dragon Déchaîné 