Inspire through connection: Jean Perichon
From Belgium to Singapore: alumnus Jean Perichon is a Moving Mind who is making waves in every way. His international journey began during his time as a UCLL-student in Bedrijfsmanagement, Keuzetraject KMO & Ondernemen, when he decided to study a semester abroad with one of UCLL’s partners in South Korea.
Since then, he has won Yale’s African Startup contest with his team, traveled the world, and, most importantly, continues to form genuine connections to help others achieve their goals. We asked him about the path he has been carving across borders as an entrepreneur – which currently situates him at Google’s Headquarters in Ireland.
My advice? Dare to step outside of your comfort zone, reach your goal in by dividing it into achievable steps and keep in mind that hard work works.
Jean Perichon
How did you start your international journey?
I had already traveled prior to my studies but I first realised that I wanted to live abroad after taking part in an exchange program at UCLL. Firstly, I wanted an immense culture shock so I sought out a destination outside of Europe. Secondly, since I was interested in technology, I wanted a hub where technology was booming: South Korea. UCLL has a strong existing network, which I could tap into.
My mentor at UCLL, Sven Cerulus, showed me the steps I needed to take and helped me achiving them for my first semester abroad in South Korea. He connected me to the right people at the school who helped me with living arrangements, visa, … Then it was up to me to take every single opportunity there was; participating in extra curricular activities, meeting guest speakers, and forging my own connections.
Did you feel ready for your further pursuits after UCLL?
Certainly. UCLL instilled in me the confidence that I was a competent person. The university's hands-on approach was crucial. UCLL's practical classes prepared me for later business schools abroad, allowing me to focus on aspects of business that interested me the most. The diverse portfolio of courses helped me become a stronger candidate for future opportunities.
I could focus on things that I truly liked. Everyone keeps saying that you need to better yourself on things you’re no good at; however, at UCLL I was also able to better myself at things I was already good at. As a result, giving me the chance to become an expert on those fronts as well.
At the moment, I hold one of the highest GPA’s of my cohort at my university in Singapore; the 8th highest ranked university in the world. This achievement is attributed to my familiarity with their teaching style, similar to what I experienced at UCLL. The personal connection with lecturers allowed me to perform better as they could help me understanding how to study the materials.
In which way did this help you reach your international goals?
UCLL may not be as internationally recognized as for example ivy league schools, but its strong international network values the experiences the school offers. The freedom to choose assignments and focus on my passions gave me a unique story to share during entry interviews.
UCLL played a vital role in my goal of attending the National University of Singapore after an exchange to South Korea and an internship in Madagascar. The combination of UCLL's support and the network I built along the way made me a stronger candidate for future pursuits as I now had unique experiences that others did not.
How did you navigate cultural differences?
Through sincere curiousity. I was very keen to get to know all the cultures I came in contact with. I recommend not simply questioning if another method is right or wrong, but genuinely trying to understand it. Asking why, what and how allowed me deepen my understanding and open my mind about how other cultures approach challenges.
The open-minded aspect is an important point: getting in touch with a lot of international people is an absolute asset. Being from Belgium, I was brought up with a certain way of iving and thinking but when meeting people from all over the globe who view things differently, I realized that I had my truth, they had theirs and neither of us was wrong.
Additionally, on a professional scale it was really about creating that network. Networking has been key in my development. I’m a big fan of it because it opened me a lot of doors which may have not been opened without networking.
How do you nurture your (international) network?
I aim to genuinely help the people I meet reach their goals and overcome challenges. Building such a network becomes exponential when you sincerely aid your peers. Connections made during my studies, where I assisted others in connecting with stakeholders and making study and career choices, have proven invaluable.
Imagine you meet a student right now and they want to follow in your footsteps: what would you like to let them know?
Go back to the first lesson in entrepreneurship: find out your why. Understand what motivates you, what brings you energy, and where you want to go. Set long-term goals, break them down into achievable steps, and create a staircase to reach your end goal.
Secondly; take risks. You won't reach amazing places without stepping out of your comfort zone. Balancing personal and professional challenges is tough but can lead to strong friendships and personal growth.
And last but not least; pursue your specific skill set. For me, it's sales and being a global citizen. International experiences showcase adaptability and global citizenship, valuable traits for working with big international firms.
What’s next for you?
My goal is to inspire people and help them reach the next level. In the mid-long term, I aim to have an MBA at Harvard in the next 5-7 years. In the next 10 years, I want to own a successful business and have a teaching career as a professor.
Further ahead, I want to contribute to making the world a better place, potentially funding initiatives like schools in Africa or Asia. I aspire to inspire others to do the same.
About Jean Perichon
Jean Perichon is 25 and was born in Brussels. His journey began in the military until the age of 19, after which he decided to pursue his passion for entrepreneurship. He enrolled at UCLL, undertaking a Bachelor's degree in Bedrijfscommunicatie with a focus on KMO & Ondernemen.
During his time at UCLL, Jean embarked on an Erasmus exchange to SolBridge Business School in South Korea and completed an internship in Madagascar. Post-graduation, he pursued a CEMS-degree at the National University of Singapore, which extended to semesters at Keio University in Japan and Cornell University in the USA.
Currently, at the age of 25, he is a Business Development Representative at Google Cloud in Ireland
About Yale's African Startup Review
The Yale African Startup Review is a competition initiated by the University of Yale and organized by MBA students. The competition entails forming a team of 3 to 4 students, and participants are then assigned a startup in Africa. Their task is to address a specific problem the startup is grappling with, essentially functioning as consultants. Over a span of several weeks, teams work on the case and present their solutions to a jury. The process involves shortlisting the six best teams, which then advance to the final stage.
During the finals, teams pitch their solutions to the jury, with the ultimate goal of winning the competition. In Jean Perichon's case, his team emerged victorious. Notably, the geographical diversity of his team added an extra layer of challenge and fun to the experience, with one member in Singapore, two in Bali, and occasional struggles with WiFi connectivity.