Graduation Year: 1992
Position/Company: CEO of The French Academy & President of Riviera University
Time Abroad: 7 years in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)

INTERVIEW:
Can you introduce yourself briefly?

My name is Olivier, I’m 51 years old and originally from Nice. I graduated from KEDGE in 1992, and also hold a BTS in Tourism and, more recently, a DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration). I’m an entrepreneur by trade — I’ve founded around fifteen companies in IT and consulting. For ten years, I ran a professional training company near Nice. I also had a business selling plasma screens in Munich. I worked as a consultant for the first Carrefour store in Asia, and returned to Asia seven years ago because I no longer felt I had a place in France. I wanted to try my luck again on this continent, and also give my three sons a chance, as I believe the future lies here.

Seven years in Asia — all in Malaysia?

I’ve actually spent ten years in Malaysia: first from 1996 to 1999, and now for the past seven years. Why Malaysia? It’s a country that makes it very easy to travel to major capitals across the continent. For example, I teach at universities in Shanghai, China, as well as in Wanghun, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand. I can easily make round trips in a single day between Malaysia and universities across Asia. It’s incredibly convenient — everything is accessible from Malaysia, and flight prices are affordable. That’s why I chose this country.

Can you tell us about your education? Why did you choose entrepreneurship?

I’ve always had a natural inclination toward entrepreneurship. During my BTS years, I quickly realized that being a tour guide or interpreter wasn’t for me — I found it boring. It was during a tourism internship that I discovered I had a talent for sales: instead of handing out flyers, I sold them. I enjoyed selling and knew I wanted to go into management. I also considered becoming a teacher or working in education, but those fields didn’t offer the salary I was aiming for. All these factors led me into the business world.

I learned a lot during my time at KEDGE, especially during my two-month exchange in China. It wasn’t so much the courses themselves — which constantly evolve — but rather the mindset and problem-solving approach I developed during my studies. When you run a business and face a problem, you develop reflexes and a way of thinking that helps you solve it quickly. Someone who hasn’t attended a school like ours might struggle more and take longer to find solutions.

We saw that you’ve worked as a consultant in various sectors. Why did you ultimately choose education?

Simply put, to keep my young business afloat, I started teaching. One day, KEDGE contacted me to teach microfinance, and I also taught at the University of Monaco. For six years, I taught intercultural management to Bachelor and Master students at ESC Poitiers (one week every two months). So I’ve always been involved in teaching, and when I returned to Malaysia seven years ago, I was offered a full-time teaching position again. One thing led to another, and I gradually shifted toward the education sector.

I had a professional training company for ten years in Nice, focused solely on vocational training. I later acquired a French language school, and through various opportunities, I founded a university in Sophia Antipolis offering distance learning — which I believe will become a physical campus within three years. I’m working with a partner based in New York, and we’re considering opening a campus there as well. The more opportunities you have, the more you create. Today, education and food service are the only two sectors not in crisis — people always need to eat, and they always need diplomas.

Can you tell us about The French Academy?

The French Academy has three full-time staff members and two interns on six-month contracts. This allows us to welcome a variety of interns and offer them a valuable professional and personal experience. They’re here to work, but also to provide me with a fresh perspective. We also have about ten part-time instructors who teach between 10 and 20 hours per week.

We currently have between 80 and 100 students. We specialize in one-on-one lessons, mostly in-home tutoring. We avoid replicating our competitor, “Alliance Française,” which offers group classes, in order to personalize the learning experience for our students. Our exam center is accredited by the Paris Chamber of Commerce, and recently, we launched Riviera University with a satellite campus in Kuala Lumpur offering Master’s and Doctorate programs.

Why did you choose Malaysia, and what makes you stay?

When I first chose Malaysia, I didn’t know the country at all. I had prepared a shortlist of countries I wanted — and was able — to move to. Developing countries like Vietnam or Cambodia mainly need engineers, as they don’t have the same level of development as Singapore or Malaysia, so they weren’t viable options. The visa for Malaysia is relatively easy to obtain, and very importantly, Kuala Lumpur is ideally located — just 1 to 1.5 hours from the major cities and capitals of the region.

Additionally, Malaysia is a multicultural country where English is widely spoken, which makes integration much easier compared to China, for example, where you need to master Mandarin or Cantonese. Another key factor was the cost of living. Whether it’s food or housing, you can enjoy a good lifestyle without spending a fortune. It’s a pleasant country to live in, with cultural diversity and mutual respect.

I have many partners from all over Asia, and everything runs smoothly. There are very few countries like Malaysia where tolerance is so widespread. It’s a joyful country with little to no racism — that’s why I chose it.

How long have you been the chapter head? What does it involve and what does it bring you?

It’s been about 3–4 months since we started organizing alumni dinners with around ten participants. I knew the previous chapter head, and together with Elisabeth Laubel, we decided to take over the role. We’re a small group — about a dozen regular members, including a few KEDGE interns.

What has it brought us so far? It’s helped us stay informed about each other’s movements and activities. I sometimes work with Elisabeth, who works at the Chamber of Commerce — we advise each other. It’s also very enriching to meet each other’s spouses, who often work in different fields, which helps expand our network even further.

Do you plan to stay in Malaysia, return to France, or start something new? What are your future plans?

I’ll be going back to France from time to time to manage Riviera University, which is based there, but I don’t plan to move back permanently. If I ever consider a change of scenery, I’d look toward Singapore — although the cost of living there is very high. My current salary allows me to live well and enjoy life in Malaysia, but it wouldn’t be enough in Singapore.

For now, I’m very happy in Malaysia — in terms of technology, food, lifestyle… we have everything we need, so why change? There’s still room to create new things here.

Do you have any advice for graduates or future graduates who want to move abroad, to Malaysia or elsewhere?

First of all, I strongly recommend gaining international experience. Don’t hesitate to go abroad — and don’t focus solely on getting an expatriate or VIE position. Go abroad and start from scratch. Live like the locals, take on small jobs, and don’t be afraid to start your own venture.

In the next ten years, large companies like L’Oréal or Airbus will need fewer expatriates. Local workforces are becoming increasingly skilled, so why hire an expensive expatriate when a local can do the same job for less?

If you want to enjoy life and challenge yourself — go for it and create something. I’ve lived on one euro a day, sometimes even less. I’ve been through tough times, but that’s what makes me strong today. Don’t be afraid — have fun and give it your all.

Interview conducted in Kuala Lumpur by Clémence, Stivell, Estelle, and Adel, students of the KEDGE Alumni Travel pro-act in Asia.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE KAT PROJECT
FOLLOW THEM ON INSTAGRAM
FOLLOW THEIR ADVENTURES ON FACEBOOK