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Once a month we feature a member of our US based alumni community. We hope this serves as a way to stay in touch and get to know one another despite the grand size of the US.
Alumni and AFAM board member Jean-Luc Nauleau (AN 81) is our next AFAM member profile.
Thank you Jean-Luc for sharing with us!
1. Tell us about your career path and area of expertise today. How did it come about?
I graduated from Arts & Métiers in 1984. I completed my internship at a Computer Aided Design software firm (a company called Applicon , the CEO then was a GadzArts). Computer Architecture was of great interest to me and in early '85 , I enrolled in a Masters program in Computer Graphics at Santa Clara University in California, I completed my Master in 1987 and worked for a Semi-conductor firm for a few years; in late 80’s I founded a CAD software company right in the Silicon Valley. The Business grew rapidly; we were one of the few companies to offer a comprehensive set of software tools to design Microchip on a personal computer! In 1991 the company made a strategic move and started to offer not only software Engineering but also chip design services and Manufacturing . In a few years 90% of the revenue came from semi-conductor components sales. Our expertise was in analog and mixed signal chips for telecommunication. We were growing fast with revenue doubling every year , we expanded in Europe and Asia and opened design centers in Budapest, Lisbon and in the U.K . In 2008, the company was finally acquired by a Public company with its offices in Austin Texas.
2. What do you do every day at work? How does being a Gadz’Arts help you in your everyday tasks and team management?
Starting a new business is always very exciting, in 1985 I was a young entrepreneur and I was at the right place at the right time. Business today is very competitive and to succeed you need to get an edge, As a GadzArts I have been taught to think outside the box, being an expert in a single field limits your search for solutions to complex problems , You need a broad Engineering expertise, being a Gadzart brings you this edge. After the sale of the business I took a break and spent time with my kids, I am not ready for a new venture yet but I would love to share my business experience with other entrepreneurs.
3. How did you come to the US- why and when? How is your work life different than in France?
Right after school I did software consulting for a subsidiary of Elf Aquitaine , and the following year I was offered a grant by the same company, Elf sponsored my Post Graduate studies in the U.S and now twenty five years later I am still in the Silicon Valley . I love going back to France but I believe the U.S still offers a more friendly business environment for Entrepreneurs.
4. What is the best advice someone ever gave you? Why?
Best advice? In Business relations, you want to help your customers become more successful then everyone wins. Second best advice: Failure is never a good option…
5. What is one favorite way to spend your free time (hobbies, weekend activities)?
I love all kind of outdoor activities, I love fly fishing, kayaking and skiing. From the bay area you can fly straight north to Alaska and catch the biggest trout in the world or go way south to Baja Mexico and explore the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez.
Thank you again Jean-Luc for your sharing your experience and advice with. AFAM is grateful for your support!
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American Friends of Arts et Métiers is very thankful for your help in promoting our school!
Thank you to all who have suported the mission of AFAM this past year. Thanks to your donations we continue to support internships and offer financial aid through our Shasta program, helping to offset the cost of the visa for students coming to the USA. Last year, there were 29 students and 40 interns were able to come to the United States because of your support through AFAM. Your support helps us reinforce our school's relationship with other American universities and companies. |
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| Un grand merci ! | |
| If you would like to make a donation, please contact AFAM's CFO, Thomas Ferré or click here. |
| AFAM Benefactor $10,000 and above Louis Magne Eric Benhamou AFAM Director $5,000-$9,999 AFAM Patron $1,000-$4,999 Claude Leglise AFAM Friend $500-$999 Karim Boudah Lionel Costa Michel Fenneteau Tristan Thommasson Xavier Wartelle |
AFAM Fellow $300-$499 Franky Marchand AFAM Voting Member up to $250 René Chappelle JC Davoine Vincent Durieux Thomas Ferré Gregoire Jacob Nicolas Jaumard Juliette Mignée Yarith Phay Sebastien Plouzeau Francois Thery Gregoire Thirouin |
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Once a month we would like to feature a member of our US based alumni community. We hope this serves as a way to stay in touch and get to know one another despite the grand size of the US.
Alumni Yarith Phay (Bo 91) is our first AFAM member profile. Thank you Yarith for sharing with us!
1. Tell us about your career path and area of expertise today. How did it come about?
I am a software engineer, specialized in service-oriented-architecture (SOA) and big data. I am currently managing projects and programs corporate wide.
2. What do you do every day at work? How does being a Gadz'Arts help you in your everyday tasks and team management?
I work with our various departments and product groups to rationalize our processes and improve our operational efficiency, resilience to risks and information security. A critical task for any company growing at a rapid pace organically and through acquisitions. Being a gadz'arts taught me to work in a team environment with experts from various fields (technical and non-technical). A skill as important as being curious, able to see the big picture and adapt quickly!
3. How did you come to the US- why and when? How is your work life different than in France?
I came to the Bay Area for a business trip. I loved it so much that I immediately asked my boss to transfer. Since, it has been impossible for me to leave this beautiful place. Many countries try to reproduce the chemistry of the Silicon Valley, and to date I am not sure anyone succeeded.
4. What is the best advice someone ever gave you? Why?
Not exactly an advice, I often think of the following quote from Mahatma Gandhi "You must be the change you want to see in the world". It helps me refocus and move forward.
5. What is one favorite way to spend your free time (hobbies, weekend activities)?
My favorite hobby is to spend time with my two daughters. The next one is to dance rock n'roll, which I learnt with friends at ENSAM Boardeaux. Unfortunately no one around me wants to dance acrobatic rock n'roll!
Thank you to Yarith for sharing his thoughts with us. AFAM appreciates your support!
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Arts et Métiers ParisTech Lille alum, Anne Charlotte, was an intern for Silver Bait for four months in 2012. You can apply now to be the next intern with Silver Bait LLC. American Friends of Arts et Métiers thanks Anne-Charlotte for sharing her experience with us:
“My mission during this internship was to calculate and determine the size of a wood boiler according to environmental and economical constraints. My daily tasks were to calculate the calorific losses of the building, finding the most appropriate wood supplier, calculate the size of the heat exchangers, and all the material needed. I also worked on the drawing of an industrial dryer, and I did a data base on ACESS. I also did lot of tests in the lab and I did vision programming on labview and matlab. I had to solve multi-disciplinary issues, using my mechanical, industrial and environmental background. My tasks were really diversified.
I was living on the farm with another worker, he was French too. It was a complete different life than the one I am used to; I have discovered the country music in Nashville, the “redneck” habits, the 4 wheelers during the week end, and lot of nature. I have learnt a lot about American culture, but also about geography, economy and politics of this country. Being in a small structure, gave me the opportunity to work on different aspects, it had developed my self-confidence and adaptation skills. This experience was also interested for me because it has reinforced my desire to work in the energy field, and to become a specialist in international energy management.”
Thank you so much Anne-Charlotte! Questions for Anne-Charlotte, connect with her on linkedin
You can also read an insightful article on Silver Bait LLC here.
To apply to this Shasta internship, please follow this link and sign in.
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An international energy engineering company has shared with us three excellent job opportunities in California for mechanical engineers. We are very thankful for our alumni sharing these types of opportunities with us, so we can pass it along to you.
For more information, please email me, or check out our linkedin group for more details.
Best,
Nichole Groppe
US Rep.
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