General Director of the IFP Bordeaux Business School, Mathieu Naud is newly enrolled at the FEDE’s Doctoral School. His DBA will focus on the status of training organisations. He tells us more.

What is your current job role?

I am co-founder and General Director of IFP Bordeaux Business School – an educational institution specialised in trade, marketing, innovation, payroll and management. We offer qualifications from postsecondary to master’s level, with a focus on professional and organisational changes arising from digitalisation and the green transition.

What have been the highlights of your career?

I worked for a long time in the supermarket sector, including for major actors such as Biocoop, Lidl and Gifi. I spent 10 or so years managing a Lidl store, which was an extremely enriching and motivating experience. However, I felt that, at an intellectual level, I needed some new challenges. Various circumstances led me to enter the education sector.

What did you study in the past, and why have you decided to do a DBA?

I have a two-year master’s degree in operational management. I have also completed a course in coaching and have a qualification in adult education. I decided to do a DBA because I want to do some research into private higher education and analyse the issues and challenges faced by what we call in France ‘training organisations’ vis-à-vis France’s traditional elite higher educational institutions. I feel that combining my experience on the ground with academic research on the subject will be a real boost to my professional development.