Meeting with Clémie Teston X23, Chair of the X-Forum 2025

Clémie Teston obtained her Baccalauréat at the French Lycée Vincent Van Gogh in The Hague, the Netherlands, in 2020. She then began her higher education studies in the ECS preparatory class (Economics and Commerce, Scientific Option) at Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris. ʻIt was an experience from which I learned a great deal, thanks to the wide range of subjects on offer and the sense of community among the students. I grew enormously during those two years,ʼ she tells us.

In 2022, Clémie Teston enrolled on the Grande École programme at HEC Paris, studying subjects such as finance, accounting and law while pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics at the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. Rather than daunting her, this challenge inspired her! ʻThese courses were well organised, which enabled me to complete both programmes simultaneously. Having a dual background in business and science has always been important to me. It also helped me enrol on a dual programme with an engineering school.ʼ

ʻAt the beginning of my higher education, I considered a purely scientific preparatory course, specifically the MPSI class, which focuses on mathematics, physics and engineering sciences. Logical reasoning, questioning and the constant search for solutions to problems also interested me enormously.ʼ This is why she took the FUF (French university stream) entrance exam for École Polytechnique in 2023, gaining admission. ʻThe engineering programme at École Polytechnique allows us to follow a demanding scientific curriculum while opening our minds to other ways of thinking through courses in the humanities, social sciences, innovation, entrepreneurship, sociology and public law.ʼ

A demanding and formative dual degree programme.

As a student at École Polytechnique while also pursuing her studies at HEC, Clémie Teston has learned to organise herself without neglecting either of these programmes, which she is particularly attached to. ʻI am incredibly lucky to be able to study at both institutions. The courses are certainly demanding, but above all they are stimulating.ʼ In short, it's the best of both worlds, but it's still a daily challenge. ʻDespite my busy schedule, I'm careful about my lifestyle. In addition to weekly volleyball classes at École Polytechnique, I play in matches every Thursday on campus.ʼ

Two experiences during his studies at the École Polytechnique were decisive: first, La Courtine, and then an internship on the other side of the world. ʻThe three-week military training course at La Courtine camp in Creuse prepares officer cadets for command roles. I completed my officer training in the Air Force and then undertook a four-month internship in Singapore with the Directorate of Security and Defence Cooperation (DCSD). This “human and military trainingˮ, carried out during the first year of the engineering programme, was invaluable, as the values of commitment and pushing myself beyond my limits that I learned there have been fundamental to my career,ʼ says Clémie Teston.

She is travelling alone, some 10,000 kilometres from home, to undertake an internship in the Civil Protection and Crisis Management Department of the French Embassy in Singapore. There, she will report to Commander Dumaz, a civilian firefighter. ̒The department organises training courses and projects to combat forest fires and manage the risks associated with port accidents involving hazardous materials in developing countries in Southeast Asia. My main responsibilities were logistics and budgeting. I met fascinating people who were fully committed to their missions and had an admirable sense of sacrifice. This experience offered a deep insight into the heart of French diplomatic action and its strategy for the Indo-Pacific,̕ she says, her eyes sparkling.

̒I helped negotiate a €6 million European port security fund for the GPS (Global Port Safety) project, which was initiated by the DCSD. The project aims to secure major ports in South and South-East Asia by improving risk prevention and accident management.̕ She acquired skills in managing and steering international projects while working alongside Commander Dumaz and the other executives she met on site. ̒I received a lot of support during this internship. Over time, I built a trusting relationship with my managers and the fire brigade. I learned to assert myself and earn their respect.̕ Being both a woman and the youngest member of the team (about 15 years younger than the others) presented challenges for Clémie Teston on some missions in Southeast Asia, but she made the most of this unique adventure, which was enriching both personally and professionally.

The X-Forum is a flagship event dedicated to employability and student-business relations.

̒By becoming president of the association that organises the X-Forum this year, I wanted to contribute to one of the school's most exciting projects, especially as it is organised by its students. The association helps everyone find their way by enabling them to meet companies. Sometimes, an internship opportunity can arise from a conversation between a professional and a student.̕ As president, Clémie Teston is responsible for coordinating the organisation of the event, overseeing the project, and ensuring that its various stages are carried out smoothly. She represents the association and is the main point of contact for both École Polytechnique management and companies. ̒̒There are 60 of us in total within this association. Our executive committee comprises a vice-president, a secretary general, a treasurer, a prestige partner manager and a president, and we also have departments dedicated to business development, logistics and communications. Without their work and commitment, an event like this, which brings together more than 2,000 people over two days, could not take place, she insists. My internships in Singapore and La Courtine have also been useful in helping me develop a sense of commitment, teamwork and creativity. In addition to project management, it is important to be able to overcome difficulties by taking the initiative and suggesting new solutions.̕ She was able to gauge the scale of this large-scale project last year as she was part of the finance team for this bi-promo association in 2024. ̒Being part of the organising team last year made me want to get more involved and run for president. I am delighted that the members have placed their trust in me to chair and lead the organisation of the X-Forum 2025,̕ says Clémie Teston.

Every year, five business sectors are represented: industry, consultancy, finance, start-ups and sustainable, solidarity-based enterprises. ̒Our aim was to provide students at École Polytechnique and the Institut Polytechnique de Paris with a diverse range of companies and organisations. There was a particular focus on sustainable development companies, such as Deepki, Carbonometrix and Yama Carbon, as well as companies in the defence and automotive sectors, including the Renault Group. This diversity of companies reflects the varied aspirations of École Polytechnique students.̕

The two-day event, which took place on 25 and 26 November, was designed to meet the expectations of as many students as possible. ̒Nearly 150 companies came to meet our students. They were delighted to discuss potential internships with them and talk about professional careers and prospects for advancement in their field. Feedback from École Polytechnique students was also positive!̕ This success would not have been possible without the support of the school's services and alumni.

The time has now come to pass the torch, allowing the association's new team to create an event that reflects their vision while addressing new logistical challenges resulting from construction work on the École Polytechnique campus and the closure of several buildings. These buildings will be partially replaced by new infrastructure. Clémie Teston has already secured her end-of-year internship in private equity, which she will complete before finishing her fourth year at HEC. She then plans to embark on a busy career in finance.