[Alumni Story] : David Bennoin

I began my career at Rennes School of Business, where I joined the Grande École program in AST2. During my studies, I was lucky enough to do a gap year which enabled me to discover China and take my first steps in purchasing in France. It was a great experience that really opened my eyes to the professional world. I then went on exchange to Umeå in Sweden, which broadened my horizons even further. My end-of-study internship went really well, so well that they offered me a contract! It even turned into a VIE, where I found myself in charge of transport purchasing for North America. Back in France, I joined Carrefour, where I really consolidated my purchasing skills. Then came the opportunity at Amazon. I started by managing regional purchasing for household, waste and pest control. Now I’m in charge of a global professional services category.

What do you do for a living?

Today, I manage a global purchasing portfolio for professional services at Amazon, and that’s really exciting.

My job is to develop a strategy that enables us to optimize the value of these services while controlling costs. I spend a lot of time identifying and developing relationships with partner suppliers who can really bring us cutting-edge expertise. A big part of my job is to uncover strategic opportunities.

For example, I’m constantly looking for ways to use professional services to give Amazon a competitive edge, whether by improving our internal processes or bringing in new perspectives. I also deal with risk management, but in a slightly different way. I set up audit services to make sure we comply with all regulations, and I work on medical services to guarantee the health and safety of our employees. This is crucial to Amazon’s reputation and smooth running. Of course, I make sure that our contracts are solid and protect Amazon’s best interests, especially when it comes to confidentiality and intellectual property, super important aspects in professional services. I coordinate the execution of this strategy on a global scale, which involves working with very diverse teams.

It’s a real challenge to make sure everyone’s aligned, especially when you’re talking about services as varied as consulting, auditing and other services. I’m always on the lookout for market trends and new approaches to professional services. Data analysis plays a key role in my decisions, whether to evaluate supplier performance or to identify new business needs.

Finally, I’m constantly trying to innovate the way we buy and use professional services. The aim is to improve the experience of our internal customers while adding real value to Amazon. It’s a role that requires a lot of creativity and strategic vision, but that’s what makes it so interesting!

What’s your greatest achievement?

I’d have to say it was launching and managing a category that had never really been managed before. It was quite a challenge, believe me! In the beginning, it was a total mess. There were so many ambiguities and hidden costs that nobody dared touch it. But I decided to take up the challenge. I started by diving into the analysis of invoices – a real painstaking task! From there, I developed a solid plan. The hardest part was convincing all the teams around the world to adhere to my strategy. It took a lot of discussions, presentations, and sometimes even a bit of diplomacy! But in the end, I managed to unite everyone around this project. What I’m particularly proud of is having developed automation tools to facilitate the work of our teams and partners. It’s really transformed the way we manage this category on a daily basis. And do you know what? If we keep up the momentum, in three years’ time, this category could well become one of Amazon’s biggest. It’s amazing to think where we started from! What pleases me most is to see how we’ve managed to turn something that was seen as a headache into a strategic opportunity for the company. It really shows the impact you can have when you combine analysis, strategy and collaboration.

In your opinion, what is the value of the network in general? The Alumni network in particular?

Networking is an incredible tool in the professional world. It opens doors, brings in new ideas and helps you stay up to date in your field. At Amazon, my network often helped me find innovative solutions. The alumni network is even stronger. You share a common history, and that creates unique links. Exchanges with Rennes School of Business alumni are always enriching. It’s a real goldmine of opportunities and advice. What I like is the diversity of backgrounds. It opens the mind and can lead to unexpected collaborations. It’s also a way of giving back to the school that trained us. In short, the network is both a safety net and a springboard for the future. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it!

How do you get involved in the Alumni network?

To be honest, I’m not the most committed alumnus, but I try to stay connected in my own way. I regularly take part in the Luxembourg club’s meetings, which keeps me in touch with the local network. What’s really important to me is to contribute directly to the school whenever I can. I’ve had the opportunity to attend several events to interview candidates. It’s always enriching to see the new generation and to be able to share my experience with them. I’ve also had the pleasure of speaking about my career path. It’s a way for me to give something back to the school and help students project themselves into their future careers. Even if I’m not the most active on a daily basis, these occasional interactions keep me involved and contributing in my own way. I’d like to do more in the future, but with a busy schedule, I do my best to balance my commitment with my professional responsibilities.

Tell us about an opportunity you had thanks to the school

It was during my gap year in China. Thanks to the Alumni network, I landed an internship in Shanghai. But the most incredible thing was that when I was looking for accommodation, I found a roommate who was also from Rennes School of Business, but from a different year! Just imagine: in a city of 24 million inhabitants, I find myself sharing an apartment with someone from the same school. What a small world! That experience was a real turning point in my career. It opened my eyes to the international scene and influenced the way I think about global business. It was partly thanks to this that I was later able to join Amazon and manage international teams. It really shows the strength of the Rennes School of Business network. Even on the other side of the world, you make unexpected connections. You never know where a simple introduction through the school might lead you!

Your best encounter at Rennes School of Business?

My best encounter thanks to Rennes School of Business? Without a doubt, my wife! It’s a story that still makes me smile. We met during my exchange in Umeå, Sweden. Who’d have thought that by going to study on the other side of Europe, I’d find the love of my life? This encounter completely changed the course of my life. Not only did it make my experience in Sweden unforgettable, but it also influenced all my career decisions afterwards. It’s amazing how a simple university exchange can have such a profound impact on our personal lives! In addition to this exceptional encounter, I also made some lasting friendships during my studies. I’m still in touch with some of my Rennes School of Business alumni. Of course, with time and distance, some ties have become a little weaker. It’s normal, we’re all scattered to the four corners of the world, each caught up in our own professional and personal lives. But that’s the beauty of the relationships we forge during our studies: even if we don’t talk every day, there’s always that special bond. When we meet up again or exchange news, it’s as if we’ve never left each other. These encounters, whether romantic or friendly, are really what make the Rennes School of Business experience unique and precious. It goes far beyond the courses and diplomas, it creates connections that last a lifetime.

Have you taken advantage of a service offered by the careers department?

To be honest, I didn’t really take advantage of the services offered by the careers department when I finished my studies. I already had an opportunity lined up, so I didn’t feel the need at the time. That said, the careers service did come in handy, and quite unexpectedly! It was thanks to them that I was able to secure my internship in China. They put me in touch with an alumni working there, and that was the start of a great adventure. What I really appreciated was the network of alumni that the careers department was able to mobilize. This connection with the alumni in China was a real boost for me. Not only did it help me find the internship, but it also gave me an insight into what an international career could be like. Looking back, maybe I should have used their services more. They probably have lots of resources that I didn’t explore. But hey, even this small interaction had a big impact on my career. My advice to current students is not to hesitate to seek them out, even if you think you’ve got it all planned out. You never know what opportunities might present themselves thanks to them!

What advice would you give to a recent graduate?

Here are my three key pieces of advice for recent graduates, based on my own experience:

Step out of your comfort zone and go for it! If what you’re doing is too simple, you’re in the wrong place. Believe me, it’s when your head hits the wall that you really evolve. I’ve been there several times, and that’s always when I’ve made my biggest leaps forward. Trust yourself, especially when the going gets tough. When your head hits the wall – and it will – don’t give up. That’s the time to think outside the box, to come up with solutions that nobody else has thought of. That’s how I stood out at Amazon. Anticipate change, be curious, but above all, take action. Talking is not enough, you have to act, even if it may fail or cost you a little. I’ve taken risks by getting involved in AI and new techs alongside my job. It hasn’t always been easy, but that’s how you really learn.

In short: seek out challenges, persevere in the face of obstacles, and don’t be afraid to take action. That’s how you grow professionally and personally!

Do you have a hidden passion/talent?

First of all, I’m really passionate about real estate. It’s a field that fascinates me and in which I like to invest my free time. But what really gets me going is everything to do with new technologies. I’m a bit of a geek, I admit! I have fun creating little bots in my spare time. I’ve also dived into the world of smart contracts with Solidity, which is really exciting. I also do a lot of scripting in JavaScript, and I’m starting to get interested in Python. As you can see, I’m really into AI and new technologies. It’s such a fast-moving field, there’s always something new to learn! That said, despite all this high-tech stuff, I’ve kept a bit of a traditional side. For me, there’s nothing like a good evening with friends over a board game that lasts for hours. It’s my guilty pleasure! It’s a bit of a strange mix, I know. On the one hand, I’m plunged into the future with AI and blockchain, and on the other, I’m still attached to those simple moments around a game board. But that’s what keeps me in balance, I think!

The final word?

Dare to be adventurous, embrace the unexpected! Give it a try! Fail! Improve! And remember: “May the Prompt be with you”!