Airbus in Singapore: a VIE placement in Asia-Pacific for SKEMA student Louis Nicol

He meets us at the top of a skyscraper, an Airbus-branded polo on his shoulders and a bright expression on his face. Behind his screen, 11,000 kilometres from France, Louis Nicol is based in Singapore, one of Asia’s four dragons. He works within Airbus’s Commercial Aircraft division. It is a striking role for a student who has grown up in multicultural settings. “I come from the Lot region and was born in Brive-la-Gaillarde, but I spent much of my childhood abroad, following my parents’ postings as teachers in French secondary schools,” he explains.

It was during SKEMA’s entrance process that his professional outlook began to shift, shaped in particular by the exercise of the projective CV.

That trajectory continued in the United States, where he completed his scientific baccalaureate in Dallas, Texas. “That year, we were the first to sit the exams anywhere in the world, without any practice papers beforehand,” he recalls with a smile.

Back to France and a demanding preparatory track

Back in France, Louis Nicol joined an ECS preparatory class at Lycée Joffre in Montpellier. Two intense years opened the door to SKEMA and its Master in Management (PGE). “It was during SKEMA’s entrance process that my professional thinking took a decisive turn, through the projective CV exercise, which forced me to picture myself five or ten years ahead. After preparatory classes, that is not straightforward, but I knew my options were wide,” he says.

Industry as a guiding thread

From 2022 onwards, the student chose to focus on industry. A path that was not necessarily obvious at a time when European industry faced headwinds. Louis Nicol saw it as a sector of innovation and competitiveness. “I first turned towards defence, which I see as a technological laboratory whose advances feed into civilian applications. I completed a three-month internship at MBDA, Europe’s leading missile manufacturer,” he notes.

After MBDA, he continued along the same line, joining Naval Group in Ollioules, in the Var. Following this private-sector experience, he sought exposure to public affairs and diplomacy. He undertook an internship at the French Embassy in Norway, in Oslo, within the Defence Mission. This phase offered him a different perspective on geopolitical challenges, alongside his double degree with Sciences Po Aix and his studies at SKEMA.

Airbus and the VIE in Singapore

At Airbus, Louis Nicol’s journey has taken on a new dimension. After a final-year internship in corporate strategy at the Toulouse headquarters, the SKEMA Master in Management (PGE) student is now extending his international experience through a two-year VIE, based in Singapore, within the Commercial Aircraft division. “I am part of the Business Development teams in the Services department — everything related to aftermarket activities, following aircraft sales — for the Asia-Pacific region, excluding China and India. I contribute to the launch of growth projects, working on partnerships, new offerings and strategic thinking,” he explains.

In this Asian hub, the mission marks a first major step towards an international career, in a region set to play a central role in the future of global aerospace.