Olivier Bonini
Baylor University, Hankamer School of Business
Age: 48
“Global IT Leader, passionate about shaping talents, embracing an international life’s journey with my family.”
Hometown: Plano, TX
Family Members: Pharoeuth, my wife, Sovann, our son, and Marley and Nina, our two puppies
Fun fact about yourself: Passionate about History, I wanted to be an archeologist…ended up on a fantastic IT journey.
Undergraduate School and Degree: Université Paris-Est Créteil, Information Systems Management
Where are you currently working? I’m currently Senior VP of IT at EssilorLuxottica
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: Mentoring young talents or rising stars
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? During our International trip in South America (Buenos Aires, Argentina and Santiago, Chile) we got the opportunity to meet with a great variety of people from established International to local Businesses, or NGOs.
One particularly memorable and inspiring visit was to Kingston Family Vineyards, in the Casablanca valley. This family-run enterprise, rooted in a century-old tradition, stands as a remarkable example of visionary transformation and sustainable growth. The Kingston Family farm Business in Chile has run for 100 years, and the family’s 5th generation has revolutionized the use of this land by transforming it into a successful, award-winning vineyard.
What stood out most was the family’s ability to innovate while honoring their heritage. It is a demonstration of how a company can embrace change, while leveraging their core competencies and develop a successful vision. The Kingston Family leveraged local resources and skills, cultivated strong ties with the local communities and help strengthening the Chilean wine making industry. The family leans on local expertise; they are strong advocates of Chilean wine making talents and their savoir-faire and they help local communities grow into this industry. The Kingston family has not only built a successful brand, but also contributed meaningfully to the region’s social and economic development.
It was a great demonstration of sustainable and community-driven growth.
It served as a powerful reminder that long-term success often lies in fostering authentic connections, preserving cultural identity, and investing in the people and places that shape your story.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I have moved across 4 continents and 6 countries, blended multicultural Teams from AMERICAS to EU, India, Southeast Asia, and Japan, thus fostering an environment of exchange, opportunities and growth, building global and cohesive Teams. Beyond any project or program successfully delivered, this is what I’m the proudest of doing. During the MBA program, I expanded my mentee network, extending to multiple continents. Additionally, I was honored to speak at long-term recognition awards for some of our key team members, as well as being interviewed to share my journey, vision and advice.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? Dr. Gary Carini, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation
Dr. Carini engaged us in a very dynamic way from Day 1. His insights and vision on strategic matters were key for us to grasp the extent of global impacts. Dr. Carini is always looking for the detailed thought that is behind an answer, encouraging all class members to share and dive deep.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? Baylor University Hankamer School of Business presented the most interesting program with specific concentrations we could select to sharpen our skill set on targeted areas. I selected the Executive Presence and Communication concentration. It also offered the best time balance with one class weekend per month, and a well-planned set of assignments (including group work) in between in-person class sessions.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? Resilience would be one, and with it came self-organizational skills I kind of discovered about myself (balancing work/life/education). Servant Leadership would be another one, which I instantly applied at work by revisiting my approach with my Leadership Team, as well as reviewing how we were addressing our Global Teams.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? I had to visit my Teams in India and Thailand, while having to prepare a couple of cases for our Marketing course. At the same time, I had to be available for my family on my return (despite having a class weekend as soon as I landed in DFW)…I took the opportunity of 16-hour flights and long layovers to prepare all cases and worked on quizzes so I could stay on top of my assignments, and not bring work/study related “stress” back home.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? Jump right in! Have an open mind, participate, connect and exchange with your peers as your group will motivate you and push you to bring your best.
Also, never procrastinate, even if there is the temptation to leave things to the last minute.
What was your biggest regret in business school? I do not have any.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I have a couple of classmates I would like to highlight:
Kaustubh Mestry: Kaustubh, also called Kaz, made a strong and positive impression from Day 1. Kaz had a real drive to excel, always provided in-depth contributions in class and a willingness to support or help. He has been a real source of motivation, particularly with his relentless dedication, despite the challenges in managing his medical practices and having to balance with the program’s schedule.”
Cody Keaton: Cody’s contribution to the class has been felt throughout the program. He displayed a great business acumen, and his approach to market strategy has helped me broaden my own skills. Cody did not hesitate to accept a promotion. It took him and his family to the other side of the country right in the middle of the program, traveling tirelessly to be in class, keeping the same drive, motivation, and support to our group. A display of true Leadership.”
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives?
I chose the Executive MBA as I believe it targets a more senior audience and is tuned towards Executive Leadership and strategy. It brings a different perspective than part-time which (I believe) focuses more on business skills. The Executive MBA also allows us to build a cohesive group, locked in a consistent cohort.
While we have all learned how to work remotely, I would not have chosen an Online course, as to me the in-person interactions and exchanges are an integral part of what we learn.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? I was lucky to have partial funding from my company.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? I aim to be recognized as a trusted strategic business partner. My goal is to step into top executive leadership, continuing to develop talents, teams and organizations leveraging my global experience and people development mindset.
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