Paolo, Samir & Gabriel: meet the presidents of three Students Unions

[This translation has been generated automatically]

Paolo Silva-Romaldi (E27), Samir Benkirane (M26) and Gabriel Canavaggio (BBA 28) are respectively presidents of the Santana Student Union (BDE) for the Grande École programme, the COSMOS BDE for Specialised Masters, and the KSK BDE for the BBA. Committed to student life at ESSEC, they are each supported by a team of around thirty students and by ESSEC Alumni. Meet them.

ESSEC Alumni: Who are you and which Student Union (BDE) do you represent?

Paolo Silva-Romaldi (E27) : I am currently in my third year of the Grande École programme. In June 2025, we formed the SANTANA BDE with 40 other members. The BDE organises parties both on and off campus, as well as large-scale events such as the integration weekend, the ESSEC Night and the ESSEC Gala. 

Samir BENKIRANE (BBA 25 + M26) : The COSMOS BDE is an association bringing together 32 students from several programmes. Its distinctive feature lies in its ability to energise and structure the student life of more than a dozen different programmes (Master in, MSc and Specialised Masters). Our role is to represent, unite and create connections between these communities through a wide range of initiatives—social, cultural, sporting, professional or civic—that enrich the student experience and promote ESSEC’s values.

Gabriel CANAVAGGIO (BBA 28) : I am a second-year BBA student at ESSEC and president of the BBA KSK BDE. Our BDE is an association of 35 students whose aim is to energise student life for all students in our programme. We bring students together through various events to create and maintain a strong sense of community. 

EA: Being president of the BDE is a first commitment within the ESSEC community. What motivated you to take on this role?

Paolo (E27) : My involvement was driven by three main reasons. Firstly, since joining ESSEC I have been highly involved in the school’s student life, particularly in the Arts Society and UN'ESSEC. This initial engagement gave me the desire to do more, on larger projects with greater responsibility. Finally, I wanted to gain my first experience in the events sector to diversify my professional background. 

Samir (M26) : Becoming president of the Masters BDE is a natural continuation of my journey at ESSEC. I had the opportunity to get involved very early in student life, notably as Secretary General of the BBA BDE, as well as through the creation of and participation in several associations. This path gradually strengthened my desire to commit further, with a strong belief in leadership that serves the collective. For this new experience, after having held very operational, field-oriented roles, I wanted to take a step back and embrace a more institutional and unifying dimension. The aim is to support and structure diverse, multicultural teams while leading large-scale initiatives serving all Masters programmes.

Gabriel (BBA 28) : The BBA BDE represents, for me, the most enriching experience of my student journey. From the moment I arrived at ESSEC, I was struck by the commitment and work of my predecessors. I immediately knew I wanted to experience this myself. Being part of the BBA BDE is the most complete form of student engagement: you connect with the entire student community and contribute concretely to campus life. As someone dynamic and always seeking new experiences, I found in the BDE the ideal opportunity to lead an ambitious project and build strong connections with those sharing this journey.

EA: Could you share the main challenges of your respective mandates?

Paolo (E27) : Several key challenges have been central to this mandate. The most important was to revitalise the BDE and re-establish it as an integral part of the school’s student life. It was necessary to show that the BDE is not only organisational but also plays a driving role in student life. We had also gradually lost our impact on campus events, so it was important to relaunch this aspect by increasing events in Cergy. Finally, we wanted to revitalise the BDE campaign process, highlight the importance of this association and the many skills gained during the mandate, and encourage future cohorts to join the adventure. 

Samir (M26) : The main challenges revolve around three complementary areas. The first is engagement: successfully involving students in student life over time by creating attractive and unifying events, in a context where expectations are evolving. The second is financial: in a constrained budgetary environment, it is essential to manage resources rigorously while developing new funding sources. Finally, we aim to offer relevant initiatives for students, combining professional events with social and cultural formats aligned with their expectations. The overall objective is to build a coherent, engaging and useful student experience.

Gabriel (BBA 28) : The key challenges of this mandate revolve around three main priorities: creating and maintaining a dynamic student life, ensuring the successful integration of new students—whether French, international or exchange students—and remaining available and attentive to students’ needs to support them throughout their journey.

EA: What connections have you developed with ESSEC Alumni and why is this partnership important?

Paolo (E27) : The partnership with ESSEC Alumni is essential for the BDE. We collaborate on the ESSEC Gala, our largest event for the alumni community. It is also important for us to relay ESSEC Alumni communications to students on campus, helping them build connections and become part of the ESSEC network. 

Samir (M26) : ESSEC Alumni plays a key role for the Masters BDE and for all students. It is essential to raise awareness of what the network can offer, particularly for students about to enter professional life. Its support—through resources, events and networking opportunities—is invaluable.

Gabriel (BBA 28) : This mandate allowed me to get closer to ESSEC Alumni and understand how it operates. The work done to keep the ESSEC community active is remarkable. The BDE plays a key role in raising awareness among students of the importance of the alumni network.

EA: What advice would you give to a student regarding ESSEC Alumni and the network?

Paolo (E27) : Take the time to understand how ESSEC Alumni can be a major asset for your academic and professional journey.

Samir (M26) : Don’t wait until the end of your studies to engage with the ESSEC Alumni network—use it as early as possible.

Gabriel (BBA 28) : Students often underestimate the impact of the ESSEC network. Be proactive, reach out and take advantage of this opportunity.

Are you an ESSEC student? Discover all the ESSEC Alumni services available to you: 

Discover student services