To quickly create a bond among the students, NEOMA chose musical team building activities, led by rhythm-based team building professionals.

Haka, djembe drumming and recycled tubes: students from the Master in Management, TEMA Tech & Management, Global BBA, CESEM and Bachelor in Services Management programmes got together for activities on the very first day on the NEOMA Paris, Reims and Rouen campuses.

Selam, first-year MiM student

“What was the first day like? Very inspiring. We played djembe drums led by Doug Manuel*. That helped develop team unity and we learned a bit more about each other and learned to communicate. What I took away from it was the need to learn how to understand yourself so you can understand others best”.

Foucault, first-year MiM student

“The team building with Doug was great. We played the tam tam and learned rhythms and I plan to completely change and devote myself entirely to the djembe (laughter). Joking aside, it put us on equal footing because we could feel out of our comfort zone together, which is important”.

Paul, first-year MiM student

“The djembe session was very inspiring, but also the fast-paced rhythms in the auditorium transported us to another time and place. It was great. I learned that to train a good team, you need to know how to communicate and stay humble and be human. I think that these are important values, which we’re going to apply at NEOMA”.

Jeanne, first-year Global BBA student

“We were each given a tube that made a different sound and as a group we put a piece of music together. It was great. The goal was to have us all laugh and enjoy ourselves together and do a shared activity with people we didn’t know. So for the first day? Doing an activity like that to start was really nice. When you first show up, it’s better to start with a different type of course immediately”.

Mathieu, first-year Global BBA student

“Together we played Viva la vida by Coldplay with our tubes. Everyone knows that song. The activity taught us to work in groups, like we will be doing throughout the year. It was interesting because it involved using our motor skills with other people. You needed to keep the same rhythm. And to create a harmony together, you need to listen and be on the same tempo because if some people play too fast, the harmony immediately falls apart. For the first day, honestly we got a great welcome and were immediately comfortable”.

Célestin, first-year MiM student

If I had to sum up in one word the first day at NEOMA, it would be sensational. I really had the impression of joining a family. What I took away is the need to say ‘thank you’. It’s really important”.