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Benjamin Ferré (SKEMA 2015): The ocean-going adventurer ready to conquer the 2024 Vendée Globe
Benjamin Ferré is no ordinary adventurer. Graduating from SKEMA Business School in 2015, he has made exploration his daily life, constantly pushing back the limits of possibilities. Today, he is preparing to take on one of the most extreme challenges there is: the 2024 Vendée Globe, the legendary round-the-world solo sailing race. Between sporting feats and societal commitments, Benjamin embodies the spirit of daring and innovation SKEMA encourages in its alumni. We look at the remarkable career of this modern-day adventurer.
A graduate with the soul of an explorer
Benjamin Ferré has always had a thirst for adventure. As soon as he graduated from SKEMA, he embarked on some bold projects that mingled exploring the world with reflection on societal issues. In 2017, barely two years after graduating, he founded IMAGO, an adventure incubator designed to help novice adventurers get the necessary impetus to embark on an adventure project with an environmental or societal impact. At the time, he already found a project partner he could rely on in SKEMA.
A sailor through and through
A born navigator and adventurer, Benjamin loves ocean racing and the challenges it provides. After a journey across the Moroccan desert in a Renault 4 and a crossing of the Atlantic using a sextant with no GPS, Benjamin finished in the top 3 in the 2019 Mini Transat, a solo race. This performance brought him up against ocean-racing legend Jean Le Cam, who became his mentor.
This meeting was the beginning of a story involving the inheritance of know-how, and a desire to transcend oneself and surpass one's limits. While he was bold, young and capable, "King Jean's" ocean-racing experience and vision of racing give Benjamin the confidence to believe that it is possible. So he's going for it. One step at a time, he is now rising to the challenge of competing in the next Vendée Globe: the most difficult single-handed, non-stop, unassisted round-the-world sailing race.
A project supported by SKEMA
To embark on this sporting and human adventure, the native of St Malo has enlisted the support of several sponsors, including SKEMA Business School. "Benjamin's goal involves humility, passing on knowledge and sharing. It makes sense for SKEMA, as well as being an extraordinary human and sporting adventure", says SKEMA's Dean, Alice Guilhon.
Benjamin himself makes no secret of the fact that his time at SKEMA was decisive for his career. His round-the-world hitchhiking trip to meet SKEMA alumni was a seminal moment. "I've always felt the unwavering support of the SKEMA community. It's a school that gives you confidence and pushes you to have bigger dreams. Taking part in the Vendée Globe with SKEMA as a partner is a way of paying tribute to an institution that has given me so much."
A call to the SKEMA community
With just a few weeks to go before the start, Benjamin is in the home stretch of his preparations. The official start of the 2024 Vendée Globe will take place on November 10, at 1:02pm, at Les Sables d'Olonne. The entire SKEMA community is invited to support Benjamin in this extraordinary adventure. An initiative has even been launched: the #SKEMAONTHEGLOBE project, which allows everyone to send messages of encouragement to Benjamin via video or email.
An unmissable date
The Vendée Globe is more than just a race: it's a human epic, an extraordinary adventure where the watchwords are daring, resilience and courage. Benjamin Ferré, supported by SKEMA and its community, is about to embark on the experience of a lifetime.
Make a date for November 10, to follow his departure and accompany him, from a distance, on this fabulous adventure.
Want to support Benjamin? Take part in the #SKEMAONTHEGLOBE initiative and send your encouragements to: diplomes@skema.edu.
See the 2024 Vendée Globe 2024 route 👇
