Two SKEMA alumni launch Sundesk: Sophia-Antipolis’ first co-working space!

With a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and 7 years’ experience as VP Business Development for Euclyde Data Centers, Karim Houry (SK 2010) is now the founder of Sundesk, a new business centre in Sophia Antipolis (930 route des Dolines). He launched his venture with Olivia Cotret (SK 2010), in charge of development.

Karim, Olivia, can you tell us a little about what you’ve both been up to since graduating from the SKEMA Bachelor’s programme?

Karim: "My professional career started with an internship at TBWAChiatDay (Los Angeles), where I joined the teams that looked after the Apple and Pepsi accounts. In 2010, I left TBWA to join my father in Sophia Antipolis and open a family business in which I thrived for 7 years: Euclyde Data Centers.

Euclyde is a “pure player” data centre offering high-availability web hosting and other hosting-related services.  Over the years, Euclyde has grown and now represents several data centres across France. We also developed a sizeable local loop (fibre optic network) and, in doing so, brought fibre to many sites in Sophia Antipolis. In December 2017 I left Euclyde to start a brand new business. After 9 months of work and preparation I opened Sundesk, a business centre and co-working space in Sophia Antipolis with a surface area of 1,000 m2 and an 800 m2 extension planned in the next 18 months to 2 years.  I’m already thinking of opening new Sundesk branches (in France and abroad) of over 2,000 m2."

Olivia: "As for me, after graduating with a degree in Communications majoring in public relations, I got an internship at BCBGMAXAZRIA in California, as International Marketing Assistant. It was a great six-month experience during which I worked with European countries from Los Angeles, planning advertising/marketing campaigns and in-store events. I returned to France in 2011 and joined the luxury industry in Paris as Marketing Assistant for a company on Avenue Montaigne. After nearly two years, I decided to return to the South of France. I then worked for Michael Kors. I contributed to its development on the French Riviera (opened the corners at the Galeries and also the boutiques in Nice and Cannes). Seeking movement and a new challenge, I became Regional Manager of Marketing and Merchandising for the Fossil Group. I travelled around the region a lot, to over 160 retail outlets (teams to train, merchandising to set up, boutiques to open, events to organise). The company decided to restructure the department and I took the opportunity to start a new adventure. For the last few months I have been in charge of Sundesk’s business development, alongside my Skeman friend Karim Houry. Karim has a lot of talent and a titanic determination to succeed. It didn’t take me long to throw myself into this superb venture that is Sundesk. Sundesk is more than a business centre. It’s like a second home where work becomes a real pleasure."

How would you sum up Sundesk?

Sundesk offers commitment-free workspaces either as open space or private offices. Several meeting rooms are also available to Sundesk members and to companies wanting to hold a meeting away from their own offices.

Thanks to Karim and Olivia for their warm welcome at Sundesk (SKEMA Alumni approves of the location and the hospitality!) and for giving the SKEMA network the scoop on their launch.

Sundesk / https://www.sundesk.com

Contact: olivia.cotret@sundesk.com