Alex Kostecki, Co-founder and COO of Clair, CHA 2007
Alex Kostecki
La Châtaigneraie, 2009
Co-founder & COO of Clair
USA
Find out more about me:
Ecolint helped me open my mind to new cultures including the United States. The school surrounded me with incredible people, curious, intelligent and driven, many of which went on to do incredible things.
After Ecolint, I went on to get a Bachelors degree at HEC Lausanne and an MBA at NYU's Stern School of Business. Today I live in New York City, and am married to my wife Florence who is French. In 2019 I founded a company called Clair that helps millions of American Workers get their pay every day instead of having to wait until the end of the month. We have a team of 65 people in an office in Union Square. I walk to work every day and love my job.
My favourite Ecolint memories are the Kermesse, the music classes, our huge library and running around campus on summer days.
Ecolint helped me open my mind to new cultures including the United States. The school surrounded me with incredible people, curious, intelligent and driven, many of which went on to do incredible things. I still have close friends from Ecolint today.
If I had to do it all over again, instead of trying to force myself through a bunch of homework, I'd try and get as interested in it as possible. That would make it easier to do. What we had to learn in physics and history class is about how the world works, how stupid human beings can be, and how difficult it has been for us to discover our place in this world. It's fascinating and deserves your attention, no matter how boring physics formulas can appear
My words of wisdom to current students : people already tell you this, but remember you are incredibly lucky to be in this school, and have been given everything you need to achieve what you want, whether that's financial success or just a really wholesome life full of great friends and family. You shouldn't feel bad about being that lucky, just have fun with it.
Don't stress out about "what you need to do with your life". The secret is, nobody knows. Ever. They just pretend they do. Just focus on doing the very next thing very well. Whether that's getting your next homework assignment, getting your IB, or applying to college, take care in what you do.
My legacy: I want to leave a legacy of building things that make the world a better place, and managing people in a way that grows them and fulfills them.