Tom Ahern is a student at EM Normandie. He joined the school via the AST competitions, after having had a career in modeling and studied in the Merchant Navy in Canada. He talks about his journey from Canadian cargo ships to Le Havre.
Tom Ahern’s modeling debut
Your international journey begins in high school. Why did you go to Australia?
I did my last year of high school in Australia, because I wanted to do it in English, thanks to Rotary. One of their projects is to allow young people to go on international exchanges. I was 16 then. Right after, I started a career in fashion abroad. I worked in Europe, but also in Shanghai and Canada.
It was a very enriching experience. In Australia, I was shy in high school. Modeling was the opposite extreme. It allowed me to get out of my comfort zone. I was able to build my self-confidence.
How did you get into this industry?
Coming back from Sydney, I did my CEGEP [Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel, NDLR] in Dawson. My girlfriend at the time had a passion for photography and I asked her to take photos of me. I googled modeling agencies and sent the photos to Next. I was 18-19 years old then.
When I got home from work the next day, I noticed that I had a lot of missed calls. I met them, then, a week later, I already had my first contract: a campaign for Sport Experts.
Over time, I ended up having agencies all over the world. The advantage after an international career is that it is easy to obtain contracts in Montreal. I played the game, thought it was really cool, but felt like I learned everything there was to learn. It wasn’t my dream to work in this universe.
From modeling to the Merchant Navy
What made you want to enroll in Merchant Navy school?
At the time, I was in modeling and my job was just image. I wanted to completely change sectors and this proves that I am adaptable. I have this connection with this universe, because my father worked at the port of Montreal. This is a very unusual job. In Canada, this allows you to go away for two months and have a vacation. These jobs also offer an attractive salary.
How was your experience at this school?
This is a four-year bachelor’s degree which allows you to learn navigation. In total, we spend 12 months at sea. My first internship took place on a ferry, near Alaska, which connects Prince Rupert to Queen Charlotte. I helped load and unload ships as a cadet. It was my simplest experience.
I then spent several months in the Arctic Ocean, on a cargo ship linking Montreal to Iqaluit. Since it’s frozen during the winter, we had to bring everything residents need to live from telephone poles to cars. It was very interesting. As there is no port, we had to manage the cranes on the boat.
Finally, I continued with an internship on a boat that crossed the North Shore, in Quebec, then I did another internship on a barge that transported liquid asphalt on the Great Lakes, from Detroit in Newfoundland, to the Atlantic.
The arrival of Tom Ahern at EM Normandie
After these experiences, what made you want to come and study in France?
I wanted to continue my studies with a master’s degree and I wanted to come to France. I hesitated between Le Havre and Marseille. In my history books, I studied the connection between Canada and Normandy. In addition, my family knows several people at the port of Le Havre. So I chose EM Normandie. The advantage is that the courses are in English and I was able to do my M1 in Le Havre before coming to Paris for my M2.
You weren’t too disoriented to go from cargo ships to France?
I really liked Le Havre. It’s a quieter town. I loved the fact that the professors and students came from all over the world. I was able to form friendships. What I appreciated about this M2 in luxury marketing was also the network which allowed me to meet employees of Berluti or Guerlain.
Tom’s future after EM Normandie
What is your number one priority today?
I will soon start my internship in the world of luxury. Then, I intend to finish my dissertation and find a job in the luxury sector. I have several offers in the merchant navy, but I want to continue with my master’s degree.
How do you imagine your future in the coming years?
I have a business project in mind that I want to set up with a colleague from EM Normandie. In five years, I imagine having created my luxury startup. But, for now, I want to gain experience in this sector.
Is modeling over?
I still have my agency, so I could continue in this universe, but it’s far from being my number 1 priority. If I opt for a permanent contract in Toronto and she calls me, I could possibly redo some contracts. However, I don’t see myself doing just that.
