How does the current context challenge businesses and organizations?
VT : Adaptability is inherent to business and the lives of organizations, which have always had to evolve in order to survive. However, the scale of today’s economic, societal and environmental upheavals—such as the need to rethink growth in a world with finite resources, the growing polarization of opinions or even the arrival of new generations—implies real paradigm shifts on the part of companies and individuals, leaders and managers. Knowing how to change ways of thinking is therefore crucial.
Why is such a development necessary?
VT : Every organization is subject to inertia and resistance to change. And yet, the need to evolve is inevitable. Take AI, where current developments require us to rethink certain processes to improve performance. However, we must keep in mind that AI remains a tool that must be taken advantage of and not a universal remedy. Our role as a global business school is to provide companies, managers and directors with the tools to understand the contexts in which they operate. That’s why our executive education courses include geopolitics and sustainability modules in addition to our technical lessons—to help them be more flexible and resilient, and “stay relevant” in the words of Steve Jobs.
How does ESCP approach talent development?
VT : To be sure, our mission as a school is to deliver knowledge, but it is above all to teach how to learn. Thanks to ESCP’s unique multi-campus model and international approach, one of our fundamental lessons is to take into account different business contexts. This, coupled with a strong research drive, helps us accomplish what I consider to be an essential goal : shaking up learners, and encouraging them to “unlearn” to better embrace new ways of doing business and seeing the world. Of course, academic expertise remains key, as do some of our convictions, particularly on the issue of sustainability, for which we encourage our learners to reflect and act upon the impacts. ESCP thus offers courses that combine theory and practice, where learners exchange their experiences and learn from each other, and during which both alumni and professional experts provide their testimonies and experiences. By enabling us to better understand our environment and developing talent, training helps us to manage change, which I believe is inevitable given the major transformations we face.
To learn more about ESCP Business School, visit escp.eu
