New EDHEC EMBA participants embark on their 16-month experience with an intensive Integration Week

With an average age of 40 and 14 years professional experience, our latest Executive MBA cohort  come from a wide range of sectors and industries. With 11 different nationalities and 38% international, the 41-strong class is truly diverse. October marked the start of their EMBA experience with both the Paris and Lille intakes joining Programme Directors Denis Dauchy and Phillippe Foulquier for a week-long kick-off at our Lille campus.  

While individual professional goals and reasons for doing an MBA vary as much as the participants’ backgrounds, participants share a common goal to broaden their horizons and gain new perspectives, update their skill-set in key business areas and give their career new momentum. 

“To ensure a personalised and transformational experience for each and every candidate, we aim for cohorts that are as diverse as possible in terms of culture, background and experience. At the same time, we want to make sure we are able to guarantee intensive and meaningful exchanges during and after class so that we can all learn, support and challenge each other. I am delighted that this year’s exceptional group has already started bonding and building relationships in the short time they have been here.” said Denis Dauchy, EDHEC EMBA Programme Director in Lille.  

An intense induction week to kick off an exhilarating learning journey 

With intakes in October and March in both Paris and Lille, the Integration Week brings together all our latest EMBA participants for an intensive and immersive experience on our campus in Lille. During the opening 5 days of their EMBA experience, participants have an ideal opportunity to get to know each other, the programme directors and dive straight into the programme. 

Philippe Foulquier, EDHEC EMBA Programme Director Paris, outlined what lies ahead for the participants over the next 16 months. “In an everchanging, global business world, you need to develop the vision, skills and business acumen necessary to lead your organisation to success. Therefore, our Executive MBA is a transformative programme that goes way beyond a purely academic curriculum”. 

“Because ethics and social responsibility, the human dimension of business, are as important as managerial techniques, we combine thorough academic study with individualised coaching and action learning. Throughout the next 16 months, personalised leadership development coaching and individual career reviews allow each of you to clearly define your professional objectives, increase your self-awareness and develop your leadership skills.” 

Two global business trips will expose particpants to different environments and the realities of globalisation.  

“Out of your own comfort zone, you sharpen your strategic sensitivity, learn how to anticipate market movements and identify alternative management models. During the concluding consulting project, you will be able to apply concrete methodologies and all the tools learned during class” added Prof. Dauchy.  

A tailor-made executive MBA to fit everyone’s needs 

 There are many ways to personalise the EDHEC MBA experience: In addition to the Consulting Project, individual coaching and professional development guidance and support, participants can choose from a range of over 15 cutting-edge electives totalling 90 hours including: Strategic Foresight: Methods and Tools, Criminal Risks Management or ‘Leading Digital Transformation’.  

Fitting a demanding academic curriculum around an existing career can be a challenge and requires planning and organisation. To match each participant’s organisational needs, EDHEC’s 16 month long executive MBA comes in two formats: bi-monthly (Friday & Saturday) in Lille. For those who prefer travelling to campus only once a month, EDHEC offers classes Wednesday – Saturday on our central Paris campus. Therefore, the cohort is now split into two groups.  After an intense week all together, 19 of them are staying on in Lille while 22 others will attend seminars on the Paris campus from now on.    

Even though the participants will not continue their studies on the same campus, it is important that the whole class meets right from the beginning of their studies to bond, exchange views, experiences, tips on how to combine work, studies and family life, and so forth. This sets the tone for the rest of the upcoming 16 months as the two groups will work closely together during their business trips, and certain seminars, pr.ojects and electives.