This text is part of the special section Philanthropy
Much more than a management school, HEC Montréal is a space where possibilities emerge. The school trains responsible leaders who contribute to the success of organizations and the sustainable development of society.
“HEC Montréal has existed for 116 years with the mission of training leaders to meet current business management challenges, whether private, public or in the social economy,” Michel Patry (HEC Montréal 1978 and 1980 ), President and CEO of the HEC Montréal Foundation.
He points out that at the beginning of the century, it was first necessary to train the first French Canadians to enter the business world. Then, in the 1930s and 1940s, it was necessary to train accounting experts, especially for work in banks. “Before, there were few Francophones in Quebec in the business and accounting world,” he says. We were going a long way. »
In the 1970s, several large organizations emerged, and in the 1990s, the internationalization of the economy began. “Currently, the challenges are more on the side of energy transition and sustainable development, so, as a management school, it was obvious that we had to position ourselves quickly,” explains Michel Patry, who headed HEC Montréal for 13 years. The school, which has been interested in these issues for several years, has notably created a department of sustainable transition and has taken several steps to expose its student community to the various elements it includes. »
Excellence and accessibility
Michel Patry highlights the extent to which environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues have taken a central place in organizations. They touch on several major themes, from the carbon footprint to inclusion and the smart tools that support all these transformations. The integration of artificial intelligence leads to the use of enormous amounts of data which, of course, opens up a host of possibilities. But there are also many risks to manage for organizations and individuals.
“In order for the leaders to master everything that fits into these major themes, we had to make concrete changes in the programs, the teaching materials and the research”, indicates the CEO of the Foundation. Above all, HEC Montréal does not reserve its training for the elite. “We are one of the best management schools in the world, with very high standards, but we don’t select a hundred people a year, as some private establishments do,” emphasizes Michel Patry. We are a public school, and we train thousands of people every year. But, to maintain our high standards, community support is essential. »
For example, the MBA is very accessible, if we compare it to those of some management schools in the United States or Europe, which charge $60,000 per year for this program.
Another example is the creation of the First Nations Leadership School last year. It offers course programs of a few days co-constructed with Indigenous communities and given by pairs of First Nations trainers and faculty members from HEC Montréal. These programs are offered free of charge to selected individuals.
“It’s a very costly initiative, but it’s possible thanks to philanthropy and government support because we believe in the importance of developing more skills and leadership in First Nations communities,” says Michel Patry. The number of cohorts is increasing, it is a great success. »
This content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, relating to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.