Member Article

HEC Paris boosts economic change in South Africa

A programme designed to teach business professionals how to build socially and ethically responsible companies – taking lessons from one of the world’s most rapidly developing economies – is to take place in Johannesburg next month.

The “Inclusive Business and Value Creation” programme, delivered by HEC Paris Executive Education, will run from 17th – 21st April 2017 in Johannesburg, and is currently open for applications.

Launched in 2011, The programme enables social entrepreneurs, senior managers and executives of large private organizations, NGO’s and governmental organizations to gain a unique interdisciplinary perspective of how to best align social values with their own corporate strategies, to conduct ethical business overseas and create social and sustainable change.

Participants will be able to gain a deeper understanding of role international aid agencies, governments, impact investors and NGOs can play in encouraging sustainable economic development and learn how they can best collaborate with these actors to create a larger impact.

After completion of the programme, participants become part of a pioneering global network of “change-makers” which connects global businesses with leading social entrepreneurs, and provides access to project tutoring.

The programme will be run by Frédéric Dalsace, HEC Paris Associate Professor of Marketing and Dr Sabrina Djefal, Executive coach in Leadership, with the backing of companies such as Danone, Renault, and Schneider Electric, together with support from Ashoka, the first global network of leading social entrepreneurs and Hystra, a consultancy specialized in inclusive businesses.

The program is designed for participants who have typically 15 or more years of management experience and are part of the team determining the strategic direction of their company.

Former participant Deepa Mirchanadani, joined the programme in 2016 after two decades working for NGOs and UN agencies, to aid the development of her own social start-up Deep & Meaningful Consulting.

She says; “The teaching was excellent. I was able to leverage the lessons learnt, inspiring myself from the case-studies and the different business approaches to overcome the challenges my company faces regularly. I’ve changed my creative approach in my company as a result. Though I already had a good understanding of the international aid agencies, government strategy and NGOs and how they work, the connections I made in the corporate world have enabled to me explore developing my business further.“

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by HEC Paris .