The generosity of a group of donors — CGI, GDI, the Walter Group, Jean-Pierre Léger and Josée Fiset — has made it possible to raise $705,000 in funding to support the operations of HEC Montréal’s Top Executives and Strategic Management Hub (Pôle D). Co-directed by Alaric Bourgoin and Denis Chênevert, this research and knowledge hub is dedicated to studying the strategic challenges facing business executives.
The HEC Montréal Foundation is pleased to announce that this generous combined gift will allow Pôle D to continue developing and sharing scientific knowledge by facilitating close collaboration between academia and the business community.
CCo-founder of Première Moisson, Associate Professor at HEC Montréal and member of Pôle D’s Executive Committee, Josée Fiset (HEC Montréal 1985) played an integral role in this fundraising effort.
“I wanted to give back to HEC Montréal. They made me the leader and entrepreneur that I am today. Pôle D helped me find my path. I truly believe that if you are at the head of an organization and wield decision-making power, you can, and should, make the world a better place. Executives can benefit from the research carried out by the hub and share their best practices to inspire others.”
The donation was also made possible by the support of Alain Brunet and Yves Devin, deputy directors of Pôle D.
“They were keen to reach out to their network and make a concrete contribution to research that will help their community as well as the leaders of tomorrow,” explained Professor Chênevert.
The Pôle D team aims to provide CEOs with a space for reflection and self-expression, free of market constraints:
“It’s through such initiatives and the support of our donors that we are able to contribute, in our own way, to the social and economic development of Quebec,” Professor Bourgoin said. “By providing executives with the latest knowledge on leadership practices, we can show our commitment to their teams and the overall performance of their organizations.”
Among Pôle D’s projects is “Atypique,” an endeavour to document the valuable practical knowledge held by CEOs. The first phase of the project involves a series of video interviews (available on the hub’s website), in which CEOs speak about their experiences and try to identify what sets them apart and what factors have led to their success.
Michel Patry, CEO of the HEC Montréal Foundation, underscored the importance of this donation and the role of Pôle D:
“I would like to sincerely thank these donors for their collaborative generosity. HEC Montréal is the driving force of a community that understands the need to work together to make a difference. And we can’t help but celebrate when leaders come together in support of a research hub that works to advance knowledge and prepare the executives of tomorrow.”
