Outstanding from the get-go

On day one, Nathaniel was able to tap into the expertise of Jacques Neatby, a foremost authority on executive committees and how they work. “I was already up against some management challenges in my job, and I learned a lot about how to deal with them in this module,” says Nathaniel. “I devoured his book after that! His teaching had a profound impact on how to approach my executive committee.”

Drawing on Laurent Simon’s extensive knowledge of innovation, Nathaniel found out how to take ideas that come from the people on the ground and move them up the ladder. Everything he learned about team-based innovation and problem-solving has proved to be very useful. “My company has been able to take things to the next level because of Laurent Simon,” Nathaniel confirms, adding that the expertise of each of the instructors immeasurably enriches the program.

Something all leaders can benefit from

After nearly 20 years at the same organization, Nathaniel knows the technical side of operations like the back of his hand. But that didn’t automatically make him a good manager.

“Lots of people come to a career crossroads as they move up into management. They know their field inside and out, and they may even seem like natural-born leaders. But managing a team or an entire organization takes more than instinct or trial and error. That’s where programs like Ascension come in. They align strategic concepts with people’s real-world experience and offer them the keys to unlock the complexities of management.”

Some words of wisdom for aspiring executives

Nathaniel enthusiastically recommends the Ascension program and training tailored to the needs of current or emerging leaders, emphasizing the importance of looking at the big picture and building a development plan that is in sync with both their professional needs and their organization’s strategic goals.

For those with management aspirations, he has this tip: “Keep building up your toolbox. Try out new things, read, get coaching and take courses. These are essential in helping you grow as an individual, as a manager and as a productive member of society at every stage of your life.”

Fuelling the desire to go even further

Nathaniel met some very influential people in the Ascension program, and he hopes to keep in contact with them. They include three HEC Montréal professors — Louis Hébert, Laurent Simon and Nicolas Vincent — and one expert — Jacques Neatby. They were fantastic teachers who taught him more than he could’ve ever imagined. And they fuelled his desire to go even further.

This is the momentum that led him to enrol in the McGill–HEC Montréal EMBA in 2025. He is excited about making this leap and determined to succeed. “Ascension arrived at a pivotal point in my career. I’ve got 20 years under my belt, and I have another 20 ahead of me. The program marks the beginning of the rest of my professional trajectory, and I really want to see how far I can take things. This wasn’t something I aspired to before I completed the program, but Ascension really took me to a whole other place.”