February 24, 2025
On February 20, 2025, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Executive Education HEC Montréal celebrated an important step forward in its global expansion with the launch of École des dirigeants Afrique, in partnership with BEM Executive Education.
The official ceremony took place on the campus of BEM Abidjan, a space intentionally designed to promote learning and innovation. The kickoff of this ambitious initiative was attended by a number of VIPs, top corporate executives and members of the business community, and representatives and specialists from around the world.
École des dirigeants Afrique is a strategic alliance between BEM Executive Education and Executive Education HEC Montréal, which have joined forces and combined their knowledge and expertise to meet the growing demand for leadership and management training in Africa.
With corporate training solutions tailored to the needs of local businesses, École des dirigeants Afrique is poised to lead African executives, managers and organizations forward.
Guiding the leaders of tomorrow
This launch is part of a new phase in the ongoing development of Executive Education HEC Montréal, which recently made an increased international presence one of its strategic objectives. Executive Education HEC Montréal’s programs have a well-established reputation in the global arena, having come in 29th in the 2023 Financial Times Executive Education rankings. Among the main areas where this expansion will be focused is Africa and the Middle East.
“Our sights are firmly set on working hand in hand with businesses to help them maximize their social and economic influence. École des dirigeants Afrique is a bridge linking the continents, where leading business practices from around the world can be integrated and adapted to suit African needs and realities.”
Global vision, local impact
BEM Executive Education has a strong reputation in Africa as a provider of outstanding training solutions. BEM has leveraged its expertise and embedded presence in the African economy to become one of the continent’s leading players in skills development. It is regularly identified among the best business schools in French-speaking sub-Saharan black Africa by Jeune Afrique magazine. Its commitment to developing programs that meet the learning needs of African businesses make it a strategic partner in bringing this project to fruition.
“École des dirigeants Afrique merges international expertise with an in-depth understanding of the issues facing Africa. Our custom training programs incorporate African case studies and innovative methodologies that help ensure the concrete application of the concepts that are taught.”
A strategic partnership
For HEC Montréal, this alliance between two successful schools — Executive Education HEC Montréal and BEM Executive Education — is symbolic of the ambition they both share: that of equipping African leaders with the skills and strategies that will empower them to build competitive and resilient organizations. The opportunities for transferring expertise within this framework are tangible.
“HEC Montréal started working with several partners in Africa over 50 years ago. The launch of École des dirigeants Afrique represents a new stage in this ongoing commitment, further building on our pledge to support leaders as they lead Africa forward.”
Innovative, hands-on solutions
The innovative programs available through École des dirigeants Afrique include certifications and immersive experiences known as “Learning Expeditions” targeting future business leaders. Developed by Executive Education HEC Montréal, these programs are tailored to address the realities and issues in the market, tapping into the local expertise of the project’s strategic partner, BEM Executive Education. The purpose of these programs is to meet the specific needs of organizations in Africa.
At this point, 10 programs are available through École des dirigeants Afrique:
- Certification in Corporate Governance
- Certification in Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) Management
- MBA Essentials
- Sales and Business Development Strategy Essentials
- Women in Leadership: Keys to the C-Suite
- Ascension Program for Current and Aspiring Executives
- Learning Expeditions (Creativity and Innovation, Sustainability, Artificial Intelligence, Leadership and Safety Culture)
École des dirigeants Afrique is currently operating out of Abidjan, Brazzaville, Conakry, Dakar and Douala, with Nouakchott soon to be added to the list. This local presence makes it easier to connect with business leaders and organizations across the continent. This marks the beginning of an incredible adventure with a solid network of highly respected partners whose roots in their respective communities run deep.
Going forward, École des dirigeants Afrique will be a key player in training the business professionals of today and tomorrow, thus contributing actively to economic and social development throughout Africa.
➲ Get to knowÉcole des dirigeants Afrique.