Preparing Responsible Leaders for a Changing World
May 01, 2026
As the climate crisis grows more urgent and social divides widen, the role of executives is undergoing fundamental change. Leadership is no longer simply about creating financial value — it’s about navigating complex issues with very real consequences. In this environment, executive education has become essential for those who want to better understand the forces transforming business and find more effective ways of moving forward.
The upheavals in today’s world — from deteriorating ecosystems to deepening social inequalities — are impossible to ignore, says Dominique Anglade, Executive Director of Executive Education HEC Montréal and Adjunct Professor of HEC Montréal’s Sustainable Transition Office. “Failure to take into account these existential issues for humanity carries profound implications.”
But constantly operating in emergency mode leaves little time for managers to stop and think about the transformations at play. That’s where professional development comes in, giving them the chance to step back, reflect on the rapidly evolving landscape and rethink how they make decisions.
Timely content
For many years, Executive Education HEC Montréal has been actively developing programs to shape responsible leaders and thoughtful decision-makers who can make sense of this increasingly unstable, fragmented and demanding world. Economic pressures, geopolitical tensions, social polarization and shifting expectations have made leadership about far more than experience or intuition. It now requires the ability to read emerging signals, exercise sound judgment and embrace a sustainability mindset.
“This ambition runs through all of our programs,” says Anglade. “We lean heavily into responsibility, governance, ethics, environmental stewardship and social impact — issues that can no longer be treated as isolated factors. They’re embedded in every major management decision and are redefining the very role of today’s executives.”
Philippe Gignac, CEO of Uni-Recycle, saw this first-hand while completing the Certification in Corporate Governance. He enrolled to be able to identify solutions to guide his company’s growth. “When you get to a certain point, you can’t rely solely on your own experience to take you to the next level, especially if your sights are set on global markets,” Gignac says. And what he learned during the program has already delivered results. Uni-Recycle has made some significant changes, including adopting an ESG-linked executive compensation policy.
An immersive learning experience
The offerings developed by Executive Education HEC Montréal are structured around real-world management challenges. “Given the limited time we have in our programs — ranging from one to nine days — the content has to be immediately applicable when participants return to the office,” says Anglade. Case studies and analytical frameworks are among the tools that help shape thought processes and support decision-making.
Some of the programs follow a residential format: participants spend several days in a hotel so that they are immersed in the subject matter — creating a richer learning experience and providing more opportunities for reflection and discussion. Off-site activities, including corporate visits, are also planned to help participants absorb the material and make the classroom-to-boardroom connection.
The curriculum is enriched by the contributions of guest speakers from a wide range of backgrounds. Their expertise encourages participants to question conventional management thinking. For example, Simon Paré-Poupart, a garbage collector with over 20 years of experience and author of the book Ordures! Journal d’un vidangeur, takes participants on a field trip to Parc Frédéric-Back in Montreal to illustrate some of the real challenges related to waste management, site rehabilitation and the circular economy. “In Quebec, reuse and recovery are still in their infancy,” he says.
“These insights expose leaders to certain realities they otherwise rarely encounter and ground these issues in lived experience,” says Anglade. “We are committed to offering high-level, immersive and transformational learning journeys. Yes, we’re here to help them expand their perspective, but we’re also providing an opportunity to redefine the leadership role in a fast-changing world.”
Learn more
There are many programs in the Executive Education HEC Montréal portfolio designed to help leaders drive meaningful change. These include the Ascension program, Sustainability Leadership: Championing Change in an Increasingly Polarized World, Certification in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Management and Sustainable Finance and ESG: Developing a Responsible and Cost-Effective Strategy.
This article is taken from revue Gestion.