May 05, 2025
Between tariff wars, geopolitical tensions and economic upheaval, today’s business environment is more unpredictable than ever before. To make the best of these challenging circumstances, organizations are revisiting their strategies, but the smartest players are also focusing on skills development. Training and coaching are winning solutions for making your teams future-ready.
And that’s precisely what Executive Education HEC Montréal is here to help you do, with more than 30 short programs in management (lasting one to six days) offered over the summer (from May to August). Our summer offering has been developed specifically to equip professionals and workforces with the tools they need to face current marketplace challenges, including these four:
1. Managing in an unstable environment
“The current political and economic context is extremely volatile, and this is having a direct impact on organizations,” says Michelle Vaillancourt, Director of Communications and Programs at Executive Education HEC Montréal. “That makes it even more crucial to establish a clear strategy and stick to it, even when things get tough.”
There are many different tools that managers can use to make this happen, including dashboards and KPIs that help measure the impact of their decisions so they can course-correct as necessary. “Familiarizing yourself with predictive analytics is a great way to tweak your plans in real time and stay efficient in your operational management,” she adds.
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2. Making full use of your data
In a world where every resource counts, technologies like artificial intelligence and data science can be powerful levers in enhancing managerial effectiveness. But you have to know how to use them strategically to deliver the desired results.
“When these technologies are fully integrated into your operations, they can optimize your business processes, improve talent allocation and automate administrative tasks,” she points out. Executive Education HEC Montréal can support businesses as they transition to a more technology-enhanced workplace, with programs that let participants learn how these tools work and how to use them wisely.
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3. Managing change and becoming a better leader
Helming an organization through turbulent waters requires strong soft skills. You need to be able to bring people together, provide them with support as changes occur and keep them motivated — and do it all with empathy and authenticity. That’s no small feat. “And it’s even more challenging when there are difficult decisions to make,” she says. “It takes managerial courage and good communication to ensure your teams stay engaged.”
Honing your political skills, learning how to overcome resistance to change and embracing an approach rooted in emotional intelligence are paramount. “In a constantly fluctuating market, businesses have to adapt very quickly. They need leaders with vision, along with key soft skills and people skills, to guide them,” she says.
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4. Preparing for legislative changes
“Businesses are constantly having to adapt to new regulatory requirements, especially with regard to data protection and mental health in the workplace,” Vaillancourt explains. For example, as of October 2025, Bill 27 requires Quebec employers to incorporate psychosocial risks into their occupational health and safety prevention plan.
Readiness to fulfil these obligations, and ideally capitalize on them to drive continuous improvement, is contingent on the proper training. The program “Psychosocial Hazards and Harassment in the Workplace: Stay One Step Ahead of the Legislation” uses case studies, discussions and exercises to help managers as they update their company policies.
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Dive deeper
In an ever-changing environment, having the right tools is vital to be a better manager, a better decision-maker and a better team leader. For more than 65 years, Executive Education HEC Montréal has been supporting Quebec leaders by giving them opportunities to learn directly from those in the know. “Our summer programs are designed specifically to meet organizations’ most pressing priorities. We are committed to working with professionals, executives and leaders to help them make strategic decisions and find ways to navigate this unpredictable world of ours with clarity and confidence,” she concludes.
See how Executive Education HEC Montréal can help you shine this summer