Leading With Impact And Purpose

Why? The purpose of work

In this first session, we will investigate and debate the notion of professional implication. What does "work" mean? Why do humans work?

We’ll start our journey in the company of 3 very different thinkers: Spinoza, H. Arendt and A. Comte-Sponville.

Going further, we’ll discuss what the unique contribution of a business leader is.

Sitting on the shoulders of two famous thinkers (Plato and Spinoza), we’ll take a fresh perspective at management and leadership, focusing on the notion of "desire", its different meanings and why those can be crucial.

Friday, 13 January 2023

8-8.30: Breakfast

8.30–10.00: Classes

Navigating through confusing waters: failing, making a mistake or wrong-doing

"Fail fast, learn quickly". Many companies are now willing to embrace this startup moto. Yet certain failures remain associated to a traumatic experience for the individuals who are going through it. In this session, we’ll address the conceptual differences between a failure, a mistake and a wrong-doing, and why leaders should be careful not to mix up these notions. In the company of French contemporary thinker C. Pepin, we’ll then discuss the different virtues of failing, and the pitfalls of success.

Friday, 3 February 2023

8-8.30: Breakfast

8.30–10.00: Classes

A fresh look at the two facets of efficiency

Following the steps of French contemporary thinker F. Jullien, we will discuss one of the basic concepts of management: efficiency.

We’ll go back in time, to Ancient Greece and Ancient China, to understand how the notion of efficiency fundamentally differs between the western world and China, and what can be learned from this discrepancy.

Friday, 17 February 2023

8-8.30: Breakfast

8.30–10.00: Classes

What drives my business actions? A closer look at intentions, consequences and care

In this session, we’ll discuss 3 different perspectives on ethics, putting ourselves in the shoes of famous thinkers such as E. Kant or M. Weber.

In the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis, we will do a deeper dive into the notion of care, investigating how an old stoic concept could become a useful and mainstream business value for the 2020’s.

Friday, 31 March 2023

8-8.30: Breakfast

8.30–10.00: Classes

How to reconcile economic and moral values?

The science of economy was born in Scotland, originating from a school of moral philosophers. Yet the perception remains that the notion of "value" fundamentally differs between the economic and the moral domains.

In this session, we will investigate the meanings of the word, going back to Aristotle. Notions such as acting with justice, fairness, courage or wisdom will be discussed.

Along the way, we will discuss Marx’s theory on value and Simmel’s "philosophy of money".

Friday, 7 April 2023

8-8.30: Breakfast

8.30–10.00: Classes