Class of 2023’s January Track Kicks off the Year on Campus

Over the course of their first 10-day module, this year's January track began their EMBA journeys, both on-campus and online.

After a lightning-quick 10 days, the Class of 2023’s January track wrapped up the first module of their 15-18 month EMBA journeys.

The 64-participant track turned out nearly in full force, mostly in-person but also online, with all but 5 able to attend physically. The intake hails from 29 different countries, with 24% of the group from the financial services industry, 19% working in technology, and 16% from manufacturing and other services.

“Something very particular when you come to an Executive MBA is that real life happens on the side, which creates a very strong link between us, you, and your colleagues.”

Defining the difference

“Something very particular when you come to an Executive MBA is that real life happens on the side, which creates a very strong link between us, you, and your colleagues,” said Professor Christelle Bitouzet, the track’s Academic Director.

In addition to the time spent learning the ins- and outs of what it takes to successfully manage their EMBA experiences, the module included its customary Leadership-focused leadoff, followed by ESG courses led by Professor Bitouzet, and Professor Jeremy Ghez’s always-riveting Business Environment classes.

HEC Paris EMBA January track rentrée

Copyright Nathalie Oundjian

Midway through the module, they attended ex-Best Buy CEO and HEC Paris alum Hubert Joly’s fascinating discussion on the merits of Purposeful Leadership. As an added bonus, the discussion, which was streamed live across platforms, was guided via questions asked by EMBA participants Nishaat Tajbhai and Nicolas Lahaye, while the rest of the group watched on in Blondeau Amphitheatre.

Add to that the time spent on Personal and Professional Development, and it was a characteristically jam-packed 10 days for the fledgling EMBA group.

HEC Paris EMBA January track return stats

“In just 10 days, I had the opportunity to learn so much with inspiring professors, a commited teaching team but, above all, from other fascinating participants.”

Participant Tony Phan had this to say about his first module experience:

“This is only the very beginning of an 18-month journey, but I have already met an amazing group of 64 people (or I could already say friends!) from 32 countries with many different backgrounds, with a cumulative total of 945 years’ of professional experience!

In just 10 days, I had the opportunity to learn so much with inspiring professors, a commited teaching team but, above all, from other fascinating participants.

Now it is already time to go home full of memories (and homework!.) I can’t wait to come back and to rejoin the cohort for the module 2!”


More CEOs of Fortune Global 500 companies have graduated from HEC Paris than any other university in Europe. Nearly 4,000 graduates are currently CEOs, CFOs, or have founded their own companies. According to the Financial Times, the HEC Paris offers the best EMBA program in the world; click here to learn more.

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