A healthcare leader’s quest for knowledge and personal growth
After several years as a CEO in the healthcare sector, Haïm Dimer wanted to explore something new. It was this desire for a fresh challenge that motivated him in 2017 to enroll in the HEC Paris Executive MBA program. In this interview, he speaks about the most important takeaways from this experience and other key insights he has acquired over the course of his career.
Lessons learned at hec paris
Haïm worked in the technology sector for over a decade before deciding to move to the healthcare industry. Speaking about his final months in the healthcare sector, he recalls, “I started to feel there were skills I needed to learn that I could not acquire on the job.” This is why he decided to pursue an Executive MBA. The decision set him on a “life-changing” path that has enabled him to gain many valuable lessons. “It has broadened my vision in areas of business that I had never really had the opportunity to explore before,” he states.
Haïm's Executive MBA learning journey also challenged some of his preconceived ideas about business. In fact, before following the program, he thought that certain facets of business, such as strategy or leadership, were innate and could not be taught.
Another positive takeaway from HEC Paris was the opportunity to share with intelligent and generous peers. “The willingness of my classmates to help each other and enrich everyone else’s experience was a tremendous asset and real gift,” affirms Haïm. “I believe I learned a lot during the lectures - but I learned even more by exchanging with the other participants.”
Entrepreneurial and leadership insights
Surrounding yourself with the right people is just as important in the classroom as it is in business. Haïm, an entrepreneur himself, believes that no one person can do it all. He emphasizes the value of being part of a team that drives the whole enterprise forward. "You have to engage and motivate everyone to really share your vision and your passion,” he adds.
For Haïm, the key to effective leadership is knowing how to listen to people. “Learn to empathize. You don’t have to sympathize, but if you want people to follow you, they need to believe in you and they need to feel heard.”
A shared value system
Working across continents and cultures has taught Haïm that no matter where we come from, “we are all fundamentally the same”. Expanding on this, he states, “I have found that most people desire the same thing. They want to be in a job that fulfills them, where they feel like they’re making a difference." He points out that although there are cultural nuances - for instance, Americans are more likely than the French to highlight their achievements or degrees - at the end of the day, “people have a lot more in common than they think.”
When Haïm made the transition from the technology industry into healthcare, he discovered an environment that shared his passion and values - alleviating some of the biggest global healthcare issues we face today. It was a deeply fulfilling career move, chiefly because it gave him the opportunity to work with other experts and make a difference.
“I went to HEC Paris to learn about business, and ultimately I learned a lot about myself,” concludes Haïm. He praises the Executive MBA program for the support system surrounding it and for bringing in expert speakers who challenged participants outside the academic realm. “I learned so much about what really makes people tick. It took me outside of my comfort zone, and it has been a tremendous opportunity for personal growth.”