Executive Education

Did you know that corporate cash reserves worldwide now exceed $8 trillion, a figure that dwarfs the GDP of most nations? Apple, for instance holds 43% of its total assets in cash and marketable securities- more than its total debt. But is this financial strength or a symptom of strategic inertia?  Across industries, corporations have transitioned from traditional borrowers – raising funds for expansion – to net lenders, injecting excess capital into global financial markets. This represents one of the most significant financial shifts of the 21st century.

Dealing with uncertainty, making tough decisions, bringing teams together through periods of change—Charlotte Chauvel has faced these challenges firsthand as a CFO. Drawing from her professional experiences and time at HEC Paris Executive Education, she has developed a leadership style grounded in strategy and action. Charlotte embodies resilience and pragmatism in a changing environment, moving seamlessly from finance to strategy, proving that a CFO is, above all, someone who can translate vision into concrete actions.

When the mastermind behind the world's leading cosmetics company participates in a roundtable on corporate strategy, the insights gained are bound to be invaluable. Jean-Paul Agon was recently invited to the HEC Alumni House for the launch of the 9th edition of Strategor, a reference work addressing all facets of corporate strategy, co-authored by three professors from HEC Paris: Rodolphe Durand, Pierre Dussauge, Laurence Lehmann-Ortega, and João Albino-Pimentel, Professor at the University of South Carolina.