A Decade of Trust: Uniting MBDA’s Talent Through Leadership Development

About MBDA

MBDA is a unique multi-national European group, a world-leader in the field of complex weapon systems, playing a key role in keeping nations safe. The group faces unprecedented growth driven by the current geopolitical climate and a substantial pipeline of demand. With a workforce set to double from 10,000 in 2019 to an anticipated 20,000 by the end of 2025, and 2,500 new hires annually across the group, the organisation has undergone a huge phase of expansion. This rapid evolution presents challenges such as difficulties in securing human resources. Simultaneously, the defence industry navigates evolving strategic considerations, including new warfare methods (e.g., increased drone usage) and the need to develop new capabilities in areas like space and anti-drone technology. 

What is at stake

To meet these challenges, MBDA made a decisive move over a decade ago: shifting from relying on shareholder leadership programs to creating an internal learning ecosystem, tailored to the company’s unique needs, to support its substantial renewal of leadership. When its collaboration with HEC Paris Executive Education started, MBDA launched three international leadership programmes, aimed at emerging talents, accomplished managers and top-ranking executives. As of 2024, this offer has been refocused into two core tracks: Emerging Leaders and Executives.
 

Leadership Development Programs: A proven solution

MBDA's commitment to leadership development began in 2010, when the company decided to establish its own international leadership programs called Leadership Development Programs (LDPs). The initial goal was to cultivate an international community of MBDA leaders, strengthen professional networks, and enhance skills in innovation, customer centricity, and personal leadership. Why did MBDA choose HEC Paris back then, and still today?

Catherine Perraud-Balaine explains:

"We both share a commitment to delivering the best possible experience for participants, and HEC Paris’ deep understanding of MBDA's company culture makes them the best partners."

She adds: “HEC Paris has always been a driving force in addressing these leadership development challenges. This is particularly important in these programs, which are constantly evolving to adapt to technological and managerial changes as well as to MBDA’s strategic challenges.”

The LDPs are structured into two primary tiers:

1. Emerging Leadership Development Programme: Designed for young managers and leaders, and guided by Jacques Beauchesne, an Adjunct Professor at HEC Paris, and a business coach and consultant specialising in business transformation across various industries (Manufacturing, Retail, Aerospace, Consulting/Services, Utilities, IT & Software).
2. Exec Leadership Development Programme: Tailored for experienced managers overseeing teams of 30 to 100 individuals, directed by Bruno Piacenza, a former Vice President of the Enkel group, who brings extensive business experience and offers a pragmatic perspective on the qualities expected from future leaders or board members.

Over the past decade, the programs have continuously adapted to new challenges. While some core elements remain, the curriculum is annually reviewed to modernise content and to integrate new topics, such as ‘Supply Chain Management’.

In 2022, MBDA conducted a comprehensive review of its leadership programs and leadership model, aiming for greater inclusivity and to meet the expectations of newer generations. This led to the adoption of a new “behavioral model” rather than a purely hierarchical one, outlining five core values and five expected behaviors. Modules have been streamlined and aligned with MBDA's values and leadership model to reinforce directives from management.

MBDA's behavioral model

Program Content and Pedagogical Approach

The curriculum for both programs is meticulously designed by HEC Paris Executive Education and MBDA to be highly pertinent to MBDA's evolving challenges. The Executive Talents program focuses on strategic leadership and innovation, including customer value propositions, business model innovation, change management, and personal development. The Emerging Talents program, on the other hand, concentrates on leadership skills, organisational transformation, communication, and operational management. 

Experiential learning is also a key component of both programs, incorporating simulations, interactive activities such as a wine workshop, coaching cafés, and public speaking sessions. A Leadership session with a mountain guide has recently been introduced in the Executive program, as well as the integration of Data and AI to help participants discover and use internal AI tools.
 

Cross-Program Collaboration: Enabling Culture Together (ECT)

A significant program enhancement is the “Enabling Culture Together” (ECT) project, which fosters cross-program collaboration between participants in the Executive and Emerging programs. This 2024 initiative involves Executives pitching projects to participants in the Emerging Leaders program, requiring strong persuasion and argumentation skills. Emerging talents have the autonomy to choose whether to participate and then work on these projects, presenting their proposals to the executives for potential implementation.

The ECTs also contribute to facilitating the implementation of MBDA's culture, utilising its behavioral model as a foundational guide. Participants’ objectives include working inclusively, building trust, taking ownership, defining and sharing a vision, and developing impactful communication. One concrete ECT project involved a group focusing on improving the identification of internal competencies and individuals for technical inquiries, linking this to MBDA's skills framework, and exploring the use of data and AI for a prototype.

International Dimension of the Programs

Catherine Perraud-Balaine is convinced of one thing: Despite cultural differences, common leadership principles apply worldwide, making it a unifying force. She says:

"I believe leadership is relevant everywhere and across all cultures, as it is both a means and a way to shape an organisation’s culture."

MBDA operates primarily in four countries: France, England, Germany, and Italy, with occasional Spanish participants. However, cross-country project collaboration is often limited due to the sensitive nature of technology sharing and the rarity of international personnel transfers.

The LDPs were designed to make this international collaboration happen. They provide an opportunity for participants from diverse countries to meet, exchange ideas, and better understand each other. This aspect is highly valued, as not all employees have the chance to work in an international context due to project confidentiality. Thus, these programs serve as a platform to cultivate MBDA's European culture and establish a network of leaders across different countries.

"HEC Paris is a truly international business school, especially in the field of leadership, with faculty members who have genuine global experience—unlike many providers who claim to be international but are not."

Long-lasting partnership for ongoing impact

The difference made

4,69/5 

Rating for each program in 2024                    

+600

Participants trained since 2010

Reflecting the consistently high participant satisfaction across all modules, the Executive Program achieved an outstanding 4.95 rating in its third module, which was particularly praised for its balance between content depth and opportunities for reflection and networking.

Since its launch 10 years ago, participants have regarded the program as a “gift” and a significant opportunity for career advancement.

Feedback from participants to the Executive Talents program:

“Excellent quality of lecturers and diverse topics relevant to leadership and strategy.”
“The practical application of tools and frameworks, like the Strategy Canvas and pitching techniques, provided immediate value.”

Feedback from participants to the Emerging Talents program:

“Good balance between theoretical learning and practical activities.”
“Strengthened networking and inter-natco relationships were valuable.”

Overall feedback for the programs, which has consistently received strong ratings, is highly positive. Participants consistently commend the quality of speakers, relevance of topics, balance between theoretical learning and practical activities, and networking opportunities. 
 

Key success factors

What drives the success of this collaboration?

TRUST 
The strong, trust-based relationship between MBDA and HEC Paris, characterised by open communication, is a key success factor in this ongoing program.

ALIGNMENT
The customisation of content, and responsiveness to MBDA's evolving strategic challenges and leadership model make the program more relevant than ever.

According to Catherine Perraud-Balaine:

"The relationship with HEC Paris is built on mutual trust and transparency, with a shared commitment to meeting our ongoing needs."

Building on consistently high participant satisfaction, MBDA and HEC Paris continue to refine these leadership programs to equip leaders with the skills and mindset needed to navigate the challenges of defense sector growth, technological shifts, and a rapidly evolving global landscape.