Leadership Seminar at Ecole Navale

Many concepts can’t be just taught in classrooms, they have to be lived. This is the philosophy behind the MSc X-HEC Entrepreneurs: pure ‘Learning By Doing’ and peer learning. The Leadership Seminar at the École Navale, one of the highlights of the program, embodies this approach: students are confronted with demanding situations, allowing them to explore, understand, and put into practice pragmatic leadership concepts grounded in rigor, ethics, and courage.

Bound for Brittany for A Unique Learning Experience

Every year, the seminar takes the students to the military site of Lanvéoc-Poulmic, located on the Crozon peninsula. The French Naval Academy is a historic institution dedicated to training the future officers of the French Navy. Its picturesque setting, surrounded by the sea, offers an inspiring backdrop for reflection, teamwork, and personal growth.

Military service is no longer compulsory in France. However, students from the X-HEC Entrepreneurs Master have the opportunity to experience life in a military environment for three days, along with everything that entails: challenges, stress, physical activity, and leadership.

This year, the seminar hosted 122 students, divided into two consecutive sessions, in mid-May, all ready to reach multiple but ambitious objectives:

• Decide and act under stress in uncomfortable situations.
• Undertake physical and moral challenges in maritime and terrestrial environments, where commitment and self-transcendence are paramount.
• Overcome challenges as a group, fostering strong and genuine interpersonal relationships.
• Lead a broader reflection on the place and positioning of the leader vis-à-vis their team.
• Discover the specific constraints of the naval operations context on leadership.
• Exchange with student naval officers.
   

From Theory to Action: Building Resilient Leaders

This unique immersive experience is designed to mix theoretical knowledge and practical field work. Students attend conferences on leadership, and exchange with operational staff, including active naval officers, experts in practical command training and mental/physical preparation, student officers as well as an associate professor in human sciences. Once the theory is acquired, students are being exposed to intense situations, ensuring practical experience. 
 

These field exercises include a resilience-building workshop and a practical Leadership workshop, which subject students to rigorous challenges designed to push them out of their comfort zone, demanding total commitment and self-transcendence (dépassement de soi). The Practical Command Training (FPC) workshops are central, placing students in the role of leader to direct teams and accomplish complex missions, thus developing decision-making under pressure, team management, and effective communication. 
 

To complete the experience, students attended two conferences, one with a ‘Great Witness’ and another one with Richard Pin, Professor at Ecole Navale and Naval Reserve Officer, on his vision of military leadership. 
 

According to students, this demanding immersion at the École Navale has been a transformative experience, strengthening their leadership skills and enriching their perspective for the challenges of entrepreneurship. It is a key step in their journey, preparing them to navigate the uncertainty of the business world.
 

Looking Ahead: Join Us for Demo Day at MEDEF

The journey through X-HEC Entrepreneurs, culminating in experiences like the Naval Academy seminar, prepares participants to take their ventures to the next level. Each year, the program concludes with a highly anticipated event: Demo Day.

The Demo Day is the closing event of the year, a moment where a selection of business creation and takeover projects will be presented before a panel of investors, entrepreneurs, and alumni. This is a unique opportunity to discover innovation at the source and meet the next generation of entrepreneurs:

• Discover Tomorrow’s Startups: Witness pitches from teams who have spent months developing solutions to real-world problems, from cutting-edge tech to impactful social innovations.
• Network with the Ecosystem: Connect with fellow entrepreneurs, HEC Alumni, investors, corporate partners, and thought leaders in a dynamic and inspiring environment.
• Support Emerging Talent: By attending, you play a role in nurturing the next generation of innovators and changemakers.

Whether you are an investor seeking new opportunities, a professional interested in entrepreneurship, or simply curious about the future of innovation, Demo Day is the perfect occasion to get inspired and make meaningful connections.

Don't miss the opportunity, join the 2025 edition of the X-HEC Entrepreneurs’ Demo Day.

📍MEDEF, 55 avenue Bosquet, Paris

📆 Date: Tuesday, June 10th

🕰 Time: 2PM - 6PM

The event will be followed by a networking cocktail.

Register now!