Outdoor Leadership Seminar: Rising to the Challenge

“I have learned the importance of taking a step back and taking the time to analyze situations in order to propose a clear plan.”

Over the summer, 191 Executive MBA participants across our Paris, Doha, and Riyadh tracks came together for the annual Outdoor Leadership Seminar, a two-day experience designed to test both stamina and leadership under pressure. 
 

Each participant took turns on the role of team leader, guiding classmates through demanding physical and mental challenges set against the backdrop of HEC's forested grounds and lake. The goal here is to apply leadership theories learned in the classroom in a real-world context by stretching decision-making and collaboration in an environment far from the classroom!

Guided by Saint Cyr Formation Continue (SCYFCO) leadership experts, participants receive real-time feedback on their leadership style which helps them better understand the complexities of leadership, master effective delegation, and stay composed even when faced with the toughest physical and mental obstacles. 

Elise Ranaivo from the Spring 2025 cohort reflected on the experiences she faced, highlighting how she was pushed out of her comfort zone. She recalls abseiling as her most challenging moment: “Even though the other challenges were mentally and physically demanding, I knew we would always make it to the end. For this, I wasn't sure I was brave enough to 1. let myself fall into the void 2. descend alone without falling!”
 

The OLS also offers important lessons about leadership that participants can apply in their careers “From a personal perspective, I learned that it's okay in certain situations to feel panicked or lost inside. But as a leader, you must know how to keep your cool on the outside so that the team stays united and rallies around our common goal,” she shares. “I have also learned the importance of taking a step back and taking the time to analyze situations in order to propose a clear plan with a specific goal that is shared by the team. This also allows for more fluid communication when we are all united around the same achievement.”

Elise was also surprised by what the experience revealed about her leadership style. “It is often mistakenly believed that leaders are confident people who publicly assert their convictions and know how to command attention with their presence. What surprised me about myself was that I was able to keep my cool despite the mental chaos I was facing in the exercise where I was the leader, being a highly sensitive person! I was reassured to see that this ability allowed me to naturally take on a leadership position while uniting the team. And that you don't have to be an imposing person to fulfill this role.”

The Outdoor Leadership Seminar is more than a test of endurance. It gives EMBA participants the chance to grow as leaders, practice resilience, and discover strengths (even physical ones!) they didn’t know they had. It leaves them with sharper decision-making, stronger teamwork, and lasting confidence they can take back into their careers. It is also one of the few moments in the EMBA journey when all the tracks unite, offering a chance for everyone to network and build connections.

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