What’s more important: technical expertise or leadership prowess? For those shaping the future of business, the two must go hand in hand. Alon Rozen, Dean & Professor of Innovation at École des Ponts Business School, explains how the LeadTech Global Executive MBA blends these two fundamental aspects of business.
Content
Many of today’s leaders lack the necessary knowledge of digital tools to make big decisions. The growing gap between leadership skills and technology expertise can slow down everything from innovation to adaptation. Leadership and technology should work hand in hand – tech-savvy leaders and tech professionals with leadership skills are more important than ever. That’s the central idea behind the LeadTech Global Executive MBA, as Alon Rozen, Dean & Professor of Innovation at École des Ponts Business School, explains.
“The vision is simple but ambitious. The idea is to prepare leaders who can navigate a world where technology and human values are inseparable,” he says. (00:38)
And so, the École des Ponts Business School in Paris decided to reshape its MBA, in collaboration with EADA Business School Barcelona.
“We realized the right MBA for today’s world is one in which candidates can quickly benefit from leadership development with emerging tech awareness and integration,” he explains. (01:16)
The end goal is not to teach management or technology in isolation. Instead, the aim is to shape leaders who can integrate technology in a positive way for people and the planet.
Bridging the gap between leadership and technology is more important than ever. The explosive growth of emerging technologies, such as AI, is fueling rapid change. A ubiquitous shift of proportions not seen since the internet revolution.
“But success still depends on people,” says Alon. “Too often, leaders don’t understand tech deeply enough, and the tech experts struggle with leadership skills. That’s a gap that creates friction and sometimes failure.” (02:30)
The LeadTech Global Executive MBA is designed to bridge this gap. Candidates become leaders who can inspire teams while also making tech-driven decisions. They become fluent in two languages: the language of human leadership and the language of technological innovation.
The program’s approach is highly relevant across all industries, with a learning experience that applies to every kind of business organization.
Every sector is undergoing some form of digital transformation. The LeadTech Global Executive MBA prepares candidates to make an impact in everything from finance and logistics to healthcare and retail, across public and private sectors.
Candidates are exposed to real-world business environments, with practice leading teams under pressure. They get executive coaching and develop the tools related to emotional intelligence, communication, and storytelling.
“For most tech experts, this is transformational,” says Alon. “You come in with technical know-how and you leave with the ability to inspire, influence, and mobilize the people and teams around you.” (06:03)
“And we also [include] study trips, learning expeditions to Silicon Valley and Singapore, where you actually meet the people who are global innovators, meet the disruptors,” he adds. “You get to see the disruptions, up close and personal. And so, you get a whole learning journey that’s both cutting edge and practical.” (09:00)
This is what makes the LeadTech Global Executive MBA stand out. You don’t just study transformation, you actively participate in your own transformation. Both in terms of your mastery of technology and in developing those all-important human skills.
The LeadTech Global Executive MBA cultivates the three essential leadership qualities that, for Alon, stand out in today’s business climate.
The first is adaptability. “The pace of change today is just relentless. Think about how AI has changed us in the last six months alone and how it is impacting business every day,” he says. (06:46)
Authenticity is another crucial quality. “People want leaders they can trust,” Alon explains. “People are looking for purpose in their professional and personal lives. And if you can’t trust the leader, the purpose is besides the point.” (07:04)
The third cornerstone of leadership is vision. “I would say today, we’re all faced with more uncertainty… teams are looking for leaders who can point the way forward in a convincing manner,” says Alon. (07:40)
Technology is an enabler, an accelerator, and a disruptor. But beyond technology, these human leadership qualities will determine whether innovation succeeds or fails.
The ever-evolving business landscape demands leaders who are curious and ambitious. Those with a hunger to learn continuously and a desire to make an impact.
The profile of the ideal candidate is an experienced, flexible candidate with a growth mindset. “We’re looking for somebody who has a minimum of five years’ experience,” says Alon. (11:47) “Someone who’s willing and able to travel the world, because the program is over three separate weeks in Paris, three in Barcelona, and one week in either Silicon Valley or Singapore.” (12:10)
He adds a final, crucial requirement for those thinking of applying.
“[We want] the kind of person who is hungry to lead in a world shaped by technology,” he says. “So, somebody who is attracted to both leadership and technology, or feels a weakness in one or both of those areas.” (12:26)
The LeadTech Global Executive MBA is a calling card to those not content to watch the world pass by. Those with the mindset to have a positive impact on the world, master technologies, cultivate empathy, and lead the charge to a better future.
Want to study at École des Ponts Business School? Take our eligibility quiz to see if you qualify!
