Empowering Corporate Leaders Through Startup Collaboration at Station F

How do global corporations stay ahead in today’s innovation-driven world? At HEC Paris Executive Education, we redefine corporate training by immersing leaders in environments where transformation thrives.

At the heart of this approach lies a belief in the transformative power of collaboration. When corporate leaders and entrepreneurs come together, they not only share knowledge, but also inspire each other to achieve more. Station F, as part of HEC Paris Executive Education’s ecosystem, serves as a catalyst for this exchange, sparking ideas and encouraging innovation that benefits all parties.

This is more than training-it’s a shared journey where startups gaing the guidance needed to grow, and executives gain fresh perspectives that reframe how they approach leadership and innovation. It’s about bringing out the best in each participant, creating value that resonates far beyond the program itself. 

From Immersion to Innovation

At Station F, executive participants from our custom programs engage with startups incubated under the HEC Paris Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute. These interactions go beyond observation, challenging executives to explore new ways of doing business and startups to refine their strategies. Participants evaluate innovative business models, offer actionable insights, and explore their potential impact on their organizations. This immersive process enables executives to adopt entrepreneurial mindsets while startups receive guidance on market positioning and growth.

Case Study 1: Schneider Electric’s ‘Challenge My Strategy’ Workshop

Schneider Electric, a leader in energy management, sought to enhance strategic thinking among its Vice Presidents. In collaboration with HEC Paris Executive Education, the company co-created the "Leading Next Frontier: Level 2 program," which integrates academic theory with real-world innovation practices.

One key feature was the “Challenge My Strategy” workshop at Station F, guided by Laurence Lehmann-Ortega, HEC Paris strategy professor. Following the online module "Reinvent Your Business Model with the Odyssey 3.14 Approach”, participants worked closely with three high-potential startups:

●    Exnaton: Revolutionizing energy billing with AI-powered solutions  
●    Ayolab: Boosting Amazon sales for clients through proprietary analytics    
●    Allobrain: Transforming customer service through conversational AI 

Through strategic discussions, executives evaluated the startups’ business models, gauging their relevance to Schneider Electric’s needs and exploring collaboration opportunities. 

“The experience created a unique space for mutual learning. For the Schneider Electric executives, it was an opportunity to adopt a startup mindset, stepping outside their corporate routines to challenge their assumptions and explore new market possibilities.

They developed a fresh perspective on their sector, sparking new ideas and questions that can inform their roles. 

For the startups, the interaction was equally valuable, exposing them to the critical eye of experienced leaders in the energy industry. These leaders not only possed insightful questions but also offered access to networks and expertise that can drive startups growth and refine their strategies .” –Laurence Lehmann-Ortega, Strategy Professor, HEC Paris 

Case Study 2: Lex Mundi and the AI Value Proposition 

The legal sector is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rise of generative AI and shifting client expectations. 

45.2% of jobs in the legal sector could potentially be impacted by generative AI, the highest across industries. (Harvard Business Review)

HEC Paris partnered with Lex Mundi, a global network of independent law firms, to develop a program tailored to managing partners seeking to innovate their business models. David Restrepo Amariles, the program's academic director and associate professor of artificial intelligence and legal analytics at HEC Paris, introduced participants to key trends reshaping the industry. These include the shift from resource-driven models to capital investment in technology and the increasing demand for innovative services beyond traditional billing practices. 

To bring these concepts to life, participants engaged with three innovative startups, hand-picked from over 500 supported annually by the HEC Paris Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute: 

• Jimini.ai: An AI assistant optimizing legal research and document drafting 
• Justice.cool: A platform revolutioning mass dispute resolution
• Suzan.ai: Providing secure, AI-powered project management tools.

During the workshop, executives examined the startups’ business models, offered constructive feedback on their value propositions, and explored potential collaborations. This exercise illuminated opportunities for law firms to integrate innovative solutions while addressing long-term challenges. 

“Participants, who are decision-makers in their organizations, found significant value in stepping into the role of innovation leaders. 

This approach helped them assess how these startups could enhance their services while balancing opportunities for value creation with potential risks of value destruction.

 For the startups, the session provided unfiltered feedback on their market positioning and strategies for collaboration. Some startups even identified the need for a two-tiered strategy: delivering immediate benefits while developing longer-term solutions to address deeper inefficiencies and disrupt traditional legal practices.” - David Restrepo Amariles, Associate Professor, HEC Paris 

A Synergistic Ecosystem: Driving Open Innovation 

HEC Paris Executive Education’s custom programs thrive within a vibrant entrepreneurial system. Anchored by the HEC Paris Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute, this ecosystem supports over 30 programs annually, designed to foster innovation and growth for both startups and corporations. Corporate leaders benefit from tailored acceleration programs, such as TotalEnergies On and L’Oréal Beauty Tech Atelier, which connect them to entrepreneurial insights and solutions. 


For startups, the expertise of seasoned executives provides a unique opportunity to test ideas and refine their strategies in real-world contexts.

 

More Than Just Outcomes: A Transformative Experience

The collaboration between HEC Paris, global corporations, and innovative startups exemplifies the power of experiential learning. By merging academic expertise with real-world problem-solving, these programs empower participants to reimagine their industries and drive impactful change. 

Participant and Startup feedback

Startups: 

"The session was invaluable in helping us better understand the needs of legal professionals from diverse backgrounds.”- Jimini.ai Founder

"Collaborative workshops like these are far more enriching than traditional pitch sessions. They challenged us to refine our strengths and identify areas for improvement.”-Justice.cool Founder

Executives:

“All conversations were eye-opening and gave different perspectives on HOW.”-   Schneider Electric Vice President

Schneider Electric Overall Rating: 4/5

Ready to transform your organization? Discover how HEC Paris Executive Education can tailor a program to meet your unique challenges and goals.