Thoughts on Purpose, Resilience, and the Future of Leadership

On 7 April 2025 participants, professors, family and friends came together at Sorbonne University to celebrate the graduation of the inaugural cohort of the Global Executive Ph.D.

After three or four years of research on topics as diverse as employee engagement, succession planning, AI in recruitment, and circular business models, the 13 participants, representing 12 nationalities, have proven that they are the bridge between knowledge, society, and business.

As the first ever cohort to graduate from the Global Executive Ph.D., this celebration felt particularly memorable. Dr. Ken Chan, the representative of the Class of 2024, gave an inspiring speech that touched on the challenges and motivations of becoming a research practitioner. Below is the transcript of his graduation speech.

A Journey of Dedication and Discovery

As graduates, we are here today not just as individuals, but as a group of scholar-practitioners from twelve countries who dared to take on a monumental challenge.

We pursued this Executive Ph.D. in tandem with our careers. We are living proof that learning never stops. It was in September 2020 when we began this journey. The inaugural class of 2024 met for the first time virtually during our “meet the class” session. I still recall leaving that meeting in awe – awed by the qualifications of my peers.

We were united by a common purpose – the quest for knowledge, not only to learn but to also contribute through original research.

For those of us in the first cohort, our experience was unlike those who follow us. While five years have passed since the pandemic was declared, its impact shaped our Ph.D. journey. We navigated the modules largely online, adapting not just to the demands of doctoral-level coursework but to an unfamiliar environment – in more than one way.

We were planning for a trip to the Paris campus for our first module, however the pandemic prevented us from gathering in person. Nevertheless, we made it work with the support of the faculty and staff. History repeated, and the Delta variant pushed us back online for our second module. While one-third of the class were in Madrid for the third module, the rest of us joined online. We experienced what hybrid learning meant. Now, imagine working on an art thinking project that way. Well, we innovated through it. We displayed our artistic creation at a virtual art gallery that was visited by family and friends.

Academic Rigor and Intellectual Growth

Over the first year and a half, we learned about theory building and research methods – quantitative, qualitative and field methods. We read and digested academic literature, learning quickly that reading for a Ph.D. programme was different than what we were used to in business. We went on to learn about big data, entrepreneurship, finance and society, and the future of work with a D.E.I. lens. We got to know each other through our many group projects. We set up WhatsApp chat groups to support and motivate each other. We picked up new writing skills, which helped us with our thesis.

Beginning in December 2023, we defended our thesis – one at a time. We did so with confidence, reflecting our comfort with our research. As a group, we have presented at academic conferences and published peer-reviewed articles. Our research ranged from AI and digital transformation to entrepreneurship, housing and organisational frameworks – in the public sector, state-owned enterprise and family business. Some explored sustainability topics such as the circular economy, purpose and consequential tourism. Another explored business and politics.

Balancing Professional and Academic Commitments

While we undertook our Ph.D., the world did not stand still. We saw how scientific innovation led to vaccines, slowing the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic. I saw this firsthand, having held a leadership role in the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines in Canada. On this point, I was not sure if I could continue with the Ph.D. programme given the commitment required for this demanding role, however, the programme team accommodated me and allowed me to catch up with my cohort. For this, I thank you. I also thank my cohort colleagues for their patience.

We adapted to hybrid working as a new permanent reality. Generative AI rapidly became a must-use technology in how we work, learn and live.

A Special Word of Thanks to Faculty, Staff and Family

Dear professors, we heard your direction and guidance. As graduates, we will not be just observers. We commit to living ESCP’s values as purpose-driven leaders. We will make a positive impact by leading in a world that is still evolving, using our newly found knowledge through research.

Today, we also celebrate two graduates from the second cohort. You are the first from your group to complete this journey, and you do so alongside us, the first cohort. We warmly welcome you into our group. Your dedication, perseverance, and commitment are commendable. Congratulations on this achievement.

To those who are still on this path—stay focused, be patient, and know that we are cheering you on. The journey is demanding, but the reward is great. We wish you success as you push forward.

This programme was new, and in many ways, we were an experiment. The faculty, staff, and our thesis supervisors took a chance on us—on our unconventional paths, our diverse backgrounds, and our relentless drive to push boundaries. You guided us through this unfamiliar academic environment.

Ce programme était nouveau, et d’une certaine façon, nous étions un peu une expérience de laboratoire. Les professeurs ont cru en nous — en nos parcours différents, nos origines diverses, et notre détermination. Nous leur disons un grand merci. Cher Michael, cher Frédéric, chère Margot, cher Zhihao, notre succès n’a été possible que grâce à votre soutien et à vos encouragements. Vous nous avez guidés avec bienveillance à travers un parcours exigeant. Grâce à votre engagement envers le programme, nous avons pu réussir. Nous vous remercions chaleureusement.
Ken Chan
PhD ICD.D | Partner & Practice Leader, Optimus SBR

On behalf of the class of 2024, thank you!

To our families, thank you. You bore the brunt of our long nights, our absent weekends, and our endless discussions about our research papers. This achievement is as much yours as it is ours.

Commitment to Purpose-Driven Leadership

We pursued this Ph.D. for different reasons. Some of us wanted to deepen our expertise, others to solve management challenges in our industries, and some to contribute to a greater purpose beyond ourselves. But what unites us all was the aspiration not just to absorb knowledge, but to grow it.

And what a world it is. We graduate at a time of intense global volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. Geopolitical tensions are impacting our daily lives, and economies are being disrupted more so than ever – we are witnessing this today in the tariff war. AI is reshaping the very nature of work, and sustainability has moved from a topic in the classroom to an urgent necessity. We have seen record-breaking extreme heatwaves, wildfires and catastrophic floods because of climate change. We believe in ESCP’s commitment to sustainability and will contribute to tackling this important issue for our future generations.

In times of rapid change and alarming disinformation, our role as scholar-practitioners is more critical than ever. Dear professors, we have heard your call for us to play a part in challenging disinformation through research and evidence.

For scholar-practitioners, our research is not just about citations and publications; it is about impact. It is about ensuring that knowledge serves the common good, that evidence informs decision making, and that leadership is guided by insight and foresight rather than ideology. As we leave here tonight, we do so not as passive observers but as active participants in bridging business and society. We are leaders who carry an added responsibility—not just to lead but to lead with empathy, integrity, and purpose within our organisation and in our community.

As we leave here tonight, we do so not as passive observers but as active participants in bridging business and society. We are leaders who carry an added responsibility—not just to lead but to lead with empathy, integrity, and purpose within our organisation and in our community.

Looking Ahead

So, to my fellow graduates, let us go forward with the same boldness that brought us here. Let us challenge conventional thinking and continue bridging the gap between academia and practice. The world can benefit from more scholar-practitioners as leaders—those who think deeply, act decisively using evidence, and contribute meaningfully to lifelong learning.

Congratulations to the inaugural ESCP Executive Ph.D’s. This is not the end of our journey. It is just the beginning. It all starts here. We leave Paris not just with a Ph.D. but with a renewed sense of purpose.

GALLERY

Campuses