After a pivotal year at ESCP, Dean Léon Laulusa looks ahead

In a year that saw generative AI enter the classroom at ESCP in a big way, new schools added to the blueprint of an over 200-year-old institution, and ESCP named Business School of the Year by Poets & Quants, Executive President and Dean of ESCP Léon Laulusa kept his routine. He taught his annual class.

"Remaining close to our students keeps me connected to the heart of our mission," says Léon Laulusa. "It offers a valuable space for reflection and perspective."

As pressure mounted across the higher education landscape, fuelled by geopolitical and ideological tensions, he remained grounded in that mission—educating accountable, bold, and creative leaders was at the heart of a year marked by acceleration and anticipation at ESCP.

Charting a strategic shift: Bold & United

In June 2025, ESCP unveiled Bold & United 2026-2030, its five-year strategic plan that charts the trajectory of the School’s ambitions for the years to come.

The plan outlines ESCP’s quest to become the first European University of Management, adding two new pillars to its academic architecture: the ESCP School of Technology, opening in 2027, and the ESCP School of Governance, set for 2029. Together, they will strengthen the School’s ability to respond with confidence to global transformations.

But for Professor Laulusa, the process mattered almost as much as the plan, as it was one that called on the insights and values of the entire ESCP community—something of which he is deeply proud.

“It required a worldwide consultation involving students, alumni, professors, staff, partners, and members of our governance,” he says. “By engaging all stakeholders and ensuring transparency throughout the process, we were able to build a shared and ambitious roadmap for the future.”

Beyond the launch of the new schools will be other significant investments. With a €360 million investment, ESCP will transform its campuses into innovation ecosystems. Excellence in research will be central to ESCP’s future ambitions, with ESCP’s LIGhTS research institutes bridging business, technology, and policy. To support this planned growth, the ESCP Foundation launched its first major fundraising campaign, “Rising Together”, with the goal of raising €100 million to fund scholarships, innovation, sustainability, and infrastructure.

A united ESCP, rising together

2025 was an exceptional year of milestones and achievements for the School. The Bachelor programme celebrated its 10th anniversary. ESCP rose to 4th place in the Financial Times European Business School ranking. And its Master in Finance programme was ranked the best in the world by the Financial Times for the third consecutive year. As a crowning achievement, Poets & Quants, a leading voice in management education, named ESCP Business School of the Year.

Aside from rankings and awards, the School led the charge in digital transformation, embedding AI tools and training across the entire ecosystem through partnerships with OpenAI and Hugging Face. This momentum will continue with the AI in Higher Education Summit planned for March 2026, where ESCP will host academics, innovators, and policy-makers to discuss how higher education should evolve in an AI-driven world.

Staying grounded amid complexity and transformation

At the helm of a fast-moving and multi-campus institution, Professor Laulusa is often called to manage pressure from many fronts. “I wouldn’t point to a single, most challenging issue, because my role requires navigating complex questions every day — academic, strategic, managerial, and operational — across our six European campuses.”

What guides him is a consistent method: listening carefully, sharing openly, and bringing everyone along toward a common ambition. “I rely heavily on collective intelligence,” he shares. “Decisions are stronger when they integrate the perspectives of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, foundation, partners, and governance.”

People are also what propel and inspire him day to day. “Whenever I meet successful and fulfilled ESCP alumni around the world. Seeing them thrive across industries—and even return to inspire our students, like Clément Delangue from Hugging Face—reminds me why our mission matters.”

Léon Laulusa also credits the community around him for helping him stay steady during a fast-moving year. “What kept me grounded during moments of pressure or change this year was the unwavering support of the ESCP community — colleagues, students, alumni, friends, and family — and, of course, our foundation, the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce, and our Chairman, Philippe Houzé.”

How else does he stay grounded? “I practice meditation,” he shares. “It helps me restore positive energy, recenter myself, and make thoughtful decisions.”

Hopes for the ESCP community in 2026

2025 was marked by growth and repositioning, and Dean Laulusa’s outlook for 2026 is to move ahead with clarity. His word for 2026? Lucidity. “Knowing that our mission has real meaning, and that leadership often requires bold choices and calculated risks, helped me stay focused,” he adds.

As ESCP enters the next phase of its evolution, Léon Laulusa’s focus is on helping the entire community meet the future with perspective and purpose. “I hope our students, faculty, alumni and professional staff continue to move forward with purpose and fulfilment,” he says. “Each contributing in their own way to the momentum that keeps ESCP bold and united.”