The student society creating safer spaces, amplifying awareness, and shaping inclusion on campus and beyond
This article is based on responses shared collectively by ESCaPe’s leadership team.
A space of connection and belonging
When new students arrive at ESCP each year, they begin with more than course schedules and class introductions. They also encounter a student-led anti-discrimination workshop co-created by ESCaPe, the School’s LGBTQIA+ student society, and ESCP’s Inclusion & Diversity department. It has become a signature of Welcome Week, helping set expectations early. “There is no tolerance for intolerance here,” ESCaPe’s student leadership explains. “And that’s something we want to make clear from the beginning.”
Founded in 2009, ESCaPe was established to provide a visible, inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ students and staff, as well as allies. The society functions as a cultural anchor, offering connection, raising awareness, combating discrimination and serving as a bridge between students and the School’s wider inclusion policies.
Student-led, community-driven
ESCaPe is led by two co-presidents each year, driven by the mission to foster an inclusive culture on campus and build a connected and empowered LGBTQIA+ community at ESCP. “Our aim is to empower members to shape their own projects,” they explain. “This experience allowed us to learn how to rely on others and that good leadership often comes from empathy and understanding others.”
The society’s leadership team also maintains close ties with ESCP’s Inclusion & Diversity team, helping translate student concerns into institutional action. “We developed a strong relationship with the Inclusion & Diversity department, leading to our ideas being heard and having institutional support,” they note. “That trust has made a difference.” The society plays a recognised role within ESCP’s broader inclusion ecosystem, including helping to co-draft the School’s LGBT Charter, signed in 2017.
Impact on campus and beyond
Beyond workshops and advocacy, ESCaPe fosters a vibrant community through a range of social and professional events. These include casual gatherings, mentorship activities, and inter-school collaborations. “We are particularly proud of our gatherings, especially the first time we opened our society to international students,” they share. Recently, ESCaPe members also participated in the networking and presentation events of Pride@BCG, an initiative that offers support, mentorship, and networking opportunities to LGBTQIA+ employees at BCG.
Back on campus, ESCaPe has partnered with SOS Homophobie, a French LGBTQIA+ rights organisation, to enhance its anti-discrimination programming for incoming students beginning in September 2025. The partnership brings outside expertise into the student-led environment, reinforcing key values with professional insight.
Passing the torch, keeping the values
As the new academic year approaches, ESCaPe’s top priority is welcoming new members. “As we hand over our roles,” ESCaPe’s co-presidents reflect, “our hope is that the society continues to be what first drew us in: a safe place to express yourself and create change.”
While each new cohort will shape ESCaPe differently, they hope its founding values remain: diversity, inclusion, and the courage to act. “Every generation of ESCaPe members will be different,” they add, “but we wish that our core values will always remain the same: promoting diversity and tolerance, even when the world gets darker.”
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