Short Programme
Improbable World:
An Art Thinking Experience

In partnership with Galeries Lafayette

In a world where unpredictability has become the norm, the "Improbable" programme will give you the keys to thriving amidst chaos. Unstable tariffs, the lightning advancement of artificial intelligence, geopolitical tensions... traditional reference points are wavering. To navigate this era of uncertainty, one skill becomes essential: the ability to face the unknown and discover unexpected solutions.
The Art Thinking method, developed by Pr Sylvain Bureau and artist Pierre Tectin at ESCP Business School, offers a bold approach inspired by art to transform the unknown into opportunity, drawing upon a multidisciplinary team of artistic experts, scientists and entrepreneurs from Europe, Asia and the United States. This unique programme is “highly commended” by the Financial Times in 2025.

Objectives

1

Develop the agility to evolve confidently within uncertain environments whilst cultivating a proactive mindset

2

Conceive bold, creative and high-impact solutions precisely tailored to the challenges at hand

3

Master Art Thinking methodology to rethink your professional practices

4

Cultivate a comprehensive global perspective through multidisciplinary approaches

Benefits

1 Learn to Unlearn
Stay ahead of change by freeing yourself from outdated ways of thinking.
2 Disruptive Leadership
Lead with confidence in uncertain, high-stakes environments.
3 Unleash Radical Creativity
Find bold, actionable ideas that set your business apart.
4 Reshape Your Ecosystem
Unlock new growth by rethinking your business landscape.
5 Build Resilience
Perform at your best, even under pressure.
6 Expand Your Network
Gain access to a powerful global community of senior leaders.

Curriculum :
Unleashing Creative Intelligence for Complex Times

Focus 1 — Initiate

Discovering the Foundations of Art Thinking

Explore the principles and mindset behind Art Thinking as an agile, creative, and open-ended method. Understand its relevance, and what it means to think like an artist in business.

Focus 2 — Donate

Genius as Generosity: What Do You Give to the World?

Investigate how artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs offer ideas, energy, and perspective to the world. Learn how generosity, not perfection, is the beginning of meaningful innovation.

Focus 3 — Deviate

Creative Appropriation: Learning by Borrowing, Transforming, and Remixing

Understand how to repurpose resources from one domain into another to challenge norms and provoke a transformation. Examine how to “steal” with purpose and ethics.

Focus 4 — Destroy

Unlearning and Disruption as Creative Tools

Challenge existing assumptions, mental models, and processes. Learn how to disrupt your own habits and reimagine problems in order to unlock new possibilities.

Focus 5 — Drift

The Art of Getting Lost to Find New Directions

Embrace wandering, ambiguity, and emergence as generative strategies. Discover how to let go of rigid goals to find unexpected insights and novel paths to impact

Focus 6 — Dialogue

Relational Intelligence in the Creative Process

Explore how collaboration, tension, and conversation shape the creative journey. Understand how to cultivate the conditions for generative dialogue both with others and with yourself.

Focus 7 — Display

Making Work Visible: Storytelling, Framing, and Impact

Learn how to present creative work for resonance and influence. Examine how narrative, aesthetics, and audience engagement affect how your ideas land and grow.

Focus 8 — Deploy

Synthesis and Deployment

Reflect on what you've learned, identify core principles, and define how Art Thinking will shape your leadership and organization moving forward.

International Experts

World-Class Instructors & Thought Leaders

  • Sylvain Bureau, Professor at ESCP (co-founder of Art Thinking)
  • Christophe Bruno, Artist (PhD Theoretical Physics)
  • Émile Kirsch, Artist, regularly invited by Hermès
  • Anaïs Montevecchi, Art Mediator (Grand Palais)
  • Chip Ransler, Entrepreneur (Husk Power), Pr. Univ of Virginia
  • Amy Whitaker, Professor at New York University

Roundtable with Special Guests

  • Chuck Eesley, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Stanford University
  • Thomas Friedberger, Investment Executive at Tikehau Capital
  • Jean-Michel Pailhon, Entrepreneur (Ledger & Capital Grail)
  • Vaughn Tan, Professor in strategy at UCL (Singapore)
  • Corine Waroquiers, Advisor, SGPI, Office of the Prime Minister

To know more about this Improbable learning experience

Who should attend

  • Business Leaders, Innovators and Entrepreneurs
  • Tech Pioneers and Creative Thinkers
  • HR Professionals and Transformational Managers
  • YOU and your TEAM - Be Ready to Rethink What's Possible!

Prerequisites

This course is open to all motivated professionals. ESCP Business School sets high academic standards and requires a high level of commitment and intellectual rigour.

Fees*

€800

*catering included; grants available at registration
General Conditions of Service

Pedagogy

Improbable Pedagogy teaches Art Thinking through hands-on, immersive workshops that blend art and entrepreneurship. Participants create works that challenge real-world norms, using deviation, unlearning, and experimentation. Emphasizing action over theory, it embraces mistakes and fosters creative leadership in uncertain environments. This is a once in a lifetime experience!
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Page Last Modified : 16/05/2025