Rethinking Business Education: The urgent need for life-centric leadership

Two weeks ago, in a renowned French Business School, a teacher asked, "Does anyone know about regeneration?" Among the students, my 24-year-old son, in his final year, was the only one to raise his hand. His knowledge, thanks to my work at AXA Climate and his experience with the Butterfly School , stood out. This moment highlights a crucial gap in contemporary business education.

Reflecting on the history of the top 5 France’s leading business schools, founded between 1817 and 1907, reveals much about this gap.

Born during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these institutions were shaped by the linear, growth-centric mindset of the industrial revolution. Business and economic models were driven by a belief in limitless progress and the inexhaustible use of natural resources. The focus was on industrial expansion, efficiency, and profit maximization. Resources seemed unlimited, and ecological considerations were virtually nonexistent. This context deeply influenced the educational models of these business schools, shaping curriculums that prioritized industrial and economic progress with little emphasis on the environmental or social impacts of business operations.

Today, we face a different reality.

The unchecked growth of the past has led to climate change, resource depletion, and social inequalities. Modern leaders need to navigate these complexities, balancing business acumen with an acute awareness of their ecological and social footprints. However, many traditional business schools remain rooted in this bygone era's principles. While they excel in teaching conventional business strategies, there's a notable delay in incorporating regenerative practices into their curricula.

Regeneration is often viewed with skepticism in these institutions.

Business Schools wait for proven results before fully embracing it, perpetuating the same Newtonian, fragmented worldview that contributed to today's challenges. Instead, they should be pioneering a shift towards a regenerative worldview, where businesses are seen as part of a living system, serving both human and non-human life.

To cultivate leaders for this new era, business schools must evolve as well beyond traditional, top-down teaching methods.

Rather than continuing with traditional top-down teaching methods, where educators act as the sole authority, dispensing knowledge in a lecture-based format, these business schools should embrace pedagogical strategies that are inherently regenerative. Such strategies would foster an environment where students are encouraged to think critically and independently, much in the spirit of Socratic teaching methods. This approach involves engaging students in dialogue, posing probing questions, and encouraging them to question assumptions and develop their own insights.

Such a regenerative approach in education is vital for equipping future leaders with the skills to understand interconnected living systems and think holistically – abilities crucial in navigating the complexities of our rapidly changing world, where conventional linear solutions fall short.

Leaders who place life at the core of their business philosophy are what the world needs now.

These individuals understand that their organizations' success is intricately linked to the health of our environment and society. In this light, regenerative practices become not just a choice but a critical necessity for enduring prosperity.

To nurture such forward-thinking leaders, a transformation in business education is imperative. This transformation should include:

• Integrating courses on regeneration, living systems, and life-centered leadership into core curriculums.
• Promoting a mindset that prioritizes collaboration and long-term well-being over competition and short-term gains. To pave the way, these schools might consider developing an inter-school "Regenerative Design" curriculum for instance.
• Encouraging real-world projects that allow students to engage with and solve contemporary challenges.

The world has evolved, and it's imperative that our institutions of higher learning evolve with it. By reorienting business education towards life-centric leadership, we can prepare the next generation of business leaders not just to succeed in the market, but to thrive in harmony with the planet and its inhabitants. It's not just an educational shift; it's a moral imperative for the future of business and society.