Crisis Management Training in the French Alps with EMBA

21 JULY 2020

In June 2020 a number of Executive MBA participants experienced a course like no other, learning how to deal with crisis management through a mountaineering expedition in Chamonix, France!

The goal was to discover the way that alpine guides and rescuers manage risks and fears, how they structure the process to make better decisions when faced with uncertainty.

The first day started off with an interesting in-class course led by Blaise Agresti and Emilie Mathelin, experts in crisis management and communication.

In the late morning the group headed to the Refuge du Plan de l’Aiguille at an altitude of 2207m. Hiking and orienteering in the fog helped the team learn valuable skills on how to work together in difficult and uncertain situations. The day ended with a real case study on crisis management in the case of a large avalanche impacting a populated area.

On the second day the group studied the crisis process and key factors of success. They had alpinism workshops in high altitude to experience human limits and understand decision making processes under great stress and loss of full abilities. They continued their hike from l’Aiguille du Midi at 3842m and walked down the glacier accompanied by Blaise Agresti and two other guides.

 

 

Learning how to deal with crisis management through a mountaineering expedition in Chamonix, France.

“Mountaineering at l’Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix is the ultimate setting to learn about crisis management! We have learnt the risks that an extreme situation (like walking on a glacier) can imply. When you are at almost 4000m altitude, with rarefied air and walking in the snow close to the mountain edge, you understand the value of trust for any team. No class course can let you understand what it means to have to find your way while, due to an intense fog, you cannot see anything except, at times, what you think is maybe the path. This and much more is my takeaway from this incredible learning trip organised by emlyon business school with the support of our teacher and guide Blaise Agresti and his expert assistants who allowed us to face the extreme in absolute safety.” Giulia RIZZO, current EMBA participant in Lyon.

 

The participants from the EMBA:

Paris Campus: Melissa CAPE, Caroline CHOQUET, Raphaël FABER, Pierre GUERIN, Laurent PELOIL

Lyon Campus: Simon PICO, Giulia RIZZO

They had alpinism workshops in high altitude to experience human limits and understand decision making processes under great stress and loss of full abilities.

The day ended with a real case study on crisis management.