Submitted by Kerry Summers on
In the ever-evolving world of executive education and corporate learning, partnerships are key to success. iVentiv has nurtured a long-standing relationship with HEC Paris, a prestigious European business school that was founded in 1888, since 2010 and has become a leading institution in Executive Development. Through this collaboration, HEC Paris has not only elevated its presence within the corporate learning community but has also provided valuable insights and support to iVentiv’s events worldwide.
Join us as we dive into the partnership between iVentiv and HEC Paris, how it's bloomed over the years, and where it will go next.
HEC Paris and iVentiv in collaboration
The relationship between iVentiv and HEC Paris began in June 2010 when the school sponsored its first iVentiv event: the Training and Development Executive Knowledge Exchange in London. HEC Paris’s participation was the start of a long partnership, cultivating a host of valuable relationships with Heads of Learning and Executive Development, and the partnership has since flourished.
Over the past decade and a half, HEC Paris has sponsored 88 iVentiv events, making it one of the most dedicated sponsors in iVentiv's history. Not only have experts from the school, such as Jeremy Ghez and Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj, shared their knowledge at these events, HEC Paris also hosted iVentiv events at their UK House in both 2023 and 2024.
What sets iVentiv apart according to HEC Paris?
For HEC Paris, one of the key reasons for the success of this partnership is the unique approach that iVentiv takes to Executive Development and L&D events. Unlike traditional conferences, iVentiv events focus on creating an interactive, conversational environment – something that the HEC Paris team consider a game-changer in corporate events.
In their words, “if you go to a big conference, there’s a lot of people in the room, but you have to grab them and it’s not the best way to meet people.” In contrast, iVentiv’s events are designed to foster meaningful connections through psychological safety, and “transparent” conversations. The opportunity to participate in intimate 1-2-1 meetings with senior learning professionals provides a much deeper level of engagement.
This structure, according to HEC Paris, creates a positive environment for sponsors, where hard sales pitches are replaced by organic relationship-building. Over time, sponsors have the opportunity to meet the same people at different events, fostering long-term relationships with key decision-makers. As the HEC Paris team notes, these meetings are “extremely well organised,” with iVentiv’s proactive team ensuring that every detail is tailored to the sponsor’s needs.
The value of a great partnership
From the HEC Paris’s perspective, the partnership with iVentiv has been nothing short of invaluable, with Ann Gilmore classing these events as “my absolute, complete and utter benchmark.” HEC Paris has won significant contracts through connections made at iVentiv events which are, they said, a direct result of the quality of attendees that iVentiv attracts—senior Learning and Development professionals from large global organisations who are actively looking for innovative solutions to their learning challenges.
The HEC Paris team is quick to praise iVentiv for its dedication to bringing the right people into the room, with one member stating that “there’s a huge amount of work involved in contacting and finding out who these individuals are.” As a result, HEC Paris has been able to gain valuable insights from potential clients and the market at large, which have directly impacted the programmes they offer.
Why HEC Paris chooses iVentiv
HEC Paris’s experiences underscore why iVentiv is the partner of choice for so many organisations. From the perspective of the team, iVentiv events offer a host of benefits that set them apart from other event providers; events are not just a venue for delivering content—they are an opportunity for real dialogue and collaboration.
As one of the team members put it, “we greatly appreciate that we could be considered just a supplier, but instead, we have the feeling that we are not just a supplier. We feel like we are partners.” This spirit of partnership permeates the entire experience, from the quality of the Event Chairs to the seamless follow-up after the event has ended, allowing sponsors to continue building lasting client relationships.
Looking to the future
As the partnership between iVentiv and HEC Paris continues to grow, the benefits for both sides are clear. In July 2024, they signed a two-year extension to their annual sponsorship agreement, ensuring that they will continue to play a pivotal role in iVentiv’s events through 2026 – a commitment that reflects HEC Paris’s confidence in iVentiv’s ability to connect them with the right decision-makers.
For iVentiv, this partnership continues to enhance the richness and diversity of its events, bringing world-class expertise and insights to its community of L&D professionals. Together, iVentiv and HEC Paris are shaping the future of executive education and driving innovation in L&D and Executive Development.
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