This year, Ivey launched two new MBA International Study Trips – Exploring Entrepreneurship and Creativity in Paris and Global Energy Transformation in Dubai – designed to give students immersive, global learning experiences beyond the classroom. During the recent Paris study trip, which was extended to include some MSc students, participants explored how history, culture, and innovation influence modern business. In his blog below, Rahul Bhatnagar, MSc in International Business ’26 candidate and MSc Program Ambassador, shares key insights from the experience and how it challenged traditional ways of thinking about leadership, innovation, and sustainability.
How history shapes modern business in Paris
On the first day of the tour, our class explored Paris by bus, gaining a sense of the city’s grandeur before individually diving deeper into the details. From seeing the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and the famous Eiffel Tower, I gained an appreciation for how many centuries of history were contained in one city. I often wondered how the worldview of Parisians must be influenced by the monuments left by kings and queens from a different time. Coming from the relatively young province of Alberta, I was in awe that buildings more than 100 years old are not only functional, but central to Parisian culture. Seeing the longevity of the physical landmarks made me reflect on how history has influenced Paris’s modern culture.
The following day, we heard from Vincent Brillault, Founding Partner at Calderion, a venture capital firm focused on investing in the next generation of alternative fuels set to compete with fossil-based hydrocarbons. When asked why France lags behind the U.S. in terms of raw innovation, Brillault suggested that French businesses may be less inclined toward risk-taking than their Silicon Valley counterparts. Connecting this insight to the city’s classical architecture, which we had seen the day before, I wondered whether some reluctance to move on from the majesty of the past might exist.
Using art to rethink business challenges
Business education often encourages specialization, with students expected to have a “major” (choose a subject) and focus the majority of their attention on it. Sylvain Bureau, Scientific Director of the Improbable Chair by Galeries Lafayette, challenged this mindset through his Art Thinking workshop. Alongside renowned photographer and film director Nicolas Guiraud, Bureau pushed Ivey students over two days to think critically and approach complex business problems from multiple perspectives.
We explored themes including artificial intelligence, fashion, education, and finance, receiving candid and constructive feedback designed to push our creative boundaries to ultimately critique society. Bureau and Guiraud guided us, using art, on how to think about the way businesses interact to form the societies in which we live. I enjoyed the challenge of thinking intuitively because we’re often used to focusing solely on profit margins and other analytical success measures.
Innovation, sustainability, and the future of fashion
A visit to The Plateau Fertile, a sustainable clothing manufacturer, enlightened me on the process of innovative, sustainable clothing production. Lucas Thivolet Conde Salazar, Director of Fashion Green Hub Grand Paris, shared some unique insights on the economics of circular fashion. His presentation outlined the growing demand for sustainably produced, ethically sourced clothing.
Salazar emphasized that sustainability and profitability must be balanced, noting that economic growth is not always the primary objective, particularly when compared to fast fashion models. Touring the facility demonstrated how human capital can also be used sustainably. By prioritizing the hiring of at-risk individuals, the organization supports marginalized communities while creating long-term social and economic value.
Inspired to push the boundaries of business
Paris is a beautiful city steeped in hundreds of years of culture, history, and tradition. Over the last several decades, it has undergone a remarkable transformation as its people face the changing pressures of the world. However, Paris has not lost its lofty humanist ideals and applies this attitude to modern problems such as climate change, the rise of artificial intelligence, and sustainable business practices. Thanks to this study tour, I’m now inspired to take charge of my career on a deeper level and push the boundaries of business beyond what we currently know. The city’s motto is "Tossed by the waves but never sunk," and as our societies are rocked by change, we should sail into the future with that sense of resilience and optimism that has carried Paris for centuries.
View more photos below
Posing in front of the Basilique Du Sacré Cœur
The Ivey group at Ecole Commerciale
Taking in the Art Thinking Workshop
Visiting The Plateau Fertile
Time for a group shot
Related Articles
