Crisis Management

Crises represent unique turning points that can bring an organization down, or, on the contrary, help it reinvent itself.

Overview

In today’s highly uncertain global environment – marked by geopolitical tensions, rapid technological change, and rising expectations from customers, investors, and society – organizations can no longer treat stakeholders as an afterthought. Whether partners, communities, or regulators, stakeholders can be catalysts for growth or sources of disruption, particularly in new operations or supply chains. Crises are no longer a question of “if” but “when,” and the organizations that anticipate weak signals, manage risks strategically, and turn challenges into opportunities are the ones that survive – and thrive. This executive module on Crisis Management combines cutting-edge frameworks with an interactive simulation, giving leaders a safe yet realistic space to test decisions, experience the consequences of crises, and strengthen sustainable, resilient strategies that protect both reputation and results.

Module Experts

The module will be led by Christelle Bitouzet, Affiliate Professor at HEC Paris and former Head of Communication and Local Stakeholder Relationships at Lafarge Group, now a partner in a consulting firm specializing in sustainable development and strategic stakeholder engagement. She brings extensive experience supporting executives through complex crises, transformations, and stakeholder challenges across cultures. She will be joined by Paul Vialard, Associate Professor at HEC Paris, who contributes nearly 20 years of experience training senior leaders and public officials in high-stakes communication and public speaking.

After this course you will be able to:

Identify weak signals in the environment and in the value chain.
Implement proactive stakeholder management: mapping, materiality analysis, risk & opportunities analysis, and shared value approaches.
Understand the core of crisis management and crisis communication response.

Focus on challenges attached to supply chains management.
Consider opportunities to create value during the crisis.
Define what sustainability means in the Supply Chains.
Understand the leadership skills necessary to handle a crisis and built resilience.

Price of the module – 2300 EUR
Limited seats available

Faculty

Christelle Bitouzet

Affiliate Professor at HEC Paris

Christelle Bitouzet started her career as a consultant, specializing in team mobilization and multi-cultural management, before taking on operational positions in major international groups, primarily in the industry and construction sectors.
For 12 years she has been Head of Communication and Local Stakeholders Relationships in the Lafarge Group. She has been actively involved in all the major acquisitions and divestments of the group throughout this period and worked on the integration of the acquired companies.
She is the partner of a consulting company, acting mainly in the field of sustainable development and strategic stakeholder engagement.
Her fields of expertise encompass Stakeholder Engagement, Corporate Social Responsibility and community relations, as well as change management, team mobilization, multi-cultural management, and global communications.
She is graduate of the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po). She holds a doctorate in Social Sciences from the University of Paris Sorbonne as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Law.
An Academic Coordinator for the Executive MBA (English Modular and One day a week tracks).

Paul Vialard

Associate Professor at HEC Paris

Founder & Director of Speak Up Consulting, with nearly 15 years’ experience training executives, managers, and teams in public speaking across Europe.
Faculty member at Sciences Po Paris and regular speaker at HEC Paris (MBA & EMBA) on public speaking, vocal mastery, and stress management.
Specialist in vocal techniques, coaching leaders at major organisations including Ernst & Young, L’Oréal, Lagardère, Dalkia, and Areva, and collaborating with top international training firms.
Distinctive academic and artistic background: graduate of Sciences Po Paris and King’s College London, trained cellist and lyrical singer (Royal College of Music), integrating music and voice into communication.
Recognised contributor to public speaking in education, co-author of Je réussis mon Grand Oral du Bac (Hachette Education), and active workshop leader in schools and universities.