Marie-Claude Leblanc

McGill-HEC Montréal EMBA

Age: 50

“An authentic, compassionate human, with a passion for inclusion, sustainability, and empowering others to reach their potential.”

Hometown: Montréal, Québec

Family Members:

Partner: Antoine Pratte

Daughters: Phanie Maude Éthier & Gaëlle Leblanc-Pratte

Fun fact about yourself: Few are aware that I participated in ‘Cégep en spectacle,’ a competitive event among Quebec’s colleges where performers showcase their talents. I sang a beloved Quebec classic, ‘La complainte du phoque en Alaska’ by Beau Dommage.

My unique brain wiring frequently prompt musical references, leading me to spontaneously sing with colleagues and loved ones, creating memorable moments and making life at work and home feel like a musical!

Undergraduate School and Degree:

UQAM | Université du Québec à Montréal

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Physical activity intervention

Where are you currently working?

Executive Director

Autisme sans limites (Autism Without Limits)

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: I am a public servant deeply committed to serving my community. Over the years, I have volunteered on several non-profit boards and committees. I am proud to have contributed to advancing the kinesiology profession with nearly 25 years of involvement with the Fédération des Kinésiologues du Québec (FKQ). I was a founding member of the Canadian Kinesiology Alliance (CKA) in 1999, served many years on the board, and held the position of president from 2015 to 2019, and Past President from 2019 to 2022.

Achievements: 

• Received travel grants to present my research project on workplace inclusion for autistic individuals at the Executive MBA program’s “Les entretiens Jacques-Cartier” conference in France (October 2023).
• Guy-Langlois Innovation Prize recipient for Autism Without Limits (November 2023).
• Claude-Belley Scholarship recipient for writing a scientific article in the CNEIS Social Inclusion Review (December 2023), scheduled for publication in May 2024.
• Led greenhouse gas emissions inventory for Outremont borough (ISO 14001 & Federation of Canadian Municipalities Climate Partners Program), part of the 2022-2023 circular economy cohort, and initiated the borough’s climate emergency plan.
• Contributed to development of strategic planning tools for Outremont borough:
  • Strategic Plan 2021-2025
  • Urban Forest Management Plan
  • Parks and Buildings Master Plan
  • Cultural Development Plan
• Established “Bon Voisinage mediation table” in 2021, an intercultural mediation space to improve relations between Hassidic Jewish and non-Hassidic Jewish communities in Outremont.
• Created “Outremont Community Cell” in 2020, a multi-network collaboration space to facilitate collaboration between organizations, implement innovative projects address pandemic needs, and disseminate information. This initiative led to the establishment of the Outremont neighborhood table in 2022 and won the Canadian Excellence in Municipal Innovation Award.
• Developed first recognition policy for non-profit organizations in Le Sud-Ouest borough.
• Developed local sustainable development plan 2017-2020 for Le Sud-Ouest borough.
• Organized and hosted an international youth event with over 5,000 participants from 100+ countries worldwide (Moot 2013, Gatineau, Quebec) in partnership with Scouts Canada Association.

Leadership Roles :

• General Manager, Autisme sans limites | Autism Without Limit
• Various leadership roles – City of Montréal
• Borough Director, Ouremont Borough

• Director of Culture, Sports, Recreation, and Social Development, Le Sud-Ouest Borough
• Division Chief, Sports, Recreation, and Social Development, Le Plateau-Mont-Royal Borough
• National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Association des Scouts du Canada Association
• Director of YMCA Parc, YMCA of Quebec
• Manager of the EPIC Center, Montreal Heart Institute (ICM)

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I take particular pride in my research project focusing on the inclusion of autistic individuals in the workplace. Supported by my colleagues, EMBA peer-coaching group, supervisor, and the entire EMBA ecosystem, I dedicated significant time to acquiring new knowledge, connecting with exceptional individuals worldwide to explore a topic close to my heart, and engaging in deep reflection. Submitting all this work was a culmination of trusting the process, immersing myself fully, and witnessing the outcome far exceed my expectations.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I’ve had the opportunity to implement many impactful projects in my community. The one I’m proudest of is creating the Outremont Community Cell (Cellule Communautaire d’Outremont). As Director of the Outremont borough at the City of Montreal during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we rallied stakeholders across various sectors to find quick solutions to unprecedented problems. I witnessed the mobilization of exceptional humans and organizations around a common goal: support the most vulnerable during a crisis. Over the span of two years, the Outremont Community Cell convened regularly, drawing 30 to 50 participants, including representatives from numerous organizations. This collective effort yielded several impactful projects, culminating in the creation of a Neighborhood Roundtable for Outremont, the TQO, for which Outremont received a prestigious Canadian award for social innovation.)

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Selecting a favorite professor is challenging because I deeply valued all who shared their knowledge and expertise. However, if pressed, Johanne Brunet would be my choice. Johanne profoundly influenced my EMBA journey as the leader of our peer-coaching group, guiding us through every step of our EMBA adventure. At every meeting, she provided depth, perspective, and the words I needed to go further, deepen my analysis, and push myself further to achieve even more. Without her (and my peer group colleagues), my experience wouldn’t have been as impactful, and my success may have been uncertain. Johanne was indispensable to my EMBA adventure. Thank you, Johanne!

Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? Over a decade ago, I dreamed of furthering my education. However, the dream of pursuing a master’s degree was repeatedly set aside due to my responsibilities as a mother to a child with a disability. Opting for the McGill-HEC Montréal EMBA was a deliberate choice, driven by its reputation as a program of excellence, both academically and personally.

I sought more than just a typical MBA focused solely on knowledge acquisition. I yearned for an immersive experience capable of transforming me and unlocking my full potential as a human being, enabling me to have the impact I desired with my life.

Yes, the program provided knowledge, but it also offered hands-on activities that facilitated deeper integration. As a neurodivergent person, it’s important that what I learn makes sense and is meaningful, so I can integrate and apply it in my work and even personally.

Additionally, the genuine and authentic encounters with the people with whom I shared this journey, along with the network and the connections made, created synergies that optimized all the experiences throughout my path.

Reflecting on this adventure, I can confidently assert: Mission accomplished, and expectations exceeded!

What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? Trust the process! While initially, I may have grown weary of hearing these three words repeatedly, their true significance became apparent to me as I reached the conclusion of the program and submitted my final paper. Particularly with my neurodivergence and hyperactivity tendencies, I often find myself wanting to rush ahead and tackle everything at once. However, similar to the creative process, I now recognize the immense value in trusting the journey, especially when the destination isn’t entirely clear.

I now dedicate more time to understanding and grasping the nuances of the problem, understanding the diverse needs of stakeholders, and immersing myself in the project’s structure.

Throughout the EMBA program, we explored and experimented with so many analysis methods, allowing us to have multiple angles to avoid blind spots. I let go more easily, and I trust that at the end of the process, the best solution will clearly emerge, and the collective intelligence will shine through it.

Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? In February 2023, my eldest daughter was involved in a severe car accident, putting her life at risk. For several days, I remained by her bedside while recovering from COVID-19 myself. Concurrently, the non-profit organization I had dedicated over four years had received the resignation of its general manager. The board of directors extended me the offer to fill the position. Despite my daughter grappling with the aftermath of her accident, I persevered in attending my EMBA classes and completing the multitude of required assignments.

During this tumultuous period, I seized the opportunity to deeply reflect on my situation, on myself, my work, and the impact I wanted to have with my life. Through rigorous analysis from various perspectives, I made the difficult decision to resign from my role as director of the Outremont borough and assume the position of general manager at Autism without Limits.

With support from my family, my EMBA peer-coaching team, and the entire EMBA cohort and team, I navigated the transition from director to general manager. On March 16, my last day as director, I witnessed the establishment of the Outremont neighborhood table. The following day, I commenced my tenure as general manager at Autism without Limits. However, the challenges persisted, as on March 17, my daughter underwent surgery for the lingering effects of her accident, necessitating a four-day hospital stay.

Thankfully, she has since recovered, and I have successfully completed my EMBA program. Moreover, I am thrilled to share that I will be welcoming my first grandchild in early autumn 2024.

What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program?

There is never a perfect moment to embark on such an adventure. However, I believe that anyone wishing to fully immerse themselves in it must create the necessary space, allocate the required time, and establish winning conditions:

* Ensure support from loved ones, including your spouse and family.

* Have contingency plans in place for tasks that can be delegated, such as household responsibilities.

* Be prepared to reassess your life priorities, enabling you to make informed decisions and persevere through challenging times. This may involve letting go of less significant commitments or reevaluating their importance.

* Be ready to change and to question oneself and fully embrace the adventure of a lifetime!

What was your biggest regret in business school? One of my biggest regrets from my time in the Executive MBA program is not taking more advantage of the opportunity to deeply connect with my classmates. While I did establish a network, I sometimes held back due to my neurodivergence, which made me self-conscious about standing out or revealing too much of myself. This occasional self-censorship sometimes led me to put on a mask to blend in, rather than fully embracing my unique perspective from the start.

Furthermore, the intensive nature of the program often made it challenging to find the time and energy to connect with everyone on a more personal level. Balancing the rigorous academic demands with personal interactions was difficult, and I regret not dedicating more effort to building these relationships while we were all physically present and engaged in the program. Although I am now making efforts to maintain and strengthen these connections, the dynamic is different post-graduation. The network we build during such a transformative experience is invaluable, and I wish I had immersed myself more in fostering deeper connections during my EMBA journey.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? While I may diverge slightly from the question, I must mention my EMBA peer-coaching group/team. Each member of this team – Fabrice, Michèle, Patricia, and Pierre – are exceptional humans. Together, we created a space of courage and compassion, a space of bravery and kindness where we can find ourselves as a peer coaching team family. Here’s to my esteemed peer coaching team colleagues and to the entire EMBA Legendary Cohort of 2024! We’re truly a gang of exceptional individuals

* From the start of the McGill-HEC Montréal EMBA program everyone joins a peer coaching team: a group of 5 or 6 classmates from different industries and non-competing organizations, with a professor as facilitator. Each member of the team becomes a coach for his or her peers, and in turn is coached by everyone else. The coaching is effective because it’s supportive, confidential, and founded on trust. The team members are equals in the program; they come to know each other and their business situations very well. They even critique each other’s projects, yet they are independent of each other’s day-to-day realities so can be effective observers and sounding boards. It’s a reciprocal process that provides important learning opportunities throughout the program.

What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? I wanted a 100% experience, a complete immersion, an intensity, to fully live the adventure. For me, genuine connection and a high level of engagement were non-negotiables. It goes without saying that the adventure had a profound impact on me, both externally and internally. I am no longer the same person I was at the beginning. In August 2022, I embarked on this journey, and since then, I have evolved into version 5.0 of Marie-Claude, and I continue my adventure.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? I am not career-driven. Instead, my aspirations encompass all aspects of my life, ensuring alignment, coherence, and consistency with the impact I aim to achieve.

My mission is to contribute to the creation of a better world by propelling the realization of humans and organizations. By continuously striving to become the best version of myself and investing in personal development, I believe I can fulfill this mission and make a positive impact on the world around me.

Acknowledgement

Thank you to EMBA McGill HEC Montréal, my peer group, colleagues, and everyone in the EMBA ecosystem. Special thanks to Marianne, Louis, Alain, Johanne, Michel, and all our professors and speakers, as well as my family and friends. What a wonderful adventure — and it continues…

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