ESSEC Business School, the École Supérieure des Sciences Économiques et Commerciales, has recently launched, in partnership with Accenture France, the first edition of the Grand Prix ESSEC AI for Responsible Leadership, aimed at promoting ethical and responsible use of AI in the professional world. This award aspires to bring together a community of pioneering companies that harness AI to develop leadership that is mindful of social, environmental, and economic challenges.
This Grand Prix, which aims to reward the most outstanding projects in AI and responsible leadership, is part of the "AI for Responsible Leadership" initiative launched last January on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the ESSEC Accenture "Strategic Business Analytics" Chair, supported by Optic 2000 and Saur. Its goal is to equip today's and tomorrow's leaders with the necessary tools to tackle social, economic, and environmental challenges while ensuring sustainable growth.
The proposed projects must demonstrate a measurable impact in several key areas:
  • Societal impact: improvement of quality of life, education, health, housing, and respect for human rights;
  • Innovation and sustainable economic performance: development of AI solutions promoting inclusive and responsible growth;
  • Environment: initiatives related to energy, waste management, biodiversity, and climate;
  • Governance and inclusion: talent promotion, improvement of working conditions, and adoption of ethical practices.
All machine learning technologies, including generative AI, will be considered, with particular attention to their positive impact on society and organizations.
A jury of experts to select the most inspiring projects
The Grand Prix jury, composed of business leaders and researchers, will select the most exemplary projects. Among its members:

The key stages of the Grand Prix

Candidates have until May 14, 2025, to submit their project. Those submitted before April 2, 2025, can be presented in preview in the special category "Les pépites" at the Change Now event, which will be held at the Grand Palais in Paris on April 24, 2025.
The jury will meet in May to deliberate and designate the winners, who will be rewarded at a ceremony on June 18, 2025, in Paris.
Three main prizes will be awarded:
  • AI for Responsible Leader Gold Award;
  • AI for Responsible Leader Silver Award;
  • AI for Responsible Leader Bronze Award.
In addition to a visibility campaign on the main communication media and levers of the AI for Responsible Leadership Initiative and a Learning Expeditions journey within partner companies and ESSEC, all three will benefit from the opportunities offered by the ESSEC Campus Partnership. The Gold Award winner will also benefit from the contribution of the Chair's students and the expertise of a dedicated researcher to work on a use case.
Fabrice Marque, Founder of the AI for Responsible Leadership Initiative and the Accenture Strategic Business Analytics Chair of ESSEC Business School, comments:
"We are delighted to launch the Grand Prix ESSEC AI for Responsible Leadership. Our ambition is to bring together an ever-growing community of committed decision-makers, who use artificial intelligence to positively transform their organizations and inspire other companies to follow their example. This award aims to identify and reward these exemplary leaders, true drivers of a more sustainable and virtuous economic ecosystem."

Translated from L’ESSEC Business School lance le Grand Prix ESSEC AI for Responsible Leadership 2025

To better understand

What is generative AI and how can it be used responsibly in an economic context?

Generative AI is a subfield of artificial intelligence that uses models to generate new content, such as text or images, rather than just analyzing existing data. In an economic context, it can be used to improve efficiency, personalize customer experiences, and develop innovative products, while respecting ethics and data protection.

What role do regulations play in the ethical and responsible use of AI, and how do they affect initiatives like the ESSEC AI for Responsible Leadership Grand Prize?

Regulations play a crucial role in ensuring that AI is developed and used ethically, protecting individual rights and data security. They guide and shape initiatives like the ESSEC AI for Responsible Leadership Grand Prize to adhere to ethical standards while fostering innovation.