Accenture Strategic Business Analytics Chair

AI enhances efficiency, consistency, speed, and scalability in business processes, and It’s clear that AI is crucial for achieving growth and maintaining a competitive edge in today’s dynamic market. Organizations need leaders who understand AI’s potential and business strategy to leverage these opportunities. These leaders must use data for informed decision-making and integrate AI solutions into business processes to drive innovation and efficiency. Harnessing AI for strategic advantage is essential for sustainable growth and survival; without scaling AI, many businesses risk falling behind.

Accenture and ESSEC, through the Strategic Business Analytics Chair (SBA), aim to build such leaders. Supported by Accenture’s strategy and management consultants and ESSEC faculty, our program uses dynamic teaching methods, incorporating concrete case studies, industry methodologies, tools, and expertise. The curriculum combines hard skills, like advanced analytics and AI applications, with soft skills, including leadership and strategic thinking. Students engage in learning expeditions, conferences, and coaching to meet professionals from digital and industry partners. This comprehensive approach ensures a rigorous, immersive, and impactful learning experience, shaping future talents with the right mindset and skills to create significant business value and drive transformative change.

The chair will train students to become data leaders by enhancing their analytics skills, sharpening their communication effectiveness, and acquiring industry insights. Students will learn how to impact business in a tangible way thanks to data analytics.

Marc MAZODIER

Accenture Strategic Business Analytics Chair Professor

6 Compulsary courses reserved to students admitted to this Chair.
As teams, cracking strategic cases with operational datasets provided by our partners.
Topics addressed have tangible impact on companies’ business and encompass a wide range of issues, including social and green ones : “Reducing water shortage in the future”, “Personalizing HCP relationships to accelerate medical validation processes”, “Limiting energy losses”, “Making renewable energies production more efficient”, “Promoting frugal tourism”, “Fighting against social fraud”,“Limiting over-indebtedness”...
Skills that you will acquire : Driving a project using applied analytics to actionable outcomes. R - Python - Tableau - Dataiku - Presentation skills - Data regulation such as GDPR - Understand what data valorization is, from both business and societal viewpoints.
The team members of the best-rated case and the five students with highest total final grading will be invited to a study trip in June or September 2025 (Barcelona in 2022, Dublin in 2023, Milan in 2024).
We have about 450 Chair Alumni. They are a crucial part of the Chair ecosystem and help by continuing to engage with us regarding the cases, by meeting the students during our Alumni talks or by giving invited lectures.

Business Analytics Experts in consulting firms, the financial sector, the pharmaceutical industry, telecommunications, energy, retailing and fast-moving consumer goods companies and in web analytics or digital companies.
Business Analysts, Consultants and Project Managers in Strategy.
Business Analytics, Strategic Marketing, or Operations.