For the inaugural edition of the Executive Book Prize, the Jury awarded four books for their ability to energize, inform, and equip business leaders. The winners were announced during a special evening event.
– Abel Quentin’s cabin, published by Éditions de l’Observatoire in the “Heart Leadership” category.
– Hyperwarfare: How AI is revolutionizing warfare by Jean-Michel Valantin, published by Nouveau Monde, in the “The World to Come” category.
– Antidote to the cult of performance by Olivier Hamant, published by Tracts|Gallimard, in the “Provocative” category.
– and the comic book 60,000 Rebounds, the Powers of Failure by Serge Perrotin published by Petit à Petit in the “jury’s favorite” category.
Through this prize, HLU wishes to disseminate new visions and practices of leadership, in the face of three major challenges of the 21st century: exceeding planetary boundaries, increasing inequalities and deviant uses of artificial intelligence.
“At a time when artificial intelligence seems to be becoming a new companion for the leader, we choose to celebrate a more powerful ally of the humanist strategic decision-maker: the book,” emphasizes Hélène Le Téno, president of Heart Leadership University.
An award supported by an ecosystem of networks of leaders and personalities to enlighten leaders and give them keys to action.
More than 200 business leaders, publishing houses and media players gathered in Paris on November 26 to discover the jury’s choice among the 15 books shortlisted during the summer of 2025: five “thorny” titles, five devoted to the “world to come” (science fiction, political fiction) and five dedicated to Heart Leadership (intuition, empathy, courage).
The ceremony, hosted by Hélène Le Teno, president of HLU, was sponsored by Alexandra Palt, president of WWF France, and by Louis-Albert de Broglie, owner of Deyrolle.
Several actors also spoke to highlight the essential role of the book: Geneviève Ferone (founder of Prophil, Entreprendre au service du bien commun), Mathieu Hetzer (president of the Centre des jeunes dirigeants), Olivier Lamarque (director general of Réseau Entreprendre) or Philippe Zaouati (CEO of Mirova).