Exploring leadership around the world: Daana Ismailova (E21)’s Managerial Odyssey

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How do leaders cope with pressure, make decisions and find balance in complex environments? This is the central question behind The Managerial Odyssey, a project led in particular by Daana Ismailova (E21) and Florian Poirier, who travel the world to meet leaders and explore the deeper drivers of leadership.

Founded in 2020, The Managerial Odyssey is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to bring back to France innovative management practices from around the world. Each year, a duo of professionals undertakes a 6 to 12-month expedition focused on a specific theme. In 2026, Daana Ismailova, professional coach and transformation consultant, and Florian Poirier, industrial manager, have chosen to explore the mindset of managers and executives facing contemporary challenges.

Throughout a journey spanning more than ten countries across four continents, they meet leaders, entrepreneurs, HR experts and mental health specialists, with one objective: to understand the personal strategies that help manage pressure, build resilience and maintain sustainable balance. This exploration highlights a key yet often less visible dimension of leadership: inner work, mental clarity and the ability to navigate complex environments.

Through newsletters, digital content and conferences, The Managerial Odyssey shares these insights with a community that already numbers more than 16,000 people. An initiative that fully illustrates the commitment of ESSEC alumni to fostering dialogue between cultures, practices and visions of management, in the service of more human, conscious and sustainable leadership.

Follow their journey