#1Month1EngagedAlumni – Mathieu ALESI, ESSEC (08) « Feel free to join public administrations to pursue your commitment! »
09.21.2026
Graduated from ESSEC, where he attended the Social Entrepreneurship Chair, Mathieu Alesi became involved in community and social causes early on. He began his career with an entrepreneurial journey from 2008 to 2015 in fair trade and professional integration at Puerto Cacao. In 2016, he joined the headquarters of the Aurore association to develop social action projects, before managing social integration companies within the ARES group across logistics, material handling, and construction. Between 2020 and 2021, in partnership with the VINCI Foundation, he spearheaded the creation of five joint ventures for social integration. After serving as Deputy Director of the Employment and Integration Department for Seine-Saint-Denis, he was appointed Director of Child Protection for the Essonne Department in 2024. In parallel, since 2019, he has been facilitating sessions at the Campus de l'Inclusion to guide business leaders in transforming their managerial practices.
E.S.B.: What is your background, and what led you to become interested in CSR?
Mathieu Alesi: From the very beginning of my studies, I wanted to get involved "for a better world," fighting against exclusion or at least helping the most vulnerable. I'm looking for practical ways to achieve these goals. At ESSEC, I discovered social entrepreneurship, notably thanks to several ESSEC alumni and my tutor (thanks, Jérôme Schatzman!). It was an exciting environment that allowed using entrepreneurship ultimately for a social mission.
E.S.B.: What does CSR look like concretely in your life?
M.A.: My journey led me to explore mainly the "social" side of CSR. Early on, I focused on creating a tangible, local impact, which you can see in how people progress through social action programs. Hence, my involvement in combating exclusion and in social support. Recently, I took a step sideways by working in child protection, which by definition means addressing vulnerability—caring for children.
E.S.B.: How do you define CSR?
M.A.: I would define CSR as follows: every organisation must integrate the impact of its activity. It shouldn't look solely at stock prices or net operating income, but also at its social impact (especially toward the most vulnerable and those targeted by discrimination) and its environmental impact.
By "organisation," I mean all human organisations: corporations, associations, cooperatives, and public administrations. Regulations compel organisations to integrate part of these impacts. Still, CSR is about going beyond mere regulatory obligations: it is an approach that highlights the social or environmental impact of the activity and strives to improve it as much as possible.
I have always been drawn to organisations that place social responsibility at the core of their project, as social economy structures and, of course, the public service do. However, it remains essential that corporations continue their ambitious CSR programs.
E.S.B.: How is it a catalyst for business, and what kind of return on investment can be expected?
M.A.: Having worked primarily in organisations whose DNA is social impact, my answer will be more theoretical. A CSR approach drives employees, customers, and investors. However, we must also accept that CSR can sometimes act as a "decelerator" and entail lower yields or profitability in the short term. In the long run, it can only be a good choice!
E.S.B.: What message would you like to share with Alumni involved in Alumni ACT and beyond?
M.A.: To the engaged alumni, I want to say: "Keep getting involved and let's take commitment even further." I am convinced that organisations that are more virtuous on social and environmental levels are not only more fulfilling but also more resilient.
Above all, I want to tell everyone that commitment can happen through "internal" action within corporations whose primary objective is profit. Still, it can also take place within non-profit structures such as the social economy or public administration. Allow me to emphasise this last point: the management and leadership skills developed at ESSEC are equally valuable within the Public Service. Do not hesitate to join local or national public administrations to continue your commitment to a strong social or environmental impact!
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