The heritage of La Certif', certification in entrepreneurial support
Published April 15, 2025
As La Certif, a flagship initiative of HEC Montréal, drew to a close two weeks ago, MAIN was keen to salute the work of the La Certif' team and the legacy it will leave for our ecosystem.
La Certif' has equipped many entrepreneurial coaches across Quebec with crucial skills, enhancing their ability to support innovative businesses. People whose job it is to support entrepreneurs have thus had access to quality training that has not only strengthened their know-how, but also enriched their coaching posture.
The "La Certif'" effect
- 108 people trained
- 59 participating organizations, including 25 outside the Montréal and Capitale-Nationale regions
- 47 local and international speakers (professors, professionals, entrepreneurs and ecosystem members)
"The Certif' really helped me lay the foundations for my coaching practice. I came away with a more empathetic attitude, concrete tools and, above all, an approach deeply rooted in the realities experienced by entrepreneurs. It's been a great opportunity to put collective intelligence to work in the service of entrepreneurship here."
- Samuel Courtois, Entrepreneurship Advisor, Groupe 3737
Interviewed by La Certif' after taking part in the first cohort, Mélanie Dubé, Entreprendre MRC Bécancour's Entrepreneur Development Advisor, noted that:
"It's added an extra dimension to my training, opening me up to perspectives and resources I hadn't anticipated. Now, I've expanded my network in the ecosystem and can call so-and-so to chat for 5 minutes about a situation I'd like advice on!"
"When I leave Certif', I feel transformed. I feel I'm taking a fresh look at my practice, and I feel stronger than ever to accompany our entrepreneurs at 2 Degrés!"
- Josyane Turgeon, Coordinator, Incubation Programs, 2Degrés
And now, La Certif'?
As the training program draws to a close, the impact of La Certif continues to be felt across Quebec.
How can we do this? Firstly, thanks to the knowledge now passed on by the 108 support professionals who have taken the Certif' course, including Samuel, Josyane and Mélanie.
In addition, a number of initiatives arising from teamwork during Certif' helped to highlight three areas considered important by the participants:
- Putting physical and psychological health at the heart of our support approach;
- Promote more effective collaboration between support structures, in particular by holding a meeting where support players can get together;
- Introduce societal impact more effectively into support processes.
In addition, 30 La Certif' training capsules can be viewed on the Accès Entreprise Québec platform.
Last but not least, MAIN would like to highlight the colossal efforts of the Certif' core group, who put their heart and soul into delivering a flawless line-up: Luis Cisneros, Gaëlle Hamon, Daniela Espinosa Gomez, Gabrielle Drouin, Enzo Kerioui and Antoine Gence.
With all our gratitude,
HAND.
What is La Certif'?
La Certif' was a professional certification from HEC Montréal funded by Quebec's Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie (MEIE), aimed at organizations involved in coaching entrepreneurs by training their coaches, thus enabling them to validate a relevant, high-quality knowledge base.