Building an ecosystem that protects its entrepreneurs: Édouard Ferron-Mallett’s vision

In the entrepreneurial ecosystem, there’s a lot of talk about innovation, funding, and growth. There’s less discussion about the reality of founders’ mental health. During our conversation with Édouard Ferron-Mallett, founder of ProAction Entrepreneur, he brings this conversation back to where it belongs: at the very heart of how the organizations that are shaping Quebec’s economic future operate.

A Structural Problem: A Lack of Trust

For Édouard, the situation is clear. Traditional support programs offer many technical tools, but the human aspect of entrepreneurship is often overlooked. Entrepreneurs are reluctant to show vulnerability to staff at support organizations. It’s as if admitting any weakness might jeopardize their business prospects. As a result, even when wellness programs exist, participation is low, and the impact is limited.

Conversely, when the message comes from credible entrepreneurs—people who have weathered the same storms—people listen immediately. That’s what inspired ProAction Entrepreneur: a model by and for entrepreneurs, featuring voices such as Dominic Gagnon, Nicolas Duvernois, and Judith Fetzer.

Law 27: A Constraint That Opens a Door

The passage of Bill 27, which will require companies with 20 or more employees to implement a psychological safety plan starting in 2025, serves as a wake-up call. For Édouard, this is a major step forward.

But he also sees the disconnect: in his view, small organizations and support agencies aren’t ready. This legislation thus becomes an opportunity to modernize support for entrepreneurship by finally treating mental health as a strategic factor.

An assessment to transform the culture, not just to comply

ProAction Entrepreneur's services go beyond simply checking the boxes required by Act 27.

It begins with an assessment: an evaluation of psychosocial risks that establishes an objective foundation. Then comes a plan: a roadmap for reducing these risks, safeguarding productivity, and boosting employee attendance.

But what really matters, Édouard points out, is cultural change.

The process encourages teams to reflect on their values, practices, and communication styles. ProAction Entrepreneur works on organizational culture in depth.

Changing the Course of the Ecosystem

The interview ends on an optimistic note. Édouard wants to share this message directly with the next generation of entrepreneurs, before mental health becomes a crisis.

His message is straightforward:
We collectively have a responsibility to build an ecosystem where entrepreneurs can ask for help without losing face, and where mental health becomes a driver of performance, not a sign of weakness.

It is with this same ambition in mind that MAIN launched the Parachute initiativeMD initiative and subsequently launched the Parapluie service—and it is why partners like ProAction Entrepreneur play such a vital role in this phase of our ecosystem’s transformation.