The legacy of La Certif’, certification in entrepreneurial support
Published on April 15, 2025
As La Certif, a flagship initiative of HEC Montréal, bowed out two weeks ago, MAIN wanted to pay tribute to the work of the La Certif team and the legacy it will leave for our ecosystem.
Certif’ has equipped several entrepreneur coaches across Quebec with crucial skills, thereby improving their ability to support innovative businesses. People whose job it is to coach entrepreneurs have thus had access to high-quality training that has not only strengthened their expertise, but also enriched their coaching approach.
The "Certif'" effect
- 108 people trained
- 59 participating organizations, including 25 outside the Montreal and Quebec City regions
- 47 local and international speakers (professors, professionals, entrepreneurs, and members of the ecosystem)
"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 was a great opportunity to put collective intelligence to work in the service of local entrepreneurship."
— Samuel Courtois, Entrepreneurship Advisor, Groupe 3737
When interviewed by La Certif’ after taking part in the first cohort, Mélanie Dubé, Entrepreneur Development Advisor at Entreprendre MRC Bécancour, mentioned that:
"It added an extra dimension to my training, opening me up to perspectives and resources I hadn't anticipated. Now I've expanded my network within the ecosystem and can call so-and-so to chat for five minutes about a situation I'd like advice on!"
"After completing the Certif' program, I feel transformed. I feel that I have a new perspective on my work and I feel more confident than ever in supporting our entrepreneurs at 2 Degrés!"
— Josyane Turgeon, Coordinator, Incubation Programs, 2Degrés
And now, La Certif'?
As the training program comes to an end, the impact of La Certif continues to grow in Quebec.
How? First, thanks to the knowledge that can now be passed on by the 108 support professionals who have completed the Certif’ training program, including Samuel, Josyane, and Mélanie.
In addition, certain initiatives resulting from teamwork during the Certif' program highlighted three areas of work that were considered important by the participants:
- Placing physical and psychological health at the heart of our support initiatives;
- Promote more effective collaboration between support structures, in particular by holding a meeting where those involved in providing support can come together.
- More effectively incorporate societal impact into support initiatives.
In addition, 30 La Certif’ training videos can be viewed on the Accès Entreprise Québec platform.
Finally, MAIN would like to highlight the tremendous work of the core team at Certif’, who put their heart and soul into delivering flawless training: Luis Cisneros, Gaëlle Hamon, Daniela Espinosa Gomez, Gabrielle Drouin, Enzo Kerioui, and Antoine Gence.
With our deepest gratitude,
MAIN.
What is La Certif'?
Certif’ was a professional certification program offered by HEC Montréal and funded by the Quebec Ministry of Economy, Innovation, and Energy (MEIE). It was designed for organizations that provide support to entrepreneurs by training coaches and enabling them to validate their relevant, high-quality knowledge base.