Navigating Codes

This episode explores the hidden codes of corporate life with Pascale Patat-Dubois, Professor and Director of the Executive MBA at the IÉSEG School of Management. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in major companies like Philips and General Electric, Pascale offers a thoughtful and embodied reflection on the implicit – and often invisible – norms that shape relationships, behaviours, and sometimes inequalities within organizations. She unpacks how these codes can impact performance, trust, and well-being – or, on the flip side, create stress, exclusion, and inner conflict. We also dive into their gendered, generational, and intercultural dimensions, as well as the unspoken dynamics that weigh on professional environments. Rich with concrete examples, this conversation also traces Pascale’s own journey of transformation: from adopting masculine codes to ‘fit in’, to daring a more authentic leadership style aligned with her values. She shares practical insights and tools to help us understand, navigate, and even transform these codes – without losing ourselves along the way. Learn more about the AGYA project: https://agya.info/research/research-projects-by-year/inclusive-leadership-a-digital-approach-to-bridging-the-gender-gap