Research and knowledge transfer
Creation of the Chaire sur la neurodiversité et la santé mentale en entrepreneuriat et repreneuriat
October 14, 2026
In an effort to foster a more inclusive, reflective and sustainable form of entrepreneurship, HEC Montréal is officially launching the Chaire sur la neurodiversité et la santé mentale en entrepreneuriat et repreneuriat [Chair in Neurodiversity and Mental Health in Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Acquisition], held by Professor Luis Cisneros.
Image
This new Chair aligns with the priorities of the major donation awarded by the Lise and Giuseppe Racanelli Foundation. Supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs, advancing high-quality research in several areas of management at HEC Montréal, and promoting the mental health of students and entrepreneurs are at the heart of this exceptional philanthropic commitment.
Its mission: to become a reference hub for the production and dissemination of knowledge regarding psychological and cognitive issues specific to entrepreneurs and business acquirers. Its ultimate goal: to contribute to the sustainable improvement of the well-being, mental health and entrepreneurial potential of neurodivergent individuals.
In specific terms, members of this new entity will conduct rigorous scientific research to gain a thorough understanding of mental health and neurodiversity dynamics – including attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – in the different phases of entrepreneurial and business takeover processes. Knowledge transfer and mobilization activities will be carried out with practitioners, support professionals and entrepreneurial ecosystems to design and disseminate evidence-based tools, practices and measures.
“Several research projects are already underway to better understand certain human dimensions of entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial acquisition and family businesses that still remain largely unexplored, including mental health, well-being and neurodiversity. Our aim is to generate results that may improve the provision of support for leaders, succession planning and business longevity.”
–
Luis Cisneros
About Luis Cisneros
Luis Cisneros is a professor in the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation as well as the founder and co-director of the HEC Montréal Entrepreneurship Hub. As a researcher, he is specifically interested in the human dimensions of entrepreneurial experiences: mental health, well-being, neurodiversity, work-life balance and the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, business acquirers and family business successors.
His work has been published in numerous international scientific journals, including Small Business Economics, Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Journal of Technology Transfer and Journal of Family Business Strategy. He has also contributed to the Guide sur la santé et le bien-être des entrepreneur(e)s [Guide on the Health and Well-being of Entrepreneurs], designed to raise awareness, promote, and protect the mental health of business owners.
Professor Cisneros holds a Doctorat ès sciences in management from HEC Paris, a diplôme d’études approfondies (D.E.A.) in information accounting systems from Université Paris-Dauphine as well as an MSc in administration from Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes. In 2023, he also completed the Entrepreneurship Development Program at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
