Leaders, Inspire Us! – Jean-Philippe Decka

From gaming to climate emergency: the art of renunciation

Jean-Philippe has had an unusual career path: a graduate of HEC business school and a successful entrepreneur in the gaming industry with PocketWhale, he left it all behind following a “violent awakening to the climate emergency.” This transformation perfectly illustrates the central concept of his book: Le courage de renoncer: Le difficile chemin des élites pour bifurquer vers un monde durable.

His experience in Vietnam was decisive: “Being in Vietnam really changed my lifestyle. I took a step back from issues that weren’t necessarily coming to the fore.” This geographical and cultural distance allowed him to question his core values and completely rethink his vision of success.

The doughnut model: rethinking performance within planetary boundaries

Jean-Philippe introduces us to a revolutionary concept for leaders: Kate Raworth’s doughnut theory. This model redefines performance by incorporating two crucial dimensions: social floors (access to education, water, health) and environmental ceilings (the nine planetary boundaries, six of which have already been exceeded).

“This ridge between basic human needs and planetary boundaries represents the space where humanity can become sustainable,” he explains. For businesses, this means completely rethinking value creation: no longer solely economic, but co-created with all stakeholders, including even non-human actors such as ecosystems.

Boiling water: understanding profound transformations

Jean-Philippe uses a powerful metaphor to explain organizational change: “Water boils at 100 degrees, but to reach that temperature, it must be heated gradually.” Career or business pivots are never sudden, but result from an accumulation of realizations.

This systemic approach reveals that very few people make a change before “hitting the wall,” often to the point of burnout. For leaders, this highlights the importance of anticipating these transformations rather than suffering them.

Three levers for managerial transformation

Jean-Philippe offers a concrete methodology for leaders who wish to embark on this path:

Firstly, take the time to step outside your social circle.

“You need to seek out otherness in order to gain an honest perspective on yourself and your business.” This can be achieved through experiences such as woofing or simply by opening up to other sectors of activity.

Secondly, experiment collectively.

Sustainable change cannot be achieved alone. They require support, feedback, and above all, experimentation with new, more collaborative models of governance.

Third, use tools such as the “Flourishing Business Canvas.”

This evolution of the business model canvas integrates the company into its ecosystem and redefines value as a response to fundamental needs rather than solely economic criteria.

In summary…

• The courage to give up is becoming an essential managerial skill in a world that is reaching its planetary limits.
• The doughnut theory offers a new performance framework that integrates social justice and environmental sustainability.
• Authentic transformations require time, otherness, and a collective approach to overcome individual and systemic barriers.

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