ENTREPRENEUR, PROFESSOR, SPEAKER, INVESTOR

Jean-Baptiste GERARD, born into a family where knowledge, science, art, and the transmission of learning are deeply valued, developed a passion for innovation and technological progress at an early age. Inspired by his great-grandfather, a chief engineer who played a key role in the design of the Paris Metro, which at the time became a model for many cities around the world, and by his encounter with astronaut Jean-François Clervoy, he quickly immersed himself in the world of new technologies. At the age of 12, he created his first website, marking the beginning of a journey dedicated to innovation.

 

He would later go on to win several hackathons, including one that led to his incubation by Crédit Agricole. He has also served as a mentor in various hackathons, including the MIT Hacking Medicine and the Techstars Startup Weekend, advising a diverse audience ranging from students to employees, doctoral candidates, physicians, and experts from various fields, all focused on the development of high-growth startups.

After completing his studies at the prestigious engineering school Centrale Paris and Harvard Business School, he set out to explore the world, from Silicon Valley to the Middle East and Asia, particularly in Singapore. Immersed in a multicultural and dynamic environment, he gained a wealth of diverse experiences. His numerous travels broadened his cultural horizons and led him to adopt various perspectives when facing challenges.

Enriched by his cultural experiences and diverse problem-solving approaches, he returned to Paris to work at IBM as a consultant, where he advised CAC40 and SBF120 companies on strategy, innovation, and AI. He later joined the LVMH Group to lead strategic initiatives at Louis Vuitton focused on innovation and AI. Leveraging his professional journey, he decided to establish Laystone Group is a company focused on anticipating and tackling future technological and societal challenges to drive growth, working closely with corporate partners globally. It offers consulting services to companies and education through a digital school.

He helped international companies to innovate quickly, accelerate and scale their digital transformation on innovative technologies such as AI & Data, IoT and Web3 in Singapore and in France…

His grandmother, a philosophy professor who earned the agrégation from the University of Paris-Sorbonne in 1958, instilled in him a deep passion for teaching and sharing knowledge. This family vocation naturally inspired him to become a professor in the fields of innovation, management, artificial intelligence, and digital strategy.

Through Gerard & Associates, he has taught and mentored Master’s and MBA students at renowned institutions such as CentraleSupelec – Paris-Saclay University and SciencesPo Paris. Additionally, he shares his expertise globally as a speaker at major technology events like GITEX in Dubai. He advise some startups in France and Asia

He was recognized by Forbes France as one of the 30 most promising young entrepreneurs and leaders under 30.