Founder and president of the Grandir Group, which now includes nearly 1,200 nurseries and preschools under the brand Les Petits Chaperons Rouges, Jean-Emmanuel Rodocanachi has revolutionized the early childhood sector in France and abroad.

His journey—from studying at HEC, gaining early professional experiences, and launching a company with a social purpose—reflects a constant pursuit of meaning and social impact. A portrait of a man who has made educational quality and family support his true calling.

An Initiatory Journey: From Paris to HEC, with a U.S. Influence

Born in Paris, Jean-Emmanuel Rodocanachi grew up in a cosmopolitan environment. His youth, spent between France and the United States, shaped his global outlook. “I was fortunate to live in several American cities as a teenager,” he recalls. This international experience influenced his business vision but did not immediately lead him toward an academic career. Before joining HEC, he was first passionate about rugby, a sport he played at a high level in Australia.

During this period, he took on odd jobs to support himself, developing a strong work ethic. “To make a living, I washed cars for a dealership on the edge of the desert, near Brisbane. In the afternoons, I trained, and in the evenings, I worked as a waiter in a pub. I did this for six months,” Jean-Emmanuel shares. However, the reality of financial independence and the need for a stable professional future eventually led him back to France.

He passed the entrance exam and joined HEC in 1992, explaining his choice simply: “At the time, I wanted a meaningful career, so I needed a school that opened as many doors as possible.”

The HEC Experience: Between Rugby, Strategy, and Entrepreneurial Ambition

At HEC, Jean-Emmanuel followed an unconventional path. Instead of the traditional entrance exam, he gained admission directly after earning a management degree at Dauphine University. This two-step academic journey allowed him to combine the strengths of both institutions, earning a dual degree in management and strategy. “I spent two years at HEC while continuing evening classes at Dauphine to complete my master’s,” he explains. His rigorous approach to studying reflects his commitment to performance and excellence.

Alongside his studies, Jean-Emmanuel remained active in HEC’s rugby team, while also playing for the Racing Club de France on weekends. His love for discipline and teamwork remained a driving force, shaping his entrepreneurial mindset.

At HEC, he connected with several influential professors, including Olivier Mousson, a marketing expert, and Éric Pelletier, a specialist in strategic management, who played a crucial role in his career. “I was captivated by his strategic management masterclasses. After the first lesson, I handed him my resume, and he took me on as an intern,” Jean-Emmanuel recalls.

This internship at RISE Conseil, a small strategy consulting firm, marked his entry into the business world. There, he tackled complex challenges, such as launching new pharmaceutical products for Sanofi and restructuring La Poste’s network and services.

The Launch of Grandir Group: An Idea, A Vision, A Mission

With his diploma in hand, Jean-Emmanuel’s dream was to start his career in America. “Everyone told me it was impossible, so I bought a plane ticket to New York, checked into a bed and breakfast, and sent my resume to a dozen investment banks. After persistent follow-ups, I got my chance.”

He landed a role in Smith Barney’s healthcare team, later joining a venture capital fund specializing in education. One of his assignments took him to Boston, where he discovered Bright Horizons Family Solutions, a pioneer in corporate childcare centers.

This exposure to early childhood education was a turning point. A vocation was born. “At the turn of the millennium, I learned that 800,000 families in France were on waiting lists for a nursery spot. Finding a high-quality solution was crucial,” he states confidently.

Back in France in 2000, his mission was clear: he was determined to become an entrepreneur. His startup quickly became a major player in the education sector, focusing on nurseries and preschools. He saw an opportunity to create a new educational model, where family support and service quality were at the heart of the project.

His company launched in France under the name Les Petits Chaperons Rouges and experienced remarkable success. Today, the group, with its 15,000 employees, welcomes nearly 50,000 children and their parents every week across Europe and North America.

“What sets us apart is that we are not just an educational organization—we have a strong social mission and a societal impact,” Jean-Emmanuel explains. The uniqueness of his model lies in its ability to combine high-quality childcare management with innovative solutions that help parents balance work and family life more effectively.

Internationally, his nurseries and preschools aim to embrace the best aspects of each country’s culture. In England, for example, they have adopted the free flow concept, where doors remain open, allowing children to move freely between indoor spaces and gardens as they please. In Germany, services such as in-house haircuts and ski days in Bavaria are offered. In Canada, the approach goes even further—chefs are hired so that busy parents can pick up both their children and a freshly prepared dinner at the end of the day.

One of his greatest achievements lies in how the group has successfully adapted to the needs of modern families. He explains:
“We believe in people and in training our teams. It is a key factor in ensuring consistent service quality and sustaining our model over time.”

Through Académie Grandir, he provides ongoing training programs for his employees, allowing them to continuously develop their skills and stay at the forefront of industry advancements. This commitment to employee growth is one of the driving forces behind the company’s success.

What truly sets his business apart is its social model, which includes six weeks of paid leave and the flexibility to work either four or five days a week—a forward-thinking approach that prioritizes employee well-being while maintaining high service standards

A Purpose-Driven Company: Putting People at the Heart of the Strategy

Beyond the services it provides to families, Grandir Group is deeply committed to family well-being and building a more equitable future. Of Greek origin, Jean-Emmanuel Rodocanachi has always placed great importance on redistributing economic performance. One of his most notable initiatives is the creation of a back-to-school allowance through the company’s corporate foundation, which has helped thousands of families access essential school supplies for their children.

“This program simply gives the most vulnerable families the ability to buy a book or a schoolbag for their child as they start preschool,” he explains modestly.

He continues: “With every decision we make, we first consider its impact on families, our employees, and the future of children.”

This socially and economically responsible approach has made Grandir Group a recognized leader in early childhood development and education, a sector where service quality is paramount. Today, the group is one of the world’s key players, with a model built on people, innovation, and a sustainable business vision.

In 2018, we had the pleasure of being one of the first French mid-sized companies (ETI) to have our development strategy studied by Harvard Business School. This case study, focused on our expansion into North America under the Kids & Company brand, highlights the strategic decisions that shaped our international growth. This academic recognition reflects the scale of our expansion and the global interest in our business model. Today, this case study is used as a reference to analyze evolution dynamics in the sector

Jean-Emmanuel Rodocanachi has successfully created a unique business model, where the values of trust, commitment, and inspiration come together to address the challenges of birth rates, parenthood, and equal opportunities.

His approach is inspired by major educational movements, academic research, and neuroscience. Since 2020, their educational project has been built around a simple and concrete mantra: the 5Cs—the five key competencies for thriving in the 21st century:
Creativity – Communication – Citizenship – Critical Thinking – Cooperation.

His journey, defined by a strong social vision and a pragmatic approach to entrepreneurship, makes him a role model for future generations. “Success is not just about profitability; it’s about making a positive impact on people’s lives,” he concludes.

This belief perfectly embodies the philosophy of Grandir Group, a key player in early childhood education, which continues to grow, innovate, and transform the lives of thousands of families around the world.

The Big Manual of Little Activities

Together with his Quality & Early Childhood Department, Jean-Emmanuel Rodocanachi has co-authored a book designed for parents and early childhood professionals. The Big Manual of Little Activities (Éditions Marabout) offers expert-designed activities for children aged 0-6, to be done at home.

Conceived as a practical guide to stimulate children’s development, this book is part of an ambitious educational project aimed at fostering the acquisition of key skills from an early age. The 5Cs—Creativity, Communication, Citizenship, Critical Thinking, and Cooperation—are at the heart of the proposed exercises, allowing children to learn through play.

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