Doriot joined French army in artillery in 1917 but then returned to study when World War I ended and graduated from University of Paris in 1920.
Doriot and his team resolved large-scale logistical problems that supplied the Allied Forces with the ammunition, nourishment, and equipment to fuel their success.
The course, which ran from 1926 until Doriot's compulsory retirement in 1966, counted thousands of students, including some of HBS’ most high-profile graduates of the era, known as “Doriot Men,” such as Philip Caldwell (Ford Motor Co.), John Diebold (the Diebold Group), Ralph Hoagland (CVS), Dan Lufkin (Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette), and James D. Robinson III (American Express).
[9] Doriot early attempt to reconnect with education in France was his founding of CPA – Centre de Perfectionnement aux Affaires in 1930.
He envisioned a business school that would unite leaders from different countries, including the former hostiles, to rebuild economies and promote lasting peace.
Doriot's vision gained international backing, including from U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who supported INSEAD's role in reconstructing Europe.
'European Institute of Business Administration'), was established in 1957 and initially operated out of the Château de Fontainebleau, before relocating to its current Europe Campus in 1967.
[16] Doriot's leadership at ARDC was marked by his unique approach to venture capital, which emphasized the character and vision of entrepreneurs over financial projections.
He believed in long-term investment and nurturing startups, famously comparing his role to that of a parent caring for a sick child, focusing on the potential of the people behind the businesses rather than seeking early exits.