Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at ESMT Berlin

At ESMT, we are committed to fostering a more inclusive, equitable and diverse educational environment by harnessing the collective efforts of our entire school community.

Diversity at ESMT

Our faculty, staff, and students:

nurture a community that provides equitable access to educational, employment, and extracurricular opportunities.
create a culture that actively welcomes, values, and appreciates a wide variety of perspectives and promotes thoughtful and respectful engagement and dialogue.
address systemic barriers to fulfilling our commitment.

In 2019, ESMT signed the Charta der Vielfalt (Diversity Charter), joining Germany’s largest network of companies and organizations dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive environment in which to work and learn.

Our community is enriched by the diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of its members. Here's a glimpse into who we are:

Faculty nationalities

Staff nationalities

Degree students nationalities

Strategic pillars

Gender Equality Plan

The  ESMT Gender Equality Plan (GEP) envisions a working and learning environment where women, men, and gender-diverse people thrive, are recognized, and feel that they belong. 

The main goals of the GEP are to:

ingrain gender equality in the organizational strategy and culture
improve gender parity among faculty and students and in decision-making and advisory bodies
integrate gender equality in the transfer and production of knowledge

“Using this plan as a guide, we strive to tap even more deeply into the full potential, qualities, and talents present within the ESMT community.”

Prof. Jörg Rocholl, President, ESMT Berlin

Student initiatives and support

We actively support student-led initiatives that promote fair and equitable access to opportunities, and currently ESMT students lead the following clubs:

Pride Impact Club and Women in Leadership Club

DEIBridge Action Council

The DEIBridge Action Council is an initiative of ESMT's employees, degree students, and alumni. A dynamic and influential force, it champions diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across ESMT and beyond, and fosters open and courageous dialogue about fairness, access, inclusion, and representation.

Code of Conduct

ESMT seeks to contribute to a sustainable society through an engaging educational environment that is free of discrimination and violence. It fosters equal access to learning, activities, and career opportunities for all community members.

Our Code of Conduct describes the behavior expected of members of the ESMT community and the school’s responsibilities and procedures related to the violation of this regulation.

Mental Health

Mental health is a vital component of both personal well-being and academic success. We recognize that members of our community may face a variety of challenges, which is why we are committed to providing accessible resources and support aimed at promoting mental wellness and resilience.

Knowledge production

Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a dynamic and evolving field, shaped by the changes and challenges of our world. At ESMT, we are committed to contributing to this growing body of knowledge by bringing diverse voices into the conversation and developing our own authentic, context-driven approach.

Some recent articles by our faculty, all freely available:

Nora Grasselli : Women in transition – countering leadership challenges with learning

Antonio Ciccone, Jan Nimczik : The long-run effects of immigration: evidence across a barrier to refugee settlement

Eric Quintane, Matthew E. Brashears, Helena V. González-Gómez, Raina Brands: Gender, network recall, and structural holes