With our strategy ESMT Berlin 2030: Empower to Excel, we are committed to enabling leaders and organizations not simply to adapt, but to excel in a business environment being reshaped by technological change, geopolitical uncertainty, and evolving expectations of leadership.
Our strategy builds on our mission to create and impart new knowledge to advance business and society and to develop entrepreneurial leaders who think globally and act responsibly. Guided by our purpose to empower people to create a better tomorrow, we focus on the knowledge, skills, and perspectives leaders need to create meaningful impact for individuals, organizations, and society.
What leaders need to excel
EXCEL captures the capabilities we believe leaders need to succeed in an uncertain world:
E – Embody entrepreneurial thinking and a growth mindset
Approach change with curiosity, initiative, and the confidence to create new opportunities.
X – Exploit the power of innovation and drive technological shifts
Harness innovation and technology to shape transformation rather than simply respond to it.
C – Create positive impact and lead with broad stakeholder responsibility
Make decisions that consider their impact on organizations, people, society, and the wider world.
L – Lead people and organizations to perform at their best
Create the conditions in which individuals, teams, and organizations can grow, perform, and succeed.
Knowledge with practical impact
Creating new knowledge remains fundamental to our strategy.
We are strengthening ESMT's thought leadership and intellectual capital, combining academic excellence with deep roots in business and a commitment to practical impact.
Our aim is to create knowledge that not only advances academic understanding but also helps leaders, organizations, and policymakers address real-world challenges.
Empower to Excel
Our distinctive starting point is Business as unusual. Built for you. In Berlin.
Founded by leading global companies, shaped by close relationships with the people we serve, and rooted in one of Europe's most dynamic cities, ESMT is building on what makes us distinctive while preparing for what comes next.
Through ESMT Berlin 2030, we will continue to create knowledge with practical impact, deliver transformative learning experiences, and empower people and organizations to excel in a changing world.