Timeline & courses

The EMBA program begins with a deep immersion in business fundamentals, management functions, and strategy.

Designed to help you make sound business decisions based on equally sound analysis and judgment, the program will teach you to identify key drivers and integrate them into a larger vision for your company and industry. 

Courses include:

• Introduction to General Management
• Making Responsible Decisions
• Leadership in Practice
• Being a Responsible Leader
• Data Analytics for Responsible Leaders

• Marketing Management
• Introduction to Economic Thinking
• Business Strategy

An interactive day facilitated by a professional executive coach.

Alongside your study group, you will have the opportunity to reflect upon leadership challenges you may face and to discuss the feedback you received. 

• Managerial Accounting and Sustainable Finance
• Financial Management and Corporate Finance
• Operations and Supply Chain

• Corporate Strategy and M&A
• Organizational Behavior
• Operational Sustainability in a Circular Economy
• Simulation

A one-week short exchange where you get the opportunity to study at another university within the Global Network for Advanced Management, with up to 20 schools offering exchanges at the same time as ESMT. 

please note that this list is subject to change, some of the schools included may not be available):

• Asian Institute of Management (Manila, Philippines) 
• EGADE Business School (Santa Fe, Mexico) 
• FGV Business School (Sao Paulo, Brazil) 
• Fudan University (Shanghai, China) 
• Haas School of Business Univ. of California Berkeley, (San Francisco, California)
• Hitotsubashi University Business School (Tokyo, Japan) 
• IE Business School (Madrid, Spain) 
• Indian Institute of Management (Bangalore India) 
• Lagos Business School (Lagos, Nigeria) 
• Moscow School of Management Skolkovo (Moscow, Russia) 
• Seoul National University (Seoul, South Korea) 
• Strathmore Business School (Nairobi, Kenya) 
• UBC Sauder School of Business (Vancouver, Canada) 
• University of Cape Town (Cape Town, South Africa) 
• University of Oxford (Oxford, United Kingdom) 
• UCD Smurfit (Dublin, Ireland) 
• University of Ghana (Accra, Ghana) 
• University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia) 
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (Geneva, Switzerland) 
• Yale SOM  (New Haven, Connecticut, USA) 

Access more information on the Network Week, including a complete list of participating schools and sample exchange curricula.

Short exchanges through the network are available at no additional tuition cost. Students should budget enough for travel and housing during the exchange. Please note that places at certain exchange partners are limited. 

Africa is a key market for global businesses given growing populations, abundant natural resources, and a strategic location that facilitates international trade. Coupled with an emphasis on social innovation and sustainability, this exciting region offers students unique opportunities to see the impact of responsible business practices on economic growth and societal development, and develop a holistic perspective crucial for effective leadership.

Africa is a key market for global businesses given growing populations, abundant natural resources, and a strategic location that facilitates international trade. Coupled with an emphasis on social innovation and sustainability, this exciting region offers students unique opportunities to see the impact of responsible business practices on economic growth and societal development, and develop a holistic perspective crucial for effective leadership.

• Organizing for Innovation / Global Strategies
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion / Design Thinking
• Leading through Networks / Sustainable Energy Future
• Managing Business Integrity / Agile Leadership

The second phase of the program prepares you to make a difference by developing your strategic leadership capabilities.

The program will challenge you to shift your focus from the short term to the long term – from the fundamental business toolbox to a broader understanding of your company’s sustainability and impact on society.

You will return to your company with a much clearer vision for successfully leading international teams.

An interactive day facilitated by a professional executive coach.

On this interactive coaching day you can check on your progress, re-formulate goals and reflect on your learning experience.

• Strategic Entrepreneurship
• Digital Business Strategies
• Negotiations
• Total Impact Performance

Through modules six, seven and eight, you will develop your final report with faculty guidance including applied fieldwork with your company.

You will apply your newly gained skills and insights to help solve your organization’s ongoing challenges in a project that builds on ESMT’s unique approach to bridging the academic and the applied.

In consultation with your company or organization, and with our faculty, you will develop a project that addresses a business or management issue of broader relevance.

The project draws on empirical fieldwork and academic theories to develop real and immediate value to your organization.

You will present your project to faculty and sponsors at your company and submit a final report based on the project to ESMT.

You can use this opportunity to forge new networks in your organization, apply new skills, initiate change within your organization, and gain personal visibility at broader and higher levels.

• Evaluating make/buy strategies for radical innovations in a complex manufacturing industry
• Identifying barriers to and incentives for adopting energy-efficient technologies in the European steel industry
• Attracting and retaining highly skilled workforce in emerging markets
• Increasing market share with multi-channel marketing: an approach to design and review distribution channels
• Comparing active vs. passive portfolio management in the bond market

An opportunity to apply a global mindset as you take on leadership challenges in diverse countries and cultures. 

The IFS will challenge you and your fellow participants to experience leading international projects inside the offices of global companies on other continents.

Recent seminars took EMBA classes in Japan, China, Brazil, Vietnam, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Africa, and Argentina.

One recent IFS destination was Japan in the spring of 2023. Participants took a deep dive into the specific characteristics of the Japanese economy and the key socioeconomic factors that businesses based there have to consider.

Company visits included multinationals such as Allianz, Mercedes Benz, DHL Global Forwarding, Siemens, Fujitsu and KPMG.

• Human Well-being and Career Crucibles
• Executive Presence and Communication
• Global Economy and Politics
• Advanced ESG
• Coaching Day

Participants gain the tools and knowledge necessary to:

• Navigate personal growth
• Enhance communication and presence
• Drive sustainable business practices
• Understand the economic dynamics of the global marketplace

Leadership in Practice workshops are conducted throughout the program.

Coaching: Three group coaching sessions are held during the program, two online and one in person. Individual coaching sessions are offered and can play a huge role helping you progress academically and professionally.

Between modules students pursue independent study. which includes pre- and post-module reading, assignments, case studies, group work. and the final report.