Celebrating 50 years of the IMD MBA
In 2022, IMD marked 50 years of its world-leading MBA program
The IMD MBA has its roots in the MBA programs introduced at IMEDE in 1972 and CEI/IMI in 1978. The IMD ethos of continual innovation – “Challenging what is, inspiring what could be” – has meant that over the last 50 years, the MBA has adapted in many radical ways while remaining true to timeless principles around real-world understanding and developing leaders.
On 8 October 2022, IMD marked this anniversary with a celebratory event on campus and with the launch of the book 50 for 50: Inspiring leadership journeys from half a century of the IMD MBA, which looks back over the last 50 years while looking forward to the future – a future that is being written by many of the alumni who feature in the book and by many thousands of others.
MBA deans, faculty, and 50 alumni have shared personal recollections of their MBA experiences. They have painted a picture of a program that is a life-changing journey with incredible networking opportunities for those with the ambition to make a real difference in a complex and rapidly changing world. Here are just some pieces of that picture to enjoy before you delve into 50 for 50.
The book
In 1972, a pioneering MBA was founded in Switzerland at IMEDE. It was joined five years later by another at CEI, and in 1990 the institutions combined as IMD to develop a course that does far more than teach business: it creates leaders. The book describes the journeys of 50 selected alumni who have built companies and business sectors, who have educated children, who are architects of clean technology and the digital revolution, and who have helped build nations. Many more alumni could have appeared on these pages: IMD’s global MBA network overflows with exemplary leaders, and those selected represent the achievements of them all. Supplemented with chapters on leading faculty and a unique curriculum, this is a profile of qualification that, in its first 50 years, has expanded our understanding of the potential of organizational leadership.
50 for 50 will be published on 7 October and will also be available as an eBook. You can pre-order the book here (45 CHF).
Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit the IMD Scholarship Foundation.
If you require any further information please contact us at [email protected].
Key dates in the development of the MBA at IMD
- 1971
- 1972
- 1974
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1988
- 1990
- 1999
- 2002
- 2008
- 2009
- 2013
- 2020
- 2022