Annual Report 2021

Learning

The IMD EMBA

The mission of IMD’s internationally-acclaimed Executive MBA is to “develop global, reflective leaders, who lead with personal responsibility and integrity, and have a positive impact on their businesses and society”. Its tagline - “Growth starts with you” - underlines the importance of a customized approach to the personal and professional development of each participant.

In 2021, faced with the continued disruption of COVID-19, the EMBA team built on its experience from the previous year to work closely with participants to co-create the most impactful learning journeys possible, including enhancements to the career management module to help individuals reflect on, and achieve, their aims during and after the program.

This approach, alongside the global reputation of the program, resonated with executive talent and translated into record numbers of graduates, enrollments and female participants. As a result, three EMBA cohorts graduated in a year for the first time in IMD’s history.

Stefan Michel

Crisis training during a pandemic

Building on a partnership in place since 2015 and in response to the challenges of the pandemic, the EMBA team worked with the Swiss Armed Forces to develop a three-day crisis management simulation to help participants acquire the skills and mindsets to navigate crises. Supported by senior army officers, EMBAs learned how to pivot under pressure from a participatory style of leadership to a more direct division of labor. The course, which involved media training, put participants through testing conditions, including fatigue and ever-changing problems.

This intense module filtered through to the overall EMBA experience during COVID, with faculty and participants working together through regular touch points, communication guidelines and a blend of hybrid or online learning.

EMBA Crisis simulation training led by the Swiss Armed Forces
EMBA Crisis simulation training led by the Swiss Armed Forces

Discovery Expeditions reimagined

Due to changing travel restrictions, planned Discovery Expeditions to China and Silicon Valley were reimagined with innovative alternative trips to Estonia and Dubai. The latter proved particularly valuable for Swiss entrepreneurs, who had expected to receive support from EMBAs for pitching to US-based investors. The cohort and startups discovered the Middle East is an extremely attractive region for fundraising.

The IMD EMBA - Christel Bruijns

“The EMBA program allowed me to reflect on the current business models that we use in the pharma industry and explore new ones. I still do not have all the answers to the challenges we face, but the program enabled me to ask the right questions and become a more confident and authentic leader. Everyone at IMD went above and beyond to ensure that COVID-19 did not stand in the way of our learning.”
Christel Bruijns, Valedictorian

EMBA Highlights

Highlights

#1 worldwide for faculty with PhD
Economist

#1 for most international faculty
Financial Times

#2 worldwide for program relevance
Economist

#3 worldwide for salary progression
Economist

1
graduates (108 in 2020)
1 %
female graduates (29% in 2020)
1
EMBAs enrolled (136 in 2020)
1
cohorts

Best-seller case writing

EMBA Dean Stefan Michel featured in the Case Centre’s list of the 50 best-selling case authors worldwide, with several cases co-authored with EMBAs as part of their learning journey. High on the list was “Will ‘LinkedIn Learning’ Disrupt the Education Landscape”, which Professor Michel wrote with EMBA graduates Maxim Kolesnik, Mario Perez and Dominik Reinhard.

A new Dean

In November, the Executive Committee announced elea Professor for Social Innovation Vanina Farber would succeed Stefan Michel as the Dean of the EMBA in 2022. A former Dean of the Graduate Business School at the Universidad del Pacifico in Lima, Farber, who has developed a pioneering Discovery Expedition to Peru focusing on impact investing, specializes in innovative pedagogical interventions, including inviting young social activists to critique EMBA participants’ sustainability initiatives.

EMBA alumni honored for social impact

The IMD elea Center for Social Innovation recognized the contributions of three EMBA alumni for their contribution and commitment to social impact throughout their careers.

  • Dermot O’Gorman (2009 EMBA), CEO of WWF-Australia
  • Carla De Geyseleer (2005 EMBA), former Chief Financial Officer of Volvo Car Group
  • Kathrine Kirk Muff (2015 EMBA), Vice President and Head of Social Responsibility at the LEGO® Group.

“This year’s three inspiring individuals work in different disciplines, but they all share one thing in common – an unwavering commitment to social impact,” said Professor Farber, the Director of the elea Center.

Discovering impact investing in Peru

Led by Professor Farber, the EMBA Discovery Expedition to Peru was recognized as one of four finalists in the GBSN and EFMD Going Beyond Awards. The week-long impact investing expedition prepares EMBAs to conduct investment due diligence and recommendations on Peruvian social enterprises.

During the week, EMBAs dived into Peruvian culture, society, economics, politics and business, through a diverse range of immersive activities including presentations from former government ministers and impact investors, and in-depth meetings with social enterprises.

Once they had examined the viability, scalability and impact of the social enterprises through the lens of their newly-acquired knowledge, the EMBAs made investment recommendations to a panel of international and local impact investors.

Discovering the impact economy in Peru
Discovering the impact economy in Peru
The IMD EMBA - Dong Pan

“The IMD EMBA is the best investment I have ever made. The program has opened many doors and presented a totally new world to me. Now, I fly higher, with a broader view, more confidence, and see many opportunities ahead. Also, I don't fly alone. Unexpectedly, I got lifetime friendship here too.”
Dong Pan, EMBA 2021