Business schools have a responsibility to reflect the needs of today and anticipate the needs of tomorrow. Business education PR expert Stephanie Mullins-Wiles from BlueSky Education explores how one business school has just done this by updating its MBA.

ESSEC Business School has recently unveiled the redesign of its Global MBA programme. This remodelled programme, launching in September 2024, is designed to align with participant expectations and market demands. The result is a customisable experience which aims to provide participants with the skills they need to fast-track their careers in their chosen industry.

ESSEC’s Global MBA programme focuses on key business challenges: innovation and entrepreneurship, strategic sustainability, and digital leadership. It’s designed to prepare participants for roles in key industries: luxury, finance, consulting, and product management. These topics are aligned with ESSEC’s strategy and expertise and address the needs of future leaders. All participants will receive coaching on the above topics to prepare them for the challenges facing society, with the new curriculum still offering increased flexibility.

The ESSEC Global MBA welcomes participants from all over the world, allowing them to grow their professional networks and form a truly global cohort. They have the opportunity to join international field trips, the option to study on two of ESSEC’s international campuses, and learn from experienced international faculty.

The programme focuses on empowering these participants to become globally-oriented responsible business leaders.

Choosing electives

Participants will choose electives across courses on sustainability, digital leadership, and innovation. These elective clusters will be combined with career learning labs on luxury, finance, consulting and product management. These are dedicated workshops and learning expeditions led by experienced professionals, designed to develop specialized skill sets and cutting-edge industry knowledge. They offer valuable insights, skill-building, and networking opportunities, building on ESSEC’s expertise, alumni network, and savoir-faire. Participants customise their experience to achieve their personal career goals.

After graduation, career opportunities could include roles like luxury e-retail manager, digital product manager, and ESG Consultant.

Learning by doing

In addition to their classes, participants will also complete either an internship, a global field project or a venture project. Participants will take part in leadership development projects throughout the year to enhance their leadership skills in their target sector. The programme also offers the opportunity to gain paid work experience, with tuition fees fully covered by the sponsoring company. This all reflects ESSEC’s philosophy of “Learning by doing”.

By “learning by doing” and gaining hands-on experience in the concentration of their choice, participants will receive the necessary tools for becoming digitally savvy, responsible leaders.

For additional insights, trends and perspectives about MBAs, visit the conversation here.