Top MBA Connect

Innovation… Disruptive innovation… these are words that nowadays no organization can afford to ignore. We live in a world, where technology is changing rapidly, new and more advanced products and services are developed continuously. In module 4, we (MBA students of ESMT) we were given an opportunity to choose between technology track and sustainability track. Having chosen mostly technology related courses, I had a chance to participate in courses like “Technology strategy and product creation”, “Bringing technology to market” and “Managing technological innovation”.

ESMT's MBA program is rich with all kinds of different activities that aim to foster learning and enhance experience. IFS (International Field Seminar) is one of the important and unique experiences I had during my MBA program at ESMT. Just a week ago I came back from California, where I and my classmates spent 10 days visiting 11 different companies in the heart of Silicon Valley and San Francisco. One may wonder what IFS is and what is so special about it.

The last ten days were too busy. Something very interesting was happening at ESMT: the Intopia business simulation. 40 students were divided into ten groups, and each group had to form and run a company in the Intopia world. Each group received the same initial amount of funding and was free to choose the markets and the areas of the value chain for positioning its company. Each company was free to build its strategy, and the goal was to have a successful company in the long-term with the highest retained earnings.

Maryke Luijendijk-Steenkamp is the Director of Marketing & Admissions at Rotterdam School of Management - Erasmus University in the Netherlands. She has several years of experience working with MBA applicants. In this interview, Luijendijk-Steenkamp discusses MBA trends she has observed recently such as an increased interest in sustainability amongst MBA applicants as well as a rise in the number of female MBA applicants.

I was/am a U.S. Army Officer and about to be a graduate of the Executive MBA program at London Business School (I am currently in transition out of the active duty Army, but will continue to serve in the reserves in Europe). My new role is as COO of a start-up called Carbon Voyage. Carbon Voyage, itself founded by an Australian/UK veteran, is all about making the transportation industry more efficient by providing a platform to meet extra supply capacity. This the story of how my experience as a military MBA has helped me land a job at a growing startup, including with lessons I learned that can help future military MBAs.

Did you ever wonder how the MBA started or what the first MBA program was? Well, wonder no more, because our MBA Friday Facts series is back with a brief history of the MBA.

Learn from leading business experts by listening to these business school podcasts offered by some of the world's top schools. Some of these podcasts also include lectures from professors, which can help you get a better sense of the faculty and programs at those schools.

Are you a woman, entrepreneur, or recent college graduate who has always wanted to live in Italy? Now might be your chance, since the MIB School of Management in Trieste just announced three new scholarships for their international MBA program.

Continuing the theme about what MBA students do, I would like to say that besides case studies and business simulations, we engage also in other activities which help to develop our knowledge and skills. Here are some examples:

Many people wonder what MBA students do. As an MBA student at ESMT, I will try to answer this question. More generally, I can say that we - MBAs:

• gain and develop our knowledge and skills
• network
• prepare for future challenges after graduation
• and, of course, also have fun.

How do we do all these things? Let me explain in more detail.