International exposure is an integral part of the learning journey of the SDA Bocconi Executive MBA experience. Through the Abroad Week, EMBA students step beyond the classroom and engage directly with different business ecosystems, academic perspectives and managerial challenges across Europe.

This year's edition offered three distinct international tracks, each designed to deepen students’ understanding of the forces reshaping organizations and industries today: Marketing and AI at ESADE in Barcelona, Global finance and financial markets at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, and Innovation, servitization and customer experience at KEDGE Business School in Bordeaux.

Marketing in the age of AI and conscious leadership

At ESADE Business School in Barcelona, the EMBA students were accompanied by Alessandro Arbore, Professor of Practice in Marketing at SDA Bocconi School of Management, who led the strategic marketing component of the programme while fostering a dialogue between SDA Bocconi’s perspective and ESADE’s expertise on marketing, AI and conscious leadership. Together, they explored the theme "Challenges of the Marketing Function in a Sustainable and AI Era", examining how artificial intelligence, digital transformation and growing social expectations are redefining the role of marketing leaders.

Through sessions on strategic marketing, conscious branding, AI-powered marketing, next-generation digital marketing and leadership with conscience, students were challenged to rethink how organizations create value, build meaningful brands and lead responsibly in increasingly complex environments.

Bringing together SDA Bocconi and ESADE faculty, the programme offered a rich exchange of perspectives on some of the most pressing issues facing business leaders today, equipping students with new frameworks and tools to navigate an increasingly dynamic, hyper-connected and purpose-driven business landscape.

Understanding the forces shaping global finance

At Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Giampaolo Gabbi, Professor of Practice in Finance at SDA Bocconi School of Management, led the academic journey through the programme "A World of Finance: Global Economy, Financial Markets and Institutions." Focusing on the dynamics of the global economy, financial institutions and capital markets, the programme offered students a deeper understanding of the forces shaping today's business and financial environment.

The week addressed some of the major challenges influencing corporate decision-making, from financial market volatility and risk management to mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, growth funding and value creation. Through real-world cases and recent market events, the EMBA cohort engaged with leading academic perspectives and industry insights, strengthening their ability to interpret complex financial scenarios and make informed strategic decisions.

A highlight of the programme was the direct exposure to Frankfurt's financial ecosystem, including interactions with experts connected to the European Central Bank and the Deutsche Bundesbank, offering students a unique perspective on the institutions that shape European and global financial markets.

Innovation, servitization and the experience economy

At KEDGE Business School in Bordeaux, Enzo Baglieri, Associate Dean for the Masters Division at SDA Bocconi School of Management, guided students through an exploration of innovation and the evolution from product-centric to experience-driven business models. The programme examined how organizations can create competitive advantage through servitization, customer experience design and digital transformation.

Students explored how mature industries reinvent themselves through innovation, how technology reshapes business models and how customer experience has become a critical source of differentiation. The learning journey was enriched by field experiences, including visits and discussions with industry leaders in the Bordeaux wine and hospitality ecosystem, offering a firsthand view of how innovation and experience design translate into business practice.

Bringing together academic insights and real-world applications, the programme encouraged students to rethink the relationship between products, services and customer experiences as key drivers of value creation in today's economy.

Beyond international exposure

The Abroad Week reflects a core principle of the Executive MBA: developing leaders who can interpret complexity through multiple lenses and operate effectively across industries, functions and geographies.

By bringing students into direct contact with international faculty, diverse managerial approaches and different business contexts, the experience expands perspectives while strengthening the ability to translate knowledge into action.

Because leadership today requires more than expertise. It requires the ability to understand different realities, connect ideas across disciplines and navigate change with confidence in a global environment.

SDA Bocconi School of Management