How can organizations drive innovation in a world where Artificial Intelligence is reshaping business models, competitive strategies, and managerial capabilities?

To explore this question, students from SDA Bocconi’s Master in Imprenditorialità e Strategia Aziendale (MISA) took part in an international Study Tour to Dublin, one of Europe’s leading hubs for technological innovation.

For one week, participants were immersed in the environment of the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, combining academic learning with direct exposure to leading companies and one of Europe’s most dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems. Dublin offers a unique vantage point from which to observe the transformations driven by AI: home to the EMEA headquarters of global companies such as Google, Meta, and LinkedIn, the city also boasts a vibrant network of startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

Developed in collaboration with UCD Smurfit School, the program gave students the opportunity to examine Artificial Intelligence from multiple and complementary perspectives. With Professor Luca Pistilli, discussions focused on disruption and technological change, exploring how organizations can innovate while preserving their competitive identity. Sessions led by Professor Ciaran Heavey examined the intersection of strategy and AI through the NVIDIA case, demonstrating how companies can create new markets and build sustainable competitive advantages through innovation. Completing the academic journey was Patrick Ward, Digital & AI Strategy Advisor, who explored the evolution of data-driven business models and the opportunities AI creates for value generation.

The experience extended well beyond the classroom. A visit to NovaUCD, University College Dublin’s centre for innovation and entrepreneurship, offered students first-hand exposure to one of Ireland’s most advanced startup ecosystems. Guided by Caroline Gill, they gained insight into the mechanisms that support the creation and growth of innovative ventures within academic environments, while observing the critical role that universities, research, and entrepreneurship play in driving economic and technological development. The visit concluded with a rich exchange between MISA participants and UCD students taking part in NovaUCD’s Demo Day, where aspiring entrepreneurs presented their business ideas and received feedback—an essential step in the startup journey.

Among the highlights of the Study Tour was the visit to LinkedIn’s EMEA headquarters, which provided a concrete perspective on how data and Artificial Intelligence are influencing strategic decision-making across organizations. Through presentations by Ilaria Rossi Prevost, Simone Mornata, and Ahmed Fadl, students explored topics related to talent management, recruiting, lifelong learning, and the evolution of workplace skills. In a professional landscape increasingly shaped by collaboration between people and intelligent technologies, capabilities such as critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, and AI fluency are emerging as key differentiators for future leaders.

The final stop of the journey brought the group to The Happy Pear, the family business founded by the Flynn brothers that has grown into an internationally recognized success story in the food and wellness sector. Through a conversation with David Flynn, students discovered how a company built around a strong purpose-driven vision has successfully developed a sustainable business model with a significant digital component in a traditionally conservative industry, while remaining firmly rooted in authenticity, positive impact, and community engagement. It was a powerful example of how growth, innovation, and purpose can successfully go hand in hand.

More than a study tour, the Dublin experience created a unique opportunity to connect academic, entrepreneurial, and corporate perspectives, helping students understand how very different organizations are responding to the opportunities and challenges brought by Artificial Intelligence. An approach that fully reflects the philosophy of MISA: bringing students directly into the environments where innovation is created and scaled, transforming learning into a practical, international, and action-oriented experience.