Professionals from around the world, including Côte d’Ivoire, Hong Kong, Qatar, Australia, Kenya, and India, gathered at EDHEC’s Paris campus for the Online MBA induction seminar, united by a shared ambition: to advance their careers, broaden their perspectives, and develop as leaders.
The three-day seminar marked the beginning of a 24-month learning journey, giving participants the opportunity to meet their peers and build connections that will accompany them throughout the program.
Connecting, exchanging, and collaborating
The induction seminar brought the international cohort together to connect, exchange ideas, and begin learning from one another. Participants’ diverse professional backgrounds and experiences offered different perspectives on business challenges, enriching discussions from the outset.
These first conversations laid the foundations for collaboration throughout the Online MBA. They also offered an opportunity to reflect on familiar challenges through the experiences of peers working in different sectors and countries.
Navigating the climate transition
On the first day, participants explored a climate business case, taking on the roles of global stakeholders working to limit global warming. The exercise challenged them to think strategically, weigh competing priorities, and make difficult decisions to build transition strategies.
It offered an opportunity to consider how leaders navigate complex challenges and balance different interests when shaping a collective response.
Exploring business perspectives through a learning expedition
A day dedicated to a learning expedition gave participants the opportunity to exchange with organisations across different industries. They met Defacto, a fintech specialising in SME financing, Rofim, a digital health platform focused on telemedicine, WILCO, supporting start-up acceleration and innovation, and Cafeyn, a digital newspaper and magazine platform.
These exchanges offered an opportunity to explore different business models, hear directly about entrepreneurial experiences, and consider how companies respond to challenges in their respective markets. Bringing these perspectives together encouraged participants to look beyond their own industries and broaden their entrepreneurial mindset.
Developing leadership skills
Leadership development is a key part of the Online MBA. On the third day, participants attended a leadership masterclass as part of the Boost360 leadership development program, beginning a process they will continue throughout their academic journey.
The session encouraged participants to better understand themselves, reflect on how they handle conflict, and explore how greater self-awareness can help them grow as leaders
Investing in your future
Beginning an Online MBA means dedicating time to your development and creating space to think about what comes next. It is an opportunity to question established approaches, strengthen your strategic thinking, and explore how you want to lead.
For this new cohort, the induction seminar was a first step towards those ambitions. Connections with peers, experts, business leaders, and companies opened up opportunities to encounter different perspectives and challenge familiar ways of thinking. As their learning journey continues online, these exchanges provide a foundation for broadening their horizons, developing their mindset, and shaping their next career steps.
