Entrepreneurship for Executives – Turn Ideas into Impact
Entrepreneurship – From Idea to Impact
When: 11 October, 08:30- 12:30 Where: USI Executive Center, Lugano Professors: Paulo Gonçalves
Turn Ideas into Action
Entrepreneurship is about more than having a great idea—it’s about turning that idea into a viable, impactful venture. The Entrepreneurship module of the USI EMBA gives executives the mindset, tools, and confidence to move from concept to execution.
Across two immersive days, participants will work hands-on on the Workhorse case, developing a business idea step-by-step: from testing customer needs to designing a business model, planning financials, and pitching the final concept.
Learn by Doing
Participants will:
Discover how to develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and apply the Customer Development process.
Use the Business Model Canvas to map and validate their ideas.
Build financial projections to assess the feasibility and attractiveness of a new venture.
Practice pitching ideas convincingly and confidently in front of peers and faculty.
The course combines workshops, case discussions, and interactive sessions led by three of USI’s leading professors, blending theory and practice to create a powerful learning experience.
Meet the Faculty
Prof. Paulo Gonçalves Professor of System Dynamics and Management, and Director of the USI EMBA, Prof. Gonçalves brings expertise from MIT and Cambridge Judge Business School. His work focuses on managerial decision-making, humanitarian operations, and sustainability.
Prof. Laurent Frésard Professor of Finance at USI and Senior Chair of the Swiss Finance Institute, Prof. Frésard’s research explores the intersection of finance, markets, and innovation. He has taught at HEC Paris and the University of Maryland.
Prof. Suzanne Suggs Full Professor of Social Marketing at USI and Vice-President of the Swiss School of Public Health, Prof. Suggs is an expert in communication and behavior change, with deep experience in teaching, research, and public engagement.
Experience the EMBA Classroom
Join us at the USI Executive Center for two dynamic days dedicated to entrepreneurial thinking and action. Learn how to transform ideas into sustainable ventures and get a taste of the EMBA learning journey.
This is your final opportunity to experience the transformative power of the USI EMBA14 program before applications close.
Don’t miss this last chance to secure your place in executive education excellence, launching November 2025 through May 2027.
Boston Study Tour – immerse yourself in the epicenter of innovation
Monthly intensive format: One asynchronous day + weekend deep-dive sessions
Real-world project work spanning two months
Alumni Voices: Success Stories Hear firsthand from our accomplished graduates who’ve leveraged their EMBA to reshape their careers and industries.
Prof. Paulo Gonçalves, Ph.D. MIT Sloan Academic Director & Systems Thinking Pioneer
Professor Gonçalves brings MIT-caliber expertise to USI, specializing in the intersection of behavioral science and strategic decision-making. His groundbreaking research in humanitarian operations and system dynamics will reshape how you view complex business ecosystems.
Experience his unique teaching philosophy that transforms analytical minds into conscious leaders.
The Conscious Leadership Difference In an era where stakeholder capitalism defines success, our curriculum weaves ethics and conscious leadership throughout every module. You’ll graduate not just as a business leader, but as a force for positive change – equipped to navigate ESG challenges, lead diverse teams, and create sustainable value.
Our Vision: Shaping global leaders who drive ethical transformation across industries.
Our Mission: Excellence in education through practical innovation, strategic thinking, and unwavering integrity.
Online Open Day on September 30th, on Zoom.
5% tuition reduction secured on the spot
Up to 15% total financial aid through scholarships and incentives
Priority consideration for program admission
Networking reception with faculty, alumni, and fellow prospects
This intimate setting offers your final chance to ask detailed questions, connect with like-minded professionals, and envision your leadership evolution before applications close.
RSVP Essential:emba@usi.ch. Your transformation awaits – seize this last opportunity.
Economics for Executives – Understanding Markets to Make Better Decisions
Economics for Executives – Understanding Markets to Make Better Decisions
When: 13 September (08:30 – 12:30) Where: USI Executive Center, Blue Room Professor: Lorenz Küng
We are back on campus! At USI, we strongly believe in the value of classroom learning and in-person exchange. For this reason, the Economics for Executives module of our EMBA will be offered as a half-day immersive session. This class experience is part of our admissions process, designed to give candidates a first-hand taste of the EMBA learning journey.
Why Economics Matters for Executives
Every executive makes economic decisions daily—whether about pricing, investments, or strategic positioning in competitive markets. This session introduces the fundamental tools of microeconomic analysis and shows how to apply them to real business contexts.
Participants will:
Learn how economists think and approach decision problems.
Experiment with supply and demand models to understand market behavior.
Analyze how firms make pricing and investment decisions under different cost structures.
Explore challenges such as market inefficiencies, externalities, and the digital economy
Through an interactive case and discussion, executives will practice thinking like economists, gaining a powerful lens to interpret both firm-level and market-wide challenges.
Join Us at the Executive Center
This exclusive session provides a unique chance to experience the EMBA classroom atmosphere while engaging with one of our leading faculty members.
Come join us at the Executive Center, 13 September (08:30 – 12:30). Limited places – book now at emba@usi.ch
Lorenz Küng BIO
Associate Professor of Economics
Prof. Lorenz Küng joined the Department of Economics at USI in 2019. He earned his PhD in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and degrees in economics and mathematics from the University of Fribourg, as well as a diploma from the Swiss National Bank’s Study Center Gerzensee.
Before USI, he was Assistant Professor of Finance at the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University), Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), and Research Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He is a Research Affiliate of the CEPR (London) and Faculty Member of the Swiss Finance Institute (SFI).
His research focuses on household economics and finance, public finance, and applied macroeconomics. Recent work has examined the risks of owning versus renting housing, the impact of unconditional cash transfers on household consumption, and how borrowing constraints shaped fiscal policy during the financial crisis. His studies are published in leading journals such as the Quarterly Journal of Economics, Review of Financial Studies, Journal of Financial Economics, Management Science, and the Journal of Public Economics.
His work has also been featured in international media, including The Economist, Financial Times, The New York Times, Bloomberg, and NZZ.
At USI, Prof. Küng teaches Household Economics and Finance (Bachelor and PhD levels, jointly with SFI) and Corporate Finance at the Master’s level.
Transform Your Leadership Journey: USI EMBA Open Day on 9 September
September 9th 6 PM • Executive Center
Step into the future of executive education and discover how the USI EMBA14 program can elevate your career trajectory. Join us for an exclusive evening where ambition meets opportunity, launching November 2025 through May 2027.
Boston Study Tour – immerse yourself in the epicenter of innovation
Monthly intensive format: One asynchronous day + weekend deep-dive sessions
Real-world project work spanning two months
Alumni Voices: Success Stories
Hear firsthand from our accomplished graduates who’ve leveraged their EMBA.
Prof. Paulo Gonçalves, Ph.D. MIT Sloan
Academic Director & Systems Thinking Pioneer
Professor Gonçalves brings MIT-caliber expertise to USI, specializing in the intersection of behavioral science and strategic decision-making. His groundbreaking research in humanitarian operations and system dynamics will reshape how you view complex business ecosystems.
Experience his unique teaching philosophy that transforms analytical minds into conscious leaders.
The Conscious Leadership Difference
In an era where stakeholder capitalism defines success, our curriculum weaves ethics and conscious leadership throughout every module. You’ll graduate not just as a business leader, but as a force for positive change – equipped to navigate ESG challenges, lead diverse teams, and create sustainable value.
Our Vision: Shaping global leaders who drive ethical transformation across industries.
Our Mission: Excellence in education through practical innovation, strategic thinking, and unwavering integrity.
Exclusive September 9th Benefits
Limited-time advantages for attendees
5% tuition reduction secured on the spot
Up to 15% total financial aid through scholarships and incentives
Priority consideration for program admission
Networking reception with faculty, alumni, and fellow prospects
This intimate setting offers the perfect opportunity to ask detailed questions, connect with like-minded professionals, and envision your leadership evolution.
The pandemic fundamentally transformed how we work, accelerating a shift toward remote and hybrid models that many organizations are still navigating. Today’s executives face unprecedented challenges in leading distributed teams while maintaining engagement, culture, and performance standards that drive business success.
The New Leadership Paradigm
Leading remote teams requires a fundamentally different approach than traditional in-person management. Successful executives must develop hybrid leadership strategies that blend digital communication skills with emotional intelligence. This means moving from presence-based management to results-oriented leadership, where trust and accountability become the foundation of team dynamics.
The most effective post-pandemic leadership skills center on creating psychological safety in virtual environments. Leaders must master the art of reading digital body language, facilitating meaningful connections across time zones, and maintaining team cohesion without the benefit of casual office interactions.
Building Culture in Distributed Teams
One of the greatest challenges in managing distributed teams effectively is preserving organizational culture. Remote work can easily lead to isolation and disconnection from company values. Successful leaders are reimagining culture-building activities, from virtual coffee chats to structured mentorship programs that transcend physical boundaries.
The key lies in intentional communication and creating multiple touchpoints for team members to connect both professionally and personally. This requires investing in technology platforms that support collaboration while establishing clear protocols for different types of interactions.
Performance Management in the Digital Age
Traditional performance metrics often fall short in remote environments. Forward-thinking executives are developing new frameworks that focus on outcomes rather than hours worked, implementing regular check-ins that prioritize both professional development and well-being.
Future of work executive education programs emphasize the importance of data-driven decision making in remote settings, helping leaders leverage analytics to understand team productivity patterns and identify potential burnout before it impacts performance.
The Executive Education Advantage
Modern executive MBA programs are adapting their curricula to address these evolving leadership challenges. Programs like USI EMBA are equipping executives with practical frameworks for navigating the complexities of hybrid work environments, from digital transformation strategies to advanced change management techniques.
These programs recognize that the future of work isn’t just about technology—it’s about developing leaders who can inspire and guide teams through continued uncertainty while building resilient, adaptable organizations.
The executives who will thrive in this new landscape are those who embrace continuous learning, remain agile in their leadership approach, and understand that effective remote leadership is not just about managing from a distance—it’s about creating connections, fostering innovation, and driving results in an entirely new paradigm of work.
An Executive MBA represents more than an educational milestone – it’s a strategic career investment that can dramatically accelerate professional growth. However, the best time to start executive mba varies significantly based on individual career trajectories, industry dynamics, and personal circumstances. Understanding optimal timing is crucial for maximizing return on investment and achieving meaningful mba career acceleration.
Career Progression Executive MBA: The Sweet Spot
Research and executive mba alumni success stories reveal that the most impactful timing typically occurs during specific career inflection points:
Mid-Career Transition (8-12 years experience): This represents the classic sweet spot for career progression executive mba enrollment. Professionals at this stage have substantial experience to contribute to peer learning while positioning themselves for senior leadership roles.
Industry Pivot Points: When professionals seek to transition between industries or functions, an Executive MBA provides credibility and networking opportunities that facilitate career changes.
Pre-C-Suite Preparation: Aspiring executives preparing for C-level roles benefit from the strategic perspective and leadership development that Executive MBA programs provide.
When to Pursue Executive MBA: Key Indicators
Several career signals indicate optimal timing for when to pursue executive mba:
Leadership Responsibility Growth: When moving from individual contributor to team leader, or from department head to division leader, the strategic frameworks learned in Executive MBA programs become immediately applicable.
Entrepreneurial Aspirations: Professionals planning to launch ventures or join startups benefit from the comprehensive business knowledge and investor networks available through Executive MBA programs.
Global Career Ambitions: For professionals seeking international opportunities, Executive MBA programs offer global perspectives and international alumni networks essential for cross-border career moves.
Stagnation Points: When career advancement seems stalled despite strong performance, an Executive MBA can provide the credentials and skills needed to break through barriers.
Alumni Success Patterns: Real-World Insights
Executive mba alumni success data reveals compelling patterns about optimal timing:
Immediate Impact: Alumni who enrolled during active career transitions reported immediate application of learning to current roles, creating rapid value for both themselves and their employers.
Network Leverage: Those who strategically timed their enrollment to coincide with industry growth phases maximized networking benefits, often securing new opportunities through classmate connections.
Compensation Growth: Alumni consistently report 20-40% salary increases within two years of graduation, with the highest increases among those who timed enrollment strategically.
Leadership Acceleration: The most successful alumni used program timing to coincide with succession planning discussions at their organizations.
MBA Career Acceleration: Maximizing Program Benefits
To achieve optimal mba career acceleration, timing considerations should include:
Organizational Support: The best outcomes occur when employers support and sponsor Executive MBA participation, often leading to accelerated promotions upon completion.
Market Conditions: Enrolling during industry growth phases or before major market shifts allows graduates to capitalize on emerging opportunities.
Personal Readiness: Optimal timing requires both professional maturation and personal bandwidth to fully engage with rigorous academic demands while maintaining work responsibilities.
Financial Positioning: Strategic timing includes ensuring financial stability to maximize learning focus rather than financial stress during the program.
The Ripple Effect of Strategic Timing
When timed optimally, Executive MBA programs create cascading career benefits:
Enhanced Decision-Making: Strategic frameworks learned during the program immediately improve decision quality in current roles.
Expanded Perspective: Exposure to diverse industries and functions through classmates broadens strategic thinking capabilities.
Increased Visibility: Program participation often raises internal organizational profile, leading to new project opportunities and leadership consideration.
Future-Proofing: Skills and networks developed provide career resilience against industry disruption and economic uncertainty.
The Long-Term Career Investment
The best time to start executive mba ultimately depends on aligning program timing with career goals, market opportunities, and personal readiness. The most successful alumni approach Executive MBA education as a strategic career investment rather than simply an educational achievement.
By carefully considering career stage, industry dynamics, and personal circumstances, professionals can maximize the transformative potential of Executive MBA education. The program becomes not just a degree, but a career accelerator that opens doors to opportunities that might otherwise remain closed.
The key lies in recognizing that an Executive MBA is most powerful when it serves as a bridge – between current capabilities and future aspirations, between existing networks and new opportunities, between current roles and dream positions. Strategic timing ensures that bridge leads exactly where you want to go.
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