Transform Your Leadership Journey with Switzerland’s Premier Executive MBA Program
The countdown has begun. On November 14, 2025, Università della Svizzera italiana will welcome a select cohort of ambitious professionals into the USI EMBA 14—an 18-month transformative journey designed to shape the next generation of ethical global business leaders. With only a handful of places remaining, this is your final opportunity to secure your spot in one of Europe’s most prestigious executive education programs.
USI EMBA understands the reality of executive life. The innovative hybrid format combines one day of self-study with two intensive on-site days in Lugano (Saturday and Sunday) each month—allowing you to advance your career without pressing pause on it.
Starting this November, you’ll embark on a carefully structured curriculum that balances rigorous academic excellence with immediate practical application. The program runs through May 2027, delivering 60 ECTS credits across 15 meticulously designed courses, including 11 core modules, 3 electives, and an unforgettable international study tour to Boston.
What Sets USI EMBA Apart
World-Class International Faculty
Learn from professors who bridge theory and practice, drawn from top business schools and leading consulting firms worldwide. This exceptional faculty brings cutting-edge research and real-world expertise directly to your learning experience.
The Swiss Advantage
Based in thriving Lugano, Switzerland, you’ll benefit from the legendary Swiss commitment to quality and excellence. The location provides proximity to Europe’s major business and cultural hubs while offering the perfect environment for focused, intensive learning.
Ethics at the Core
At a time when responsible leadership matters more than ever, the USI EMBA places unwavering emphasis on ethics, sustainability, and positive global impact. This isn’t just about business success—it’s about becoming a leader who drives meaningful, transformative change.
The Boston Experience
In July, travel to one of the world’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems for an intensive six-day study tour. Engage with groundbreaking thinking at MIT, Harvard, and Tufts University, exploring system dynamics, sustainable finance, design thinking, and circular economy models that are reshaping global business.
A Curriculum Built for Impact
The program’s strategic architecture addresses every dimension of modern business leadership:
Strategic Foundations: Master strategic decision-making, business strategy, and entrepreneurship to think at the highest organizational levels.
Operational Excellence: Dive deep into operations management, human resources, and marketing to understand how great strategies become reality.
Analytical Mastery: Build quantitative capabilities through business analytics, finance, financial performance measurement, and economics.
Leadership Integration: Develop through courses in business dynamics, leadership, and negotiation—the skills that separate good managers from transformational leaders.
The journey culminates in a comprehensive Final Project where you’ll apply everything you’ve learned to real organizational challenges under expert faculty supervision.
Small Class, Big Impact
With deliberately limited enrollment, the USI EMBA offers something increasingly rare in executive education: a genuinely personalized approach. Small class sizes ensure close interaction with faculty, tailored support, and an intimate learning environment where every participant’s unique goals and career trajectory shape the experience. This personalization extends beyond academics. The diverse cohort—bringing together professionals from various industries, countries, and backgrounds—creates an intellectually stimulating environment where meaningful relationships and diverse perspectives fuel constant growth.
The Final Call
The USI EMBA 14 represents more than an academic credential. It’s an investment in becoming the leader your organization—and the world—needs. It’s about joining a community of ethical, visionary professionals committed to excellence and positive change.
The program begins November 14, 2025. The final places are filling now.
If you’ve been considering an executive MBA, if you’re ready to accelerate your leadership capabilities, if you want to be part of a program that values intellectual honesty, critical thinking, and ethical leadership as much as strategic excellence—this is your moment.
Don’t wait for the next cohort. The leaders who will shape business in 2027 and beyond are making their decision today.
Ready to transform your leadership journey?
Contact the USI EMBA team now to secure one of the remaining places in the November 14 cohort. Your future as an ethical global business leader starts here: emba@usi.ch
The application period for EMBA14 is drawing to a close. With the program commencing in November 2025, this final Open Day represents your last opportunity to explore how the USI EMBA can advance your executive career.
Program Structure and Highlights
The USI EMBA offers a comprehensive 18-month curriculum designed for today’s business leaders. The program features 12 intensive core courses plus 1 specialized elective, providing both breadth and depth in contemporary management practices. A signature Boston Study Tour offers direct exposure to global innovation ecosystems and leading business practices.
Program Format:
One asynchronous learning day per month for flexible engagement
Weekend intensive sessions for deep immersion in course material
Two-month capstone projects with real-world business applications
Academic Leadership
Prof. Paulo Gonçalves, Ph.D. MIT Sloan
Academic Director
Professor Gonçalves brings distinguished expertise from MIT Sloan, specializing in behavioral science, strategic decision-making, and system dynamics. His research in humanitarian operations and complex business systems informs a rigorous, practice-oriented pedagogical approach that bridges analytical excellence with leadership development.
Conscious Leadership Framework
The USI EMBA integrates ethical leadership and stakeholder value creation throughout its curriculum. In an environment increasingly defined by ESG considerations and diverse stakeholder expectations, our program prepares leaders to navigate complexity while maintaining strategic clarity and organizational integrity.
Our Vision:
To develop global leaders capable of driving ethical transformation across industries and sectors.
Our Mission:
To deliver excellence in executive education through practical innovation, strategic rigor, and unwavering commitment to professional integrity.
October 22, 6 PM – In-Person Open Day
This concluding information session provides prospective candidates with comprehensive program insights and direct access to key stakeholders on campus:
Attendee Benefits:
Access to scholarship opportunities totaling in financial aid
Priority consideration in the admissions process
In-person networking with faculty, alumni, and fellow candidates
Campus tour and facilities experience
The intimate, on-campus format facilitates substantive dialogue about program fit, career objectives, and the distinctive value proposition of the USI EMBA.
Choosing between an Executive MBA (EMBA) and a full-time MBA is one of the most significant decisions in your professional development journey. While both credentials can accelerate your career, they’re designed for different professionals at distinct career stages. However, for established professionals seeking growth without career disruption, the EMBA path offers compelling advantages.
Experience Requirements: Where You Stand Matters
The most fundamental distinction between these programs lies in the experience prerequisites. Full-time MBA programs typically accept candidates with 2-5 years of professional experience, welcoming young professionals ready to pivot or accelerate their careers. In contrast, EMBA programs require substantial leadership experience, usually 7-15 years, targeting mid-to-senior level executives already established in their fields.
This experience gap shapes everything from classroom discussions to career outcomes. EMBA cohorts bring real-world leadership challenges to the table, creating richer, more nuanced discussions based on actual executive decision-making rather than theoretical scenarios.
Program Format: The Weekend Advantage
Full-time MBA programs demand your complete attention. Students typically leave their jobs for two years, immersing themselves in academic life, internships, and career exploration. This format requires significant opportunity cost—lost salary, foregone promotions, and career momentum.
EMBA programs offer a superior alternative for working professionals. Classes typically meet on weekends or during intensive modules, allowing you to maintain your current position and income. Weekend formats—such as Friday evenings and Saturdays, or alternating weekends—let you apply concepts immediately in your workplace on Monday morning. This creates a dynamic learning loop where theory meets practice in real-time.
You’re not just learning about change management—you’re implementing it. You’re not studying financial strategy in isolation—you’re applying it to actual business challenges. This immediate application reinforces learning and demonstrates ROI to both you and your employer.
Learning Methodology: Applied Practice Over Theory
While both programs cover core business fundamentals, the EMBA pedagogical approach delivers more immediate value. Full-time MBAs emphasize foundational business theory and case studies from companies you’ve never worked at, solving problems you haven’t faced yet.
EMBA programs leverage your existing expertise, focusing on strategic decision-making, executive leadership, and advanced topics that matter at your level. Discussions draw heavily from participants’ current organizational challenges—actual problems requiring real solutions. The curriculum assumes business fluency and builds sophisticated frameworks on top of your practical knowledge.
Rather than spending months on basic accounting or marketing principles you may already understand, EMBAs accelerate into strategic-level thinking: how to lead transformations, navigate board dynamics, optimize capital structure, or drive innovation at scale.
Networking: Executive-Level Connections
Networking dynamics vary considerably between programs, and here the EMBA advantage becomes clear. Full-time MBA students build relationships with other early-career professionals—valuable peers, certainly, but with limited decision-making authority or resources.
EMBA networking connects you with established executives and decision-makers. Your classmates are CTOs, VPs, directors, and entrepreneurs who can become strategic partners, clients, board members, or valuable advisors. These aren’t future leaders—they’re current leaders with budgets, hiring authority, and influence.
Weekend cohorts often develop particularly strong bonds. Spending intensive time together outside normal work hours, away from daily pressures, creates authentic relationships. These connections frequently lead to business partnerships, career opportunities, and advisory relationships that wouldn’t exist through traditional networking.
Financial and Career Momentum
The EMBA model protects your financial stability and career trajectory. You continue earning your salary, potentially receiving tuition support from your employer, and remain eligible for promotions and bonuses. Many companies sponsor EMBA candidates precisely because they value retaining and developing their talent.
Stepping away for two years in a full-time program means sacrificing 24 months of salary, missing promotion cycles, and potentially losing momentum in your current organization. For established professionals, this trade-off rarely makes sense.
The Strategic Choice for Experienced Professionals
The EMBA path is ideal when you:
Have established your career foundation and seek senior leadership roles
Want to enhance your credentials without career interruption
Value immediate application of learning to real business challenges
Prefer networking with fellow executives and decision-makers
Need to maintain income and career momentum
Can leverage weekend or modular formats to balance life commitments
The weekend EMBA format, in particular, represents the optimal blend of flexibility and rigor. You invest your weekends in transformative education while maintaining your professional identity and income throughout the week. By Monday morning, you’re implementing what you learned on Saturday—a level of practical integration that full-time programs simply cannot match.
The Bottom Line
For professionals with significant experience, the Executive MBA—particularly weekend formats—offers superior value. You gain advanced business education, executive-level networking, and career acceleration without the disruption and opportunity cost of leaving the workforce. The immediate application of learning, combined with peer connections at your professional level, creates ROI that begins immediately rather than after a two-year pause.
The right choice depends on your career stage. If you’re early in your journey, a full-time MBA might make sense. But if you’re an established professional seeking the next level of leadership capability, the EMBA path—especially with weekend classes—delivers education that enhances your career without interrupting it.
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.
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