NEWS

EMBA Stories: Real Experiences. 15.09, 18:00

There comes a point in every career when moving forward is no longer simply about gaining more experience. It is about changing perspective, challenging yourself and deciding what comes next.

For many accomplished professionals, this is also the moment when an Executive MBA enters the conversation.

But considering an EMBA inevitably raises questions. Is this the right moment? How can I combine work, personal life and study? How do I discuss the investment with my employer? And, ultimately, will it really make a difference?

EMBA Stories is an evening designed around these questions – and around the people who have already faced them.

Rather than a traditional information session, we invite you to join an open conversation with USI Executive MBA alumni Giovanna Zanon and Philipp Schaerer, who will share the real story behind their EMBA experience: what motivated their decision, the challenges they encountered along the way and what the journey brought to their professional and personal development.

Meet Giovanna Zanon

Giovanna Zanon is Compliance Manager at Azienda Elettrica Ticinese, with extensive experience across compliance, regulatory affairs and business development. Before joining AET, she spent eight years at Nvalue SA and subsequently worked as an independent consultant for companies and utilities.

A recent USI Executive MBA graduate (2024–2026), Giovanna also brings a strong interest in corporate governance and corporate social responsibility to her professional journey.

Her perspective offers the opportunity to hear from someone who has just completed the EMBA journey and can speak first-hand about the experience, the commitment it requires and its value for an established professional.

Meet Philipp Schaerer

Philipp Schaerer is General Manager at Hotel La Palma au Lac and brings more than two decades of experience in the hospitality industry. His career has taken him through senior operational and management positions at organisations including Tertianum, Villa Principe Leopoldo, Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Gstaad Palace and Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.

A USI Executive MBA alumnus (2019–2021) and graduate of the École hôtelière de Lausanne, Philipp brings the perspective of an experienced executive who can reflect on the EMBA several years after graduation – and on how the experience fits into a longer leadership journey.

Two careers. Two perspectives. One shared experience.

Giovanna and Philipp represent two different moments in the EMBA journey: one has just completed the programme, while the other can look back on the experience five years later.

Together, they will offer an honest conversation about questions that are often difficult to answer from a brochure:

What ultimately convinced them to pursue an Executive MBA? What doubts did they have before starting? How did they manage the programme alongside demanding professional responsibilities? What changed during – and after – the experience? And, looking back, was it worth it?

Meet the Academic Director

Prof. Paulo Gonçalves, Academic Director of the USI Executive MBA, will join the conversation to provide his perspective on the programme and answer questions from participants.

The discussion will be followed by an open Q&A and networking aperitivo, giving prospective participants the opportunity to continue the conversation informally with our alumni and the EMBA community.

A Practical Takeaway

Every participant will receive our exclusive guide, “How to Discuss Your EMBA with Your Company” — a practical resource to support conversations with HR and senior management about sponsorship, study planning and organisational support.