Between June 16-18, a diverse group of 46 executives, representing some of the best-known companies in the world, came to our Shanghai campus for a 3-day immersion course demonstrating the Global EMBA experience at CEIBS. This was the inaugural delivery of the Rising Leaders Programme, designed to give its attendees the chance to see first-hand what makes GEMBA a world-leading programme and a provider of life-changing academic journeys.

Keen to understand how the GEMBA programme delivers both “China Depth and Global Breadth”, these executives came together from Singapore, Australia, Holland, India, Spain, Italy, Korea, Turkey, Malaysia, the US and China. Diverse and experienced, they represent the best their respective industries have to offer, with each individual averaging 15 years of working experience and 9 years of management experience between them.

Inside the Classroom – Learning the GEMBA Way

Led by six of the CEIBS Faculty professors, the attendees of the Rising Leaders Programme were given the chance to experience exactly what it is like to learn in a Global EMBA classroom setting. They covered two distinct business topics each day, ranging from global economic outlooks to effective negotiation and agile innovation methods. Each session was led by an appropriate professor, who utilised all the resources at their disposal to demonstrate exactly what makes CEIBS classroom learning so uniquely engaging.

Alongside the professors, the visiting executives were also joined by members of the current GEMBA 2022 cohort for mealtimes and during the second day’s leadership panel discussion. This gave the visitors further invaluable opportunities to discuss the nature of the programme with those who are actually living it right now. This was a crucial part of the experience, given that the Global EMBA at CEIBS strongly emphasises the importance of learning deeply from one’s peers as well as the professors. 

Modern business demands more of its leaders than ever

A particular highlight of the Rising Leaders Programme was the second day’s panel discussion on leadership, coordinated by Associate Professor of Management, Byron Lee. Joining the professor were three alumni panelists – Amber Li (Sales Director GCN of Solvay, GEMBA 2019), Mohsen Sabet (Global COO of VT Industrial Technology, GEMBA 2021) and Linda Zhang (Executive Coach and Leadership Consultant, PhD, ICF MCC, GEMBA 2001). 

Between them, the panel outlined their respective views on what the modern business leader needs to succeed with regards to the volatile and unpredictable global conditions we must all currently face. From ESG and responsible leadership, to the central importance of remaining flexible and openminded, the panel gave all of the visiting executives plenty to take back to their respective organisations. 

Firm Foundations for Future Exploration

Despite the relatively short time they spent together, there was a distinct feeling that a growing camaraderie had sprung up among the group. This is the GEMBA effect in microcosm; this is a multi-year programme designed to encourage peer-to-peer learning, sharing, support, friendship and understanding. As each leader should leave CEIBS with the desire to build bridges between companies, sectors and even nations, it’s highly appropriate that this three-day immersion course began to kindle that deeper instinct among its participants.

For everyone who attended the very first Rising Leaders Programme at CEIBS Shanghai campus, we extend our warmest wishes for your future. We hope that you will consider this the first step on your GEMBA journey, and that we may see you again in the very near future.