A unique emba X-perience
Explore this section to learn more about our courses and understand how the different elements integrate as a sequence.
The emba X journey lasts 18 months, and encompasses on-campus courses and events in the lively Zurich and/or the beautiful town of St.Gallen, as well as online sessions.
This part-time study journey has been carefully designed to optimize your learnings and ensure their immediate application to your personal and professional life.
Every single month, the Personal Development Programme (PDP) will act as both a compass as well as your base camp along this intense journey. Through the PDP you will holistically develop mind, body and soul via continuous (self-)assessment tools, workshops, training, coachings, and peer-to-peer coaching opportunities.
2024
January & February
WHY Week & Essentials I Week
The WHY Week
Faculty
Prof. Stefano Brusoni (ETH Zurich), Prof. Karolin Frankenberger (University of St.Gallen – HSG) and Claudio Feser
Location
University of St.Gallen, Switzerland
Short Description
Participants will kick-off with their personal leadership development journey. Further, they will participate in two skill-building workshops, one on building and leading high-performing teams and one on coaching.
E1: Adaptive Cognitive Leadership
Faculty:
Prof. Daniella Laureiro (ETH), Prof. Stefano Brusoni (ETH Zurich) and Claudio Feser
Location:
University of St.Gallen, Switzerland
Short Description:
Understanding and developing cognitive leadership skills for innovation and adaptation, both in the “DO” (applied skills) and “BE” (mindset) dimensions
E2: Organisational Leadership
Faculty:
Prof. Heike Bruch (HSG) and Dr. Stefan Seiler (UBS)
Location:
University of St.Gallen, Switzerland
Short Description:
Practical learning and application of strategic leadership tools while addressing complex challenges in society by the integration of socially responsible leadership and technological readiness.
E3: Business Ethics
Faculty:
Prof. Thomas Beschorner (HSG)
Location:
University of St.Gallen, Switzerland
Short Description:
Practical questions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by discussing concrete moral, social, and environmental issues; as well as application of concrete tools in the context of CSR, and how to transfer this context to your organization.
E4: Strategy & Innovation
Faculty:
Prof. Georg von Krogh (ETH) and Prof. Karolin Frankenberger (HSG)
Location:
University of St.Gallen, Switzerland
Short Description:
Development and execution of winning sustainable business strategies. Adaptation of organizational strategy to rapidly shifting environments through the design of innovative business models and/or ecosystems.
March & April
Online Essentials 1-4
E1: Adaptive Cognitive Leadership
Faculty:
Prof. Daniella Laureiro (ETH), Prof. Stefano Brusoni (ETH Zurich) and Claudio Feser
Location:
Online (2 days sync & 2 days async)
Short Description:
Understanding and developing cognitive leadership skills for innovation and adaptation, both in the “DO” (applied skills) and “BE” (mindset) dimensions
E2: Organizational Leadership
Faculty:
Prof. Heike Bruch (HSG) and Dr. Stefan Seiler (UBS)
Location:
Online (2 days sync & 2 days async)
Short Description:
Practical learning and application of strategic leadership tools while addressing complex challenges in society by the integration of socially responsible leadership and technological readiness.
E3: Business Ethics
Faculty:
Prof. Thomas Beschorner (HSG)
Location:
Online (2 days sync & 2 days async)
Short Description:
Practical questions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by discussing concrete moral, social, and environmental issues; as well as application of concrete tools in the context of CSR, and how to transfer this context to your organization.
E4: Strategy & Innovation
Faculty:
Prof. Georg von Krogh (ETH) and Prof. Karolin Frankenberger (HSG)
Location:
Online (2 days sync & 2 days async)
Short Description:
Development and execution of winning sustainable business strategies. Adaptation of organizational strategy to rapidly shifting environments through the design of innovative business models and/or ecosystems.
April & May
Essentials II Week
E5: Geoeconomic Dynamics & Disruption
Faculty:
Prof. Jan-Egbert Sturm (ETH) and Prof. Simon Evenett (HSG)
Location:
ETH Zurich
Short Description:
This course will enable executives to interpret the macroeconomic significance of profound technological change, climate change the ongoing energy transition, and globalization.
E6: Corporate Finance
Faculty:
Prof. Dr. Stefan Morkötter (HSG)
Location:
ETH Zurich
Short Description:
This course will equip excecutives with a holistic understanding of financial markets allowing them to navigate their companies not only throughout the current status quo.
E7: Sustainability
Faculty:
Prof. Dr. Judith Walls (HSG) and Prof. Dr. Volker Hoffmann (ETH)
Location:
ETH Zurich
Short Description:
The course will focus on how to approach corporate sustainability strategy, with a focus on climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
Analytics (Business & Marketing)
Faculty:
Prof. Dr. Florian Wangenheim (ETH) and Prof. Dr. Christian Hildebrand (HSG)
Location:
ETH Zurich
Short Description:
The course will enable executives to use data effectively to drive profitable management decisions.
May & June
Online Essentials 5-8
E5: Geoeconomic Dynamics & Disruption
Faculty:
Prof. Jan-Egbert Sturm (ETH) and Prof. Simon Evenett (HSG)
Location:
Online (2 days sync & 2 days async)
Short Description:
This course will enable executives to interpret the macroeconomic significance of profound technological change, climate change the ongoing energy transition, and globalization.
E6: Corporate Finance
Faculty:
Prof. Dr. Stefan Morkötter (HSG)
Location:
Online (2 days sync & 2 days async)
Short Description:
This course will equip excecutives with a holistic understanding of financial markets allowing them to navigate their companies not only throughout the current status quo.
E7: Sustainability
Faculty:
Prof. Dr. Judith Walls (HSG) and Prof. Dr. Volker Hoffmann (ETH)
Location:
Online (2 days sync and 2 days async)
Short Description:
The course will focus on how to approach corporate sustainability strategy, with a focus on climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
E8: Analytics (Business & Marketing)
Faculty:
Prof. Dr. Florian Wangenheim (ETH) and Prof. Dr. Christian Hildebrand (HSG)
Location:
Online (2 days sync & 2 days async)
Short Description:
The course will enable executives to use data effectively to drive profitable management decisions.
July
Essentials III Week
E9: Energy Management, Technology and Economics
Faculty:
Prof. Massimo Filippini, Dr. Christian Schaffner (ETH) and Prof. Rolf Wüstenhagen (HSG)
Location:
ETH Zurich
Short Description:
This module will provide participants with an in-depth understanding of what it takes to move towards a sustainable energy system. The module will look at challenges and opportunities on three levels: Macro, meso and micro.
E10: Technology Entrepreneurship
Location:
ETH Zurich
Short Description:
This course will introduce you to the entrepreneurial process of discovering, creating, evaluating, and exploiting technology-based entrepreneurial opportunities.
E11: Cognitive Technologies
Faculty:
PD Dr. Alexander Ilic (ETH and HSG) and Prof. Dr. Andreas Krause (ETH)
Location:
ETH Zurich
Short Description:
Cognitive technologies bring unprecedented potential to transform our society with information technology that possesses human-level capabilities. This course aims to empower participants with technical fluency (“Know”), an understanding of core drivers of cognitive technologies, hands-on learning (“Do”), an overview of the latest trends and applications, and evaluation skills (“Be”) to navigate the responsible transformation of business application through cognitive technologies.
E12: Product & Service Technologies
Faculty:
Prof. Elgar Fleisch (ETH and HSG) and Prof. Felix Wortmann (HSG)
Location:
ETH Zurich
Short Description:
Introduction to key technologies – and how they change the nature of products and services offerings. Managerial frameworks and industry examples on how organizations can adapt and respond to the change.
August & September
Online Essentials 9-12
E9: Energy Management, Technology and Economics
Faculty:
Prof. Massimo Filippini, Dr. Christian Schaffner and Prof. Rolf Wüstenhagen (HSG)
Location:
Online (2 days sync and 2 days async)
Short Description:
This module will provide participants with an in-depth understanding of what it takes to move towards a sustainable energy system. The module will look at challenges and opportunities on three levels: Macro, meso and micro.
E10: Technology Entrepreneurship
Location:
Online (2 days sync and 2 days async)
Short Description:
This course will introduce you to the entrepreneurial process of discovering, creating, evaluating, and exploiting technology-based entrepreneurial opportunities.
E11: Cognitive Technologies
Faculty:
PD Dr. Alexander Ilic (ETH and HSG) and Prof. Dr. Andreas Krause (ETH)
Location:
Online (2 days sync and 2 days async)
Short Description:
Cognitive technologies bring unprecedented potential to transform our society with information technology that possesses human-level capabilities. This course aims to empower participants with technical fluency (“Know”), an understanding of core drivers of cognitive technologies, hands-on learning (“Do”), an overview of the latest trends and applications, and evaluation skills (“Be”) to navigate the responsible transformation of business application through cognitive technologies.
E12: Product & Service Technologies
Faculty:
Prof. Elgar Fleisch (ETH and HSG) and Prof. Felix Wortmann (HSG)
Location:
Online (2 days sync and 2 days async)
Short Description:
Introduction to key technologies -– and how they change the nature of products and services offerings. Managerial frameworks and industry examples on how organizations can adapt and respond to the change.
October
eXperiential Week 1
EW1: Global Business Week
Faculty:
Prof. Dr. Frank Schimmelfennig and Prof. Winfried Ruigrok (HSG)
Location:
University of St.Gallen, Switzerland
Short Description:
This course will explore the current and future challenges of global business and will address critical geopolitical changes and their direct and indirect effects on global businesses.
November
eXperiential Week 2
EW2: Social Impact Week
Faculty:
This project is taught by several faculty members from the Sustainability Technology chair (ETH) in collaboration with the Institute of Management and Strategy (HSG).
Location:
University of St.Gallen, Switzerland
Short Description:
This project offers students the opportunity to work on challenges presented by non-profit organizations while integrating the Business Model Innovation course.
2025
February
eXperiential Week 3
EW3: Digital Platforms Week
Faculty:
Prof. Dr. Stefano Brusoni (ETH) and Prof. Dr. Jan Marco Leimeister (HSG)
Location:
ETH Zurich
Short Description:
This eXperiential week will explore principles for designing and governing digital platforms and corresponding digital products and services.
Company Impact Project (start)
Individual assignment with peer coaching, integrating acquired knowledge and skills in personal, social, business and technology areas into making change happen within your (an) organization
May
eXperiential Week 4 & 5
EW4: Next Operating Models Week
Faculty:
Prof. Dr. Damian Borth (HSG) and Prof. Dr. Torbjörn Netland
Location:
University of St.Gallen, Switzerland
Short Description:
This week focuses on how organizations can harness the potential of technology to drive innovation, achieve business goals, and maintain a competitive advantage effectively and strategically.
EW5: Personal Leadership Week
Location:
University of St.Gallen, Switzerland
Short Description:
This week focuses on developing abilities to lead oneself effectively and take intentional actions to achieve personal and professional growth.
July
eXperiential Week 6 & X Week
EW6: Entrepreneurial Strategy Week
Faculty:
Prof. Dr. Bart Clarysse
Location:
ETH Zurich
Short Description:
This course explores the mechanisms of entrepreneurial thinking and how it can be successfully introduced to a corporate environment.
The X Week
Faculty:
Prof. Stefano Brusoni (ETH) and Prof. Karolin Frankenberger (HSG)
Location:
ETH Zurich
Short Description:
During the X-Week the participants will present and discuss the implementation of their company projects and revisit the outcomes of the social impact project. Further, the students will reflect on their learnings, experiences, and personal development during the course of the entire program.
Quick links