Sometimes, you just need to
change your altitude.

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

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: Organizational 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:
University of St.Gallen, Switzerland

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:
University of St.Gallen, Switzerland

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

Analytics (Business & Marketing)

Faculty:
Prof. Dr. Florian Wangenheim (ETH) and Prof. Dr. Christian Hildebrand (HSG)

Location:
University of St.Gallen, Switzerland

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

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

 

 

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

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 Innovation Week

2025

February

eXperiential Week 3

EW3: Digital Platforms Week

Faculty:
Prof. Georg von Krogh (ETH) , Prof. Dr. Karolin Frankenberger (HSG) and Prof. 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: Personal Leadership Week

EW5: Technology Leadership Week

July

eXperiential Week 6 & X Week

EW6: Entrepreneurial Leadership Week

X Week

Faculty:
Prof. Stefano Brusoni (ETH) and Prof. Karolin Frankenberger (HSG)

Location:
University of St.Gallen, Switzerland

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.