What does it take to build, lead, and transform a business in today’s complex and fast-moving world?
At the International University of Monaco, our MBA students explored this question firsthand during their third Residential Week, an intensive, immersive experience that bridges academic excellence with real-world application.
Laying the Foundations: Innovation & Design Thinking
The week opened with a strong focus on innovation and execution. Dr. Maximilian Rapp, Partner at EY Studio+, led two days of sessions in Innovation Management and Design Thinking.
Since joining IUM in 2017, Dr. Rapp has challenged MBA students to go beyond traditional frameworks, encouraging them to develop solutions that are not only creative but also commercially viable. Through hands-on methodologies, students learned how to transform ideas into actionable strategies, an essential skill in today’s innovation-driven economy.
From Numbers to Strategy: Business Planning in Practice
The third day focused on a critical dimension of leadership: financial decision-making.
During the session “Accounting Through the Eyes of Decision-Makers,” Eric Keff brought a practical perspective on how financial data informs strategic choices. This was enriched by a live case study with MBA alumna Victoria Ananyan, who shared the realities of launching her own venture and bridged theory with entrepreneurial practice.
In the afternoon, Prof. Markus Schuller and guest speaker Lee Robinson led a session on Entrepreneurship and Business Planning. Drawing from his experience as a former hedge fund manager and entrepreneur, Lee Robinson offered valuable insights into building and scaling businesses.
This course goes beyond traditional teaching. Designed as a hands-on business plan competition, it challenges MBA teams to develop, refine, and pitch their ventures. With the rise of AI-generated content, the focus is deliberately placed on behavioral and technical competencies, from strategic thinking to negotiation skills. Students even engage in live term sheet negotiations, learning how to transform ideas into compelling investment opportunities.
From Learning to Doing: Project Day & Real-World Application
The fourth day marked a shift from theory to full immersion in practice.
Through the Corporate Consulting Project, led by Dr. Rapp, MBA students collaborate with companies and organizations worldwide over a three-month period. They generate ideas, accelerate innovation, and deliver strategic insights through a complete Design Thinking sprint, ensuring tangible, high-impact outcomes.
In parallel, other students advanced their Entrepreneurial Business Plans with Prof. Alessio Castello and entrepreneur Frederic Bouvard. These sessions focused on transforming entrepreneurial vision into credible business models and robust financial projections, the critical link between ambition and execution.
Recognizing that entrepreneurship is also about career strategy and leadership positioning, the week also featured a session with Dr. Caroline Frisenberg, offering guidance on navigating leadership paths and evolving global career opportunities.
The day concluded with a Networking Cocktail with Entrepreneurs, bringing together students, alumni, and professionals in a dynamic and informal setting, an essential component of the Monaco MBA experience.
Leading in Complexity: The Human Side of Leadership
The final day shifted the focus to one of the most critical dimensions of business: leadership.
Kevin Hin delivered a powerful session titled “Leadership Under Pressure,” exploring how leaders can make effective decisions in uncertain, high-stakes environments.
To close the week, Dr. Lisa Simone Duke offered a forward-looking perspective on AI, sustainability, and responsible leadership, challenging students to rethink how businesses can remain resilient, ethical, and innovative in a rapidly evolving world.
A Transformative Learning Experience
More than a series of lectures, the Monaco MBA Residential Week is a transformative experience where theory meets practice, and where students are challenged to think, act, and lead differently.
From innovation to execution, from finance to entrepreneurship, and from strategy to leadership, the week reflects the core ambition of the Monaco MBA: to develop professionals who are not only capable of navigating complexity but ready to shape the future of business.
For more information about our Monaco MBA program, check our website
If you have any questions, contact the admissions team at admissions@monaco.edu
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