The Rotman-SDA Bocconi Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) was designed to equip experienced leaders with the leadership skills to manage global business challenges successfully.
The partnership between the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and Bocconi University’s SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan, Italy, has resulted in a unique program offering that combines the best of two worlds: North America and Europe. Both schools are among the top research-intensive universities in the world, with top-ranked faculty capable of giving participants access to the latest research in management science before it filters into books, consulting firms and major corporations. Bocconi is one of Italy’s leading schools of Management and stands among the top-ranked European institutions. At the same time, the Rotman School of Management at The University of Toronto consistently ranks as the top business school in Canada, and the University ranks within the top twenty globally.
The GEMBA is an 18-month program, delivered in a blend of online, self-paced learning and 10 residential study modules in key global cities for approximately one week each. It has been designed for working professionals who can bring real-life challenges to the classroom and take back positive results to their workplace, causing immediate impact.
Participants enroll at one school but progress through the program as a unified cohort. In the end, they earn two credentials: an MBA from the Rotman School and an Executive MBA from SDA Bocconi.
“It’s never been more important to build bridges, rather than barriers, across nations and businesses. I’ve worked with my colleagues in Italy and Canada to design a program for this emerging world and its leaders. This is a program about innovation, inquiry and global impact: a new approach to global business”, explains Brian Golden, Academic Director at Rotman-SDA Bocconi Global Executive MBA.
A great part of the program is its global study modules, where participants come together in cities of the world’s key markets, like San Francisco, Mumbai, Copenhagen, Shanghai or São Paulo. While attending in-person modules, participants join applied experiences which we call learning safaris. In these “learning safaris”, they get to network, share insights with other senior-level executives, experience how companies do business around the world, and develop a well-rounded overview of different countries and cultures in the global economy.
“The international modules provide strong exposure to local cultural norms, as well as a chance to explore doing business on a global scale”, says Timur Bulat, MBA ‘22, General Manager and Board Member, Rominserv, Romania. Elena Afanassieva, MBA ’22, Sr. Manager, Enterprise Risk and Portfolio Management, BMO Financial Group, Canada, adds, “The GEMBA class is made up of executive leaders from different industries, regions, and backgrounds. The wealth of knowledge and perspectives is amazing. Looking at the world through multiple lenses will create a richer learning experience”.
The GEMBA is not just an MBA. It’s a life experience that will open many doors globally for you and your future. The gateway to a world full of opportunities starts here.
