The UPF-BSM Executive MBA kicks off with a Residential Week in Barcelona

The first cohort of the renewed Executive MBA at UPF-BSM begins its journey with five intensive days that combined training sessions, experiences within the city’s business ecosystem, and activities designed to strengthen leadership and connections among participants.

From 2nd to 5th March, the new edition of the UPF-BSM Executive EMBA officially began. The program has been completely redesigned to adapt to the latest trends and market demands. The start of this edition was marked by a residential week in Barcelona, a five-day in-person experience designed to immerse participants in the program and lay the foundations for their development as executive leaders.

The week combined high-level talks, academic sessions on key topics such as the fundamentals of finance, workshops aimed at unlocking creativity and critical thinking, and activities designed to broaden participants’ perspectives on some of today’s major challenges, including the global economy and geopolitics. “The goal of this week has been to strengthen their leadership capabilities, stimulate creativity, and foster a strategic mindset prepared for an increasingly complex global context,” said Katharine D’Amico, Academic Director of the EMBA at UPF-BSM.

Executive Networking

The program also included meetings with executives and activities in key spaces within the city’s business and technological ecosystem, such as Telefónica’s headquarters, as well as visits to innovation hubs like Impact Hub Barcelona. Participants also had the opportunity to attend conversations with leading industry figures as part of the Mobile World Congress Talent Arena, one of the main international meeting points for digital talent.

The residential week was also essential for EMBA participants to get to know each other and begin building relationships that will be important for their future professional development. “We firmly believe that success in business is built on relationships. Through immersive teamwork experiences, our program fosters deep collaboration among participants, strengthening their ability to work with and learn from diverse, high-level professionals. In this way, students not only acquire knowledge but also build trusted connections that will last a lifetime,” explains D’Amico.

With this objective in mind, the residential week also included activities such as a culinary workshop at La Foodieteca and a guided cultural tour through historic Barcelona.

A New Stage

This launch marks the beginning of a new stage for the UPF-BSM Executive MBA, which has recently been redesigned to respond to the evolving demands of the business environment. The new curriculum integrates emerging technologies, people-centered leadership, and impact economy across the program. It is aimed at executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders who seek to develop a global strategic vision through a flexible format that combines online learning with in-person experiences.

At the end of the program, participants will take part in a Program Finale Residential Week, where they will conclude their journey with the presentation of their Final Master’s Projects and the graduation ceremony.

Cohort 2027

The new group of participants in the UPF-BSM EMBA represents “a combination of sector experience, international perspective, and leadership capability, creating a collaborative learning ecosystem of high academic and professional level,” D’Amico specified.

In the new 2027 cohort, 53% of participants are women, more than 20 nationalities are represented, and the group brings leadership experience spanning Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. In addition, participants are executives in key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, finance, biochemistry, the automotive industry, retail, corporate law, and compliance, among others.