Following the FT Executive MBA Ranking 2023, Maria José Amich, Executive Director of The Lisbon MBA Católica|Nova, discusses the program’s rise to 34th in Europe and 63rd globally in an interview with Executive Digest, underscoring the commitment to excellence and ongoing efforts to enhance executive education.

 

 

What is the importance of this recognition for The Lisbon MBA Católica|Nova?

 

This distinction is of utmost importance to all our stakeholders and represents the recognition of The Lisbon MBA’s continuous investment in the excellence of our offerings. It also reflects the success of our partnership, which brings together three world-renowned business schools to put Portugal on the map of excellent MBAs, attracting talent from around the world: CATÓLICA-LISBON and Nova SBE in collaboration with the MIT Sloan School of Management. Above all, it recognizes the extraordinary professional journey of our graduates and the strong presence of our alumni community worldwide.

 

 

What criteria and standards contributed to this recognition?

 

The success of our programs is based on a combination of factors, from partnerships with top international business schools to a faculty of great prestige. Our educational approach goes beyond understanding business fundamentals and trends, focusing on the development of management and leadership skills that organizations seek in their managers to achieve sustainable growth and thrive in an ever-changing environment, creating a positive impact on businesses and society.

 

 

How is the MBA curriculum structured to ensure relevance and excellence?

 

Since its launch, the program has been constantly updated to integrate business trends such as new technologies, digital disruption, and/or any issues related to ESG (Environment, Social & Governance). Themes related to sustainability, leadership, and digital transformation are at the core of The Lisbon MBA Católica|Nova and respond to major market trends and business needs. Our mission is to train Principled Global Leaders, which requires constant and continuous innovation in programs, curriculum, format, delivery, among others.

 

 

What are the main needs of Portuguese executives?

 

We believe that the development of critical thinking, strategic thinking, and the ability to solve complex problems while promoting high-performance teamwork should be fostered. At this level, executives need to strengthen leadership skills, develop practical experience, and know how to motivate, delegate, and empower differently, with a global vision. Organizations need to become much more agile, and leadership needs to be transformational and shared.

 

Given that we live in an increasingly global, uncertain, and rapidly changing world, driven by technological disruption, geopolitical crises, challenges of climate change, among others, companies must adapt to the new challenges of management, which implies a new type of leadership focused on creating value, on the “triple bottom line: People, Planet & Profit,” investing in the upskilling and reskilling of their teams through the acquisition of new knowledge and skills, as provided in an MBA like The Lisbon MBA Católica|Nova.

 

 

How does The Lisbon MBA Executive help prepare future leaders?

 

At The Lisbon MBA, we are committed to our mission of “Supporting and encouraging the full potential of our students to become global leaders, with principles, capable of having a positive impact on business and society.”

 

At this level, The Lisbon MBA Católica|Nova relies on its strategic pillars, a holistic educational approach that combines the development of cutting-edge management skills with interpersonal and leadership abilities, a faculty of high prestige, an exceptional focus on Impact Action Learning and intrapreneurship, and a unique international component resulting from our partnership with MIT and other top MBAs, with a strong connection to the business community (Galp, Sonae, Amrop), among others.

 

Internationally, we highlight exchange programs with prestigious MBAs, such as St Gallen in Switzerland and Esade in Spain, which have reinforced current exchange programs with other MBAs, such as those of the Universities of Coppead and Dom Cabral in Brazil, San Diego in the United States, Cape Town in South Africa, and McQuarie in Australia, and recently with the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech University in Atlanta in the United States.

 

All these elements allow us to train leaders who promote excellence in business management, fostering a culture of meritocracy, diversity, and inclusion for sustainable growth and a positive impact on society.

 

 

How do you attract and retain a qualified and diverse faculty?

 

Our faculty has a distinctly global profile, with 41% of professors from international backgrounds, and stands out for the excellence and rigor of its curriculum. We work with the best, and to attract and retain such high-quality talent in such a competitive market, the recognition of our brand and programs among the best in the world is undoubtedly one of the most important metrics.

 

 

How do you analyze the current executive education landscape in Portugal?

 

Executive education has evolved significantly in our country, increasingly considered fundamental for the development of leaders and managers prepared to face the challenges of organizations in a context of constant change, as we are currently experiencing.

 

In Portugal, as in other places, executive education, which generally involves academic programs, corporate training, and leadership skills development, can be influenced by economic, political, and social factors, as well as the specific needs of companies. In the MBA ecosystem, there has been a growing emphasis on digital skills, sustainable leadership, and adaptability to market changes, driven by the needs of companies.

 

 

Read the full article (original) in Portuguese here.

 

Source: Executive Digest