Executive MBA – Digital Leadership HWZ

In addition to providing practical specialist knowledge in the fields of digital business and technology, there is a strong emphasis on personal development and on participants’ entrepreneurial and communication leadership skills. Through study groups, case studies, executive coaching sessions, rhetoric and media training, and an innovation challenge, participants in the EMBA in Digital Leadership programme work intensively on further developing their own leadership abilities and social skills. The study group environment offers an excellent opportunity to test new approaches directly and to receive constructive feedback from fellow students

The executive programme is enhanced by study trips to the USA and Asia, including guided visits to renowned universities such as Harvard, MIT, ETH, EPFL, and CERN, as well as company visits to innovative digital enterprises. This comprehensive programme offers students the opportunity to broaden their horizons in innovation and to learn first-hand from internationally recognised technology companies.

Objectives

The aim of the programme is for all executives to possess sound expertise in digital technology and business upon completion of this EMBA, and the necessary methodological knowledge to both implement innovation in the digital sector and to develop and realise a digital vision for the future. This will enable them to successfully lead their organisation through digital transformation. The Executive MBA qualification represents a high-level and internationally recognised advanced management programme. Specifically, upon completion of the EMBA in Digital Leadership, you will have achieved the following objectives:

• You possess up-to-date technological expertise in the areas of cloud computing, big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, the Internet of Things, robotics, blockchain, social media, and virtual and augmented reality.

• You are able to handle large volumes of digital data and use them effectively to support data-driven decision-making.

• You are familiar with numerous case studies of various digital transformation strategies and digital business models, and you know how to successfully implement a business model innovation or another transformation project within your organisation.

• You are familiar with new working models and various digital collaboration tools for leading remote and flexible teams. In addition, you are able to apply agile leadership approaches and have a sound understanding of the fundamentals of strengths-based employee management.

• You are familiar with the fundamentals of change management and are able to strategically plan and implement a cultural transformation within your organisation.

• You know how to promote entrepreneurial thinking and action at all levels of the organisation, thereby embedding intrapreneurship as a driver of innovation within the company culture.

• You are able to communicate authentically both online and offline. You understand how to use effective storytelling on social media platforms, are familiar with the fundamentals of rhetoric, and know how to inspire an audience with a new idea and vision.

• You know how to use the design thinking method to iteratively develop digital products, services, and new digital business models tailored to customer needs.

• You are able to develop both a business plan and a pitch, as well as a prototype for a digital innovation idea. You can then present the latter convincingly to a panel of experts in the fields of start-ups, early-stage investing, and corporate intrapreneurship.

Participants

Are you looking for further education in leadership to help shape the digital future of your team, your organisation, and our society? The EMBA Digital Leadership is the ideal programme for you. It provides knowledge, inspiration, tools, contacts, and support for forward-thinking leaders.

Compatibility of work and further education

The attendance component of the programme comprises a total of 60 days, of which approximately 16 fall on a Saturday. The programme consists of 16 block seminars, each lasting between three and five days. The study schedule provides for one block seminar per month.

During their studies, many students continue to work as usual. Some temporarily reduce their workload by 10–20%. It is important that our students also consider their personal resources alongside their professional and academic commitments.

Testing, learning, and optimising are critical factors for success. The companies that will succeed are those that learn faster and more extensively than their competitors. A leader fosters a sense of purpose and a culture of lifelong learning within the organisation.

Uniquely visionary further education

The EMBA in Digital Leadership is based on three key theses:

The digital transformation requires leaders who can successfully manage not only technological change, but also the accompanying cultural transformation within organisations.

Digital transformation is giving rise to new digital technologies, but these do not automatically improve everything. Forward-thinking leaders with a solid understanding of technology are needed - leaders who can inspire and empower employees to embrace a digital vision, ensuring that technologies are used effectively.

Digital transformation is increasingly dissolving traditional industry boundaries. As a result, it is becoming ever more important for managers to operate with the scope of platforms, clusters and innovation ecosystems, and to collaborate across sectors with new stakeholders.

Based on these three concepts, the EMBA in Digital Leadership HWZ continuing education programme focuses on the seven skills of the future:

Transforming Business and Technology

Leading in a Digital Age

Foresighting future contexts

Mastering public speaking

Driving innovation forward

Embracing curiosity

Reflecting to develop

Excerpt from the curriculum

• Exponential technologies & digital leadership

• Data-driven decision making

• Cloud, big data, machine learning & AI

• Platform economy & innovation ecosystems

• Digital workplace & HR transformation strategies

• Digital marketing, content & storytelling

• Leading flexible and remote teams

• Corporate foresight & vision building

Highlights of the EMBA in Digital Leadership

The HWZ EMBA in Digital Leadership takes a holistic approach to digital transformation and teaches that technological change within an organisation is always accompanied by a cultural shift, which in turn requires a new style of leadership.

Study trips

You will have the opportunity to get to know innovative companies outside your usual environment and to engage in discussions with renowned figures from the digital economy and politics. International networking provides inspiration and enables you to make exciting contacts from around the world.

People at the heart of digital transformation: in times of change, the HWZ EMBA Digital Leadership sets new standards.

The Executive MBA in Digital Leadership at HWZ develops key leadership skills and demonstrates how digital visions for the future can be successfully implemented.

A university degree and at least five years of relevant professional experience are required, including at least three years in a leadership role. Other equivalent qualifications combined with relevant professional experience may be recognised through an extraordinary admissions procedure. In the case of extraordinary admission, the 'Preparatory course for master’s studies' must be completed during the first semester.