Spending on digital transformation services and technologies is set to rise by over $1 trillion by 2024. Here’s how an MBA with a focus on digital leadership can help you navigate technological change
Spending on digital transformation services and technologies is set to rise from $1.31 trillion to $2.39 trillion by 2024. The impact of the Covid pandemic has caused a huge acceleration in the adoption of technology.
As virtually every sector undergoes a digital transformation, acquiring digital skills is a great way to ensure you can capitalize on the potential career opportunities to come.
At ESSEC Business School, the Global MBA program offers a strategy and digital leadership track teaching skills and expertise aiming to promote digital leaders of the future.
Here’s why you should study an MBA with a focus on digital leadership.
Digital skills are becoming more valuable
Since the birth of the computer, business has been undergoing a digital transformation. We’ve seen the rise of concepts like ecommerce and digital marketing, as well as the emergence of new sectors like fintech and edtech.
Exciting tech innovations like the internet of things (IoT), big data, machine learning, and blockchain are also creating countless business opportunities.
“In the digital age, business is changing,” says Sofia Ramos (pictured), academic director of the ESSEC Global MBA, “digitalization has become part of the strategy."
According to a recent survey, more than 50% of companies report they’ve accelerated their adoption of technologies like cloud computing, 5G, and artificial intelligence during the pandemic, as much of life has been forced online.
“During the pandemic, [digitalization] accelerated; it’s now how the economy works,” says Sofia. “The increase in behaviours like online shopping and working from home, these changes will stay.”
Employers are increasingly valuing digital skills as they become more important in the new digitally focused business sector. As a result of Covid, corporate recruiters said the ability to navigate technological disruption became more important for hires.
For MBA grads, having digital skills is a great way to ensure you can be part of the growing digital space.
You'll develop a strong digital skillset
The strategy and digital leadership track on the ESSEC Global MBA aims to teach its participants the necessary skill set and expertise to make an impact in digital business.
Participants learn through a mixture of theoretical teaching and practical experiences. Specialist digital modules focus on subjects like big data, artificial intelligence, IoT, and digital marketing. These are taught alongside the more traditional core MBA subjects like accounting, economics, and management.
During company visits and networking events participants interact with leaders in the digital industry from companies like IBM, Twitter, and Accenture. They also learn from companies during practical business sessions, including a digital week where teams are assigned to work on a digital problem with a company.
“We try to combine digital knowledge with the necessary application and practical skills,” explains Sofia, “this helps participants visualize the solutions that digitalization can bring to companies.”
The final section of the MBA is a capstone field project. Here, participants work alongside partner companies and immerse themselves in a real-world problem. The project lasts up to four weeks and requires participants to write a report and give a presentation on their findings to a panel of faculty and company members.
While separate from the strategy and digital leadership track, the capstone field project includes a large digital element where participants on the track can implement the skills and knowledge they’ve learned during the program.
“During the project they can propose digital solutions and enhance their digital skills, so you really see a change with the participants,” says Sofia.
Become a digital leader
The idea behind ESSEC’s digitally focused MBA is that, by graduation, participants can identify business potential in new technologies and trends and use them to implement solutions within a company.
“It’s really important that participants graduate knowing how to improve organization performance, because digitalization can improve productivity and help manage future changes,” says Sofia.
“They need to have this mindset where it’s possible to propose solutions and integrate these solutions in the way that firms work.”
To ensure ESSEC GMBA graduates have the required skills, the school prioritizes applicants who can show they’re open-minded and agile thinkers. Those capable of adapting as they pick up new knowledge and develop new skills have the potential to become digital leaders.
“The digitalization space is very dynamic, so participants need to be willing to follow, integrate, and like dynamic environments,” Sofia adds.
If they do, graduates from the program have a strong position as they enter the increasingly digital business world. As innovations continue to occur, their training will place them at the forefront of those who can use technology and digital skills to get ahead of the competition, Sofia thinks.
“The strategy and digital leadership track is really a competitive advantage for our participants, it’s like they’re ahead of the curve.”
There are more than 50 nationality in the grade, so there are opportunities to interact with people from all around the world. In terms of academics, the BBA course offers diverse courses for the 1st
Student
Verified
6/04/2022
On Campus
Creativity, adaptability and entrepreneurship
The Master in Management program at the ESSEC Business School allows the students to choose their courses accordingly to their preferences and their professional targets. We can also go through international exchange and take part in internships with companies that are also partners with the school. The school is also next to the city of Paris.
Prithwiraj
Verified
17/11/2021
On Campus
Top business school in France
Doing PhD in essec took some time, to be precise about five years. But the experience was very good and cost effective too. There are opportunities for the student for teaching assistantship and that helps both financially and in career. In the final year I could manage to teach marketing to M1 students and this helped shape my career
Student
Verified
30/10/2021
On Campus
Great college
The program is well suited for early professionals with an engineering degree preferably or a degree in economics. I would suggest taking the ceasure irrespective of the experience level as it helps you take your time to adjust to the job market.
Student
Verified
30/10/2021
Blended
Good school in France
I am currently enrolled in M2 in Essec business school. I am specialising in marketing management. The Grande Ecole programme is valued in France and my school ranks very high up. There are a lot of opportunities for internships and CDD.
Student
Verified
9/02/2020
The program curriculum
BBA program. The program is really practical and useful, provide us many international opportunities. Like internship and humanitarian experience, and the flexibility is also really cool, we can choose different campus and tracks as we want.
Véronique
Verified
11/12/2019
International Course
This school is very international and business oriented. Highly recognized by the companies The campus has been renovated and is very functional and modern from now on. Excellent atmosphere. Reputation of essec is a plus
kevin
Verified
11/11/2019
Friends, Career opportunities.
The program I did gave me the opportunity to start in Singapore. I got the chance to know all the students that started there and we bonded and made some friends for life. The career opportunities that ESSEC also gave me were unbelievable.
Student
Verified
25/09/2019
Practical and useful
I think the best thing about Essec is that it's not focusing on academics rather it emphasizes on future job mindset and professional experiences..
The classes are interesting and we have plenty of workshops attributing to different sectors..
The campus is very nice with a good cafe and wonderful library.
The only problem is the location of the campus. It's quite far from Paris.
Kartik
Verified
14/02/2024
On Campus
Amazing experience! Must try
I think its a very amazing school with great and experienced faculty. Also the alumni network is very solid and useful. The school has a great balance of studies and work experience which is really essential for a student.
Ali
Verified
28/05/2024
On Campus
GBBA: Diverse, Enriching, and Career-Boosting
My experience at ESSEC Business School has been outstanding. The Global BBA program offers a rich academic curriculum and diverse learning opportunities. I appreciated the chance to study on different campuses, including an international exchange, which broadened my perspective. The social environment is culturally diverse and vibrant, enhancing both my personal and professional growth. The administration is attentive, constantly offering new academic and student life opportunities. The campus facilities and classrooms are excellent. I highly recommend ESSEC for its excellence, global exposure, and career opportunities.
Maximilien
Verified
5/06/2024
On Campus
ESSEC BS BBA REVIEW
The English track BBA program at ESSEC is simply exceptional. Courses are taught by internationally renowned professors who are experts in their field. The subjects taught cover a wide range of disciplines from marketing to finance, strategy and entrepreneurship. The English track is a major asset because it allows you to develop perfect mastery of professional English, essential in today's globalized business world. Some students love student life at Essec, which is one of the best in France, but it all depends on taste.
Clément
Verified
14/06/2024
On Campus
Great program, incredible school
I love almost everything about this school, from the student life to the academic program and the opportunities it provides.
I'm currently at the Paris campus, in Cergy, and I'm really enjoying it.
The BBA program is very rich and diversified, you can start with geopolitics and then finance, what I mean is that there's a great balance between the subjects in this program.
I was also lucky enough to spend a semester at the Singapore campus, and I loved that experience on the other side of the world.
ESSEC is also known for its dynamic and rich student life, with access to several parties a week and the various associations within the school.
If I could recommend just one school, it would be this one - I'm 100% satisfied.
Rayane
Verified
21/10/2024
On Campus
Great experience
First of all, what I appreciate the most is the academic environment. The courses are extremely stimulating and are taught by high-level professors, often experts in their field. The diversity of subjects offered, ranging from marketing to finance, including entrepreneurship, allows you to acquire a complete and versatile education. The group projects, although sometimes stressful, are also an opportunity to learn to work in a team, which is essential in the professional world. One area that I feel could be improved is the management of student events. Although many activities are organized, I have noticed that some events can lack organization or communication, which can frustrate those who want to get involved. Better coordination between the different student associations and the administration could really improve the overall experience.
