ESMT Berlin

What a day! 🏅 The second edition of the ESMT Olympics brought together students, alumni, and staff for an unforgettable afternoon in the ESMT garden. Across a wide range of activities—from football, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, chess, and Kubb to yoga, tug of war, ring toss, and the always entertaining three-legged and blindfolded egg races—participants competed with enthusiasm, determination, and plenty of team spirit.

More importantly, the event was a celebration of the ESMT community. It was wonderful to see members of our community connect across programs and generations, cheer each other on, and create new memories together.

Congratulations to all medal winners and a big thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, and supported the event. The energy, sportsmanship, and camaraderie on display made this second edition a tremendous success.

Take a look at some of our favorite moments from the day in the photo gallery below! 📸

What does innovation really require? The latest issue of ESMT Update, our biannual magazine, explore not only the opportunities innovation creates, but also the trade-offs, tensions, and decisions that come with it. From the future of AI and biodiversity to the hidden dynamics behind market competition, from healthcare innovation to team autonomy, this edition brings together research and perspectives that challenge conventional thinking.

💡 Peek inside to discover:
• How shared medical appointments improve patient engagement
• Why some firms become dominant innovators
• When autonomy helps teams perform at their best
• How AI can support biodiversity protection

A big thank you to all contributors, researchers, speakers, and members of the ESMT community who helped bring this edition to life.

➡ Read the full magazine: https://swll.to/fypJkYd

Your weekend plans? ☀ Stay here, we have an idea. Live music, great food, family activities, and a vibrant community atmosphere. And if you are planning to spend the day on Museuminsel, there is even more to discover!

This Saturday, June 6, the Neighborhood Festival returns to the ESMT Berlin Campus, bringing together neighbors, students, families, and visitors for a free summer celebration in the heart of Berlin.

Spend the day by the Spree enjoying entertainment, activities for all ages, and opportunities to connect with some of Berlin's leading institutions.

🔔 If you are making a day of it, you will find even more happening across Museuminsel this weekend. Museuminsel Berlin (Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz) is celebrating its 200th anniversary with the Island Festival, while the Zentral- und Landesbibliothek Berlin (ZLB) is hosting a special festival to mark 125 years of serving Berlin through education and culture. Don't miss it!

One location. Three reasons to visit Museuminsel this weekend!

📅 Saturday, June 6, 2026
🎟 Free admission · No registration required

In collaboration with Humboldt Forum, Bertelsmann Stiftung, Bundesstiftung Bauakademie, Flussbad Berlin e.V., Füchse Berlin, Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin, Lebenswelten Catering, WBM Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Berlin-Mitte mbH, and PETRI Berlin.

Remember "Pokémon" and "Yu-Gi-Oh!" cards? For many, trading cards were a childhood passion. Today, they are part of a thriving European marketplace ecosystem led by ESMT Executive MBA (EMBA) participant Robert Giel, CEO of Cardmarket. Recently featured in Forbes DA, Robert shared how Cardmarket became Europe’s largest marketplace for trading card games, connecting more than 735,000 buyers and 210,000 sellers across the continent. But beyond the numbers lies a fascinating question about passion, community, consumer behavior, and what gives collectibles their value today.

From trading “Magic: The Gathering” cards as a user to leading a company with 115 employees, Robert’s journey shows how passion and leadership can evolve together.

Congratulations to Robert on the Forbes Austria feature!

👉 Read the article (in German): https://swll.to/SsZGhyO

🎉 Congratulations to the participants of the Executive Transition Program (ETP) for completing the last module and receiving their postgraduate diploma from ESMT Berlin last week! Over the past months, the cohort explored the realities of general management leadership through reflection, peer exchange, and hands-on learning experiences focused on:
🔹 Adaptive change and systems thinking
🔹 Leadership presence and influence
🔹 Strategic networks and connection
🔹 Leading within complex organizations

What stood out most was the openness to challenge one another constructively, the depth of discussion, and the trust built across the cohort over the past months. We look forward to welcoming them back at future ETP Salon gatherings to continue the exchange across the ETP network.

👉 Interested in preparing for broader responsibility in general management? Join the program's next intake with program director Ellen Herb and program manager Margarida Camejo: https://swll.to/WJkK5

Two degrees. Two continents. What happens when an ESMT Berlin student takes the leap from Berlin to Yale School of Management? For Lukas (Master in Global Management Class of 2026), it meant exchanging Berlin Döner Kebab for New Haven bagels, joining Yale SOM’s soccer team, experiencing the legendary Yale–Harvard rivalry, and earning two master’s degrees from two leading global business schools. But alongside the classrooms and campuses, his story is about curiosity, courage, and embracing opportunities that lead to unexpected connections and growth.

“Over time, you will realize that you are capable of so much more than you initially assumed.”

In this blog article, Lukas shares what it is really like to pursue the double degree between ESMT Berlin and Yale School of Management, from the application process to life in the New Haven and in Berlin, and the lessons he will carry into his career.

🔎 Read the full story here: https://swll.to/3I9Jo

🚀 Ready to create your own global journey? Apply to the Master in Global Management (MGM) by June 30: https://swll.to/xJfctv

Congratulations to our students on their Social Impact Project (SIP)! Over the past few months, they stepped far outside the classroom and into communities around the world to work on social impact challenges.🌎

Students from the Master in Global Management, the Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and UVA McIntire School of Commerce partnered with NGOs, nonprofit organizations, and associations across 18 countries as part of the SIP. Working as consultants, they tackled real challenges, brought fresh ideas, and helped organizations create meaningful impact on the ground.

And recently, they returned to Berlin to present the results of their work.

This year, 23 teams worked on topics ranging from women’s empowerment and mental health support to marine biodiversity, cybersecurity for NGOs, reforestation, art and education, electrical mobility, rural community development, and circular reuse.

We would like to recognize the three finalist teams for this year’s Social Impact Award:
🌊 Team ESMT Sharks, who partnered with Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS).
🌱 Team 4Purpose, who worked with Inspire Indonesia.
🏔 Team Fifth Direction, who collaborated with GerHub in Mongolia.

One of these teams will be announced as the winner during graduation and the €5,000 Social Impact Award will then be awarded to their client organization.

We would like to extend our congratulations as well to the recipients of the Social Impact Peer Award from the UVA McIntire School of Commerce whose work was especially recognized by their peers: teams Wahoos for Winneba and East Bali Empowerment.

Some of these projects could not have been possible without the generous support of our SIP partner BMW Group!

And finally, thank you to every single student team involved this year. Your curiosity, empathy, and willingness to engage with complex challenges around the world embody what the Social Impact Project is all about.

👉 Learn more about the SIP: https://swll.to/socialimpactproject
👉 Learn more about the Master programs: https://swll.to/masterdegree

🎉 Congratulations to Julia Langdon, assistant professor of organizational behavior at ESMT Berlin, for being selected as one of Poets&Quants’ 2026 Best 40-Under-40 Business Professors!

Julia joined ESMT Berlin in 2023 and also serves as Volkswagen Group Junior Chair for Ethics and Diversity in Organizations. Her research focuses on behavioral ethics and inclusion, exploring how organizations can reduce unethical behavior and foster more inclusive workplaces.

The annual Poets&Quants recognition honors emerging faculty members from graduate business programs around the world, selected for their excellence in teaching and research.

This recognition reflects Julia’s strong impact in the classroom and her contributions to advancing responsible leadership and inclusion in organizations.

👉 Read her full interview: https://swll.to/gYrsWbI

When business as unusual leads to global recognition. Our executive education programs at ESMT Berlin have been ranked among the world’s top #5 for customized programs and top #10 for open enrollment programs, in the Financial Times Executive Education Ranking 2026.

These results are about more than positions in a ranking. They highlight the trust organizations place in us to develop leaders who think globally and act responsibly; leaders who can navigate complexity, lead change, and shape the future of business.

This ranking marks our fifth consecutive year in the top 10 worldwide for custom programs, making ESMT the undisputed #1 in Germany for executive education.

This achievement is made possible by the excellent work of our executive education team, the trust of our corporate partners, and the ambition of every participant who learns with us.

Thank you! 🙏

👉 Check the rankings: https://swll.to/vGoShvZ

👏 Congratulations to Punit Thakkar for being named one of the Poets&Quants 100 Best & Brightest MBAs of 2026.

From exploring entrepreneurship to experimenting with emerging technologies during his MBA, Punit’s journey reflects the curiosity, creativity, and entrepreneurial mindset we value at ESMT Berlin.

In the feature, he shares how the full-time MBA helped him bridge technology, sustainability, leadership, and innovation. He also highlights the strong sense of community at ESMT, where collaboration across programs, classmates, faculty, and alumni helped shape his experience both personally and professionally.

Read his full story with Poets&Quants: https://swll.to/zcuLWGw
🎓 Explore the program and apply by May 17: https://swll.to/kYtsA