IMD MBA Dean Dr. Omar Toulan details how the rigorous one-year MBA Europe program accelerates leadership growth from week one up until graduation. Learn how IMD’s unique focus on self-understanding, coupled with real-world international projects and global diversity, positions graduates for radical career pivots and sustained global mobility.
The decision to pursue an MBA is often driven by a desire for career acceleration or a significant professional (and sometimes personal) change. If you are seeking a rigorous, fast-track MBA experience that maximizes impact in minimum time, the one-year MBA at IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, offers a uniquely intensive environment.
Dr. Omar Toulan, the Dean of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at IMD, emphasizes that while twelve months may not seem like a lot of time, the program’s inherent intensity allows for deep, transformative development that other programs cannot replicate. This is an opportunity to truly redefine your professional trajectory.
IMD’s MBA program is structured around the philosophy that leadership cannot simply be “taught”; it must be experienced as a deeply personal journey. Consequently, IMD’s unique focus is on developing leaders rather than merely teaching leadership concepts.
This concentration on transformation is so profound that the leadership journey begins in week one and continues almost until graduation. Dr. Toulan notes that some people refer to IMD’s MBA as “the longest leadership program in the world” due to this sustained emphasis throughout the program. (00:41)
A hallmark of the IMD MBA experience is the commitment to self-reflection and personal growth. Dr. Toulan explains that leadership at IMD starts with understanding yourself and learning to lead yourself. This is a necessary precursor to effectively leading others.
A vital component of this introspective focus is the Personal Development Elective (PDE). Through the PDE, students receive 20 hours of psychoanalyst sessions with professionals.
This structured environment helps students understand what they truly want to achieve and what is important to them in life. “If they don’t stop to think about these big issues, it’s going to be a wasted opportunity. And so for us, leadership starts with really understanding yourself.” (01:42)
Dr. Toulan asserts that this is a critical process, especially since many students use the MBA to facilitate a career pivot. If these “big issues” are not addressed, the potential for a meaningful pivot is diminished. Leadership coaches, a fixture at IMD for roughly 40 years, and leadership labs further support this intensive personal development. IMD proudly provides individual and team work with dedicated coaches.
The compressed, intensive nature of the one-year program is not merely about fitting content into a shorter timeframe. It is a strategic tool for nurturing meaningful growth. The curriculum includes a demanding class schedule, consisting of six to eight hours every day of the week. This rigorous learning journey prevents procrastination on difficult, big-picture questions.
Moreover, the environment naturally fosters strong bonds among students. The intensity of the relationships developed allows people to share personal issues. They engage in conversations that would not typically occur in a more casual program setting. The resulting comfort level enables students to learn about themselves while also learning from their peers, making significant strides in their personal development and giving them the confidence to execute a bold career pivot.
A major goal for IMD students is the ability to make substantial changes, whether it be location, sector, or role. The IMD MBA is a generalist MBA. It acts as a “clean slate,” allowing graduates to pursue positions perhaps perceived as out of reach.
Dr. Toulan shares, “I always tell people that companies will look at you based on the last thing you’ve done. Many of our students who do want to make one of the pivots, whether it be geography, industry, or function… having an MBA, [and] in particular I think the IMD MBA… allows them to look at positions which companies would not have considered them for in the past.” (02:12)
According to Dr. Toulan, on average, students pivot at least one or two of these three areas, and sometimes all three simultaneously.
To ensure graduates are prepared for fast-track MBA global mobility, IMD cultivates exceptional diversity among its faculty and students. Approximately 98% of the student cohort are international (that is, non-Swiss). This diverse makeup allows students to understand different cultures and backgrounds. This is crucial since most graduates will ultimately end up working in a country where they did not grow up.
Furthermore, the faculty is diverse in terms of background and experience. The intersection of IMD’s international business environment with its leadership focus helps you learn how to better lead diverse teams within a global context. “You have to be able to lead individuals who might be very different than yourself… I think having that ability to have these conversations with people with very different backgrounds is fundamental in developing those key leadership skills.” (07:15)
A core element of applying these global leadership skills is the International Consulting Project (ICP). This is the program’s capstone project: a five-week, full-time consulting engagement with an international client. These are paying clients whose fees ultimately contribute to the school’s scholarship pool.
The projects are highly impactful. Clients use the recommendations of IMD students to develop the firm’s strategy. This gives you real-world experience and the opportunity to apply all concepts learned throughout the year.
Recent project locations have spanned Uruguay, Colombia, Mexico, Benin, Saudi Arabia, and various countries across Europe.
Some IMD MBA graduates enter consulting and finance roles. However, the program’s focus on leadership and the slightly older class profile of its students (the average age comes with around seven years of work experience, despite the two-year official minimum) make IMD particularly attractive to industry, covering both B2B and B2C sectors.
Geographically, the IMD MBA is a proven pathway to leadership careers in Europe. While only 30% to 40% of students originate from Europe, about 65% to 75% end up staying there post-MBA. Many international students see the MBA as a way of migrating to the continent. About 25% to 35% stay specifically in Switzerland.
In 2024, IMD won a Program of the Year award for introducing transversal skills into the curriculum. Dr. Toulan explains, “Transversal skills, essentially, are what we view as the skills that people will need to know in what we call an AI-enhanced world.” (11:03) These skills, which cross all functions, include problem solving, decision-making, pattern recognition, and systems thinking. Dr. Toulan describes them as the “humanistic” skills that will bridge the gap between leadership and AI.
He also believes that storytelling and executive presence will take center stage. As AI makes flawless PowerPoints routine, competitive advantage shifts. Your ability to convince an audience, not just present data, will become fundamental.
Dr. Toulan views leadership, fundamentally, as your ability to move people in a certain direction. These transversal skills are essential complements to IMD’s existing leadership stream.
The IMD MBA is designed for high-potential professionals who are serious about making a significant and sustained career pivot. IMD goes beyond simply teaching management. It combines the world’s most intense leadership development program, deep personal coaching, mandatory international projects, and cutting-edge transversal skills training. Through this, IMD develops impactful, ethical leaders.
Engage in a rigorous journey of self-discovery and emerge prepared to lead on a global stage. Explore how the IMD MBA program can facilitate your leadership transformation and secure your future success in an ever-changing, AI-enhanced world.
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