Blending Psychology with Business at Webster Vienna

Far beyond buzzwords and hype, Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is now widely accepted as an integral part of a leadership skill set. 2004 alumnus Eliot Mannoia works in consulting that combines psychology and business. His MBA at Webster Vienna Private University in Austria and his undergraduate studies in Psychology and Management prepared him for emotionally intelligent leadership.

Eliot recalls, “Having Psychology, the theory, the exchange, the insights…from Webster helped me throughout my whole career, as well as Management…and now that I’m self-employed, the MBA gives you a nice toolkit.” (01:58) 

At Webster Vienna, he gained academic knowledge combined with practical skills through diverse peer interaction.  “I had a friend whose father worked at the Egyptian embassy, and I really got close to the Egyptian culture, in Vienna, through Webster University,” he recalls. (01:14) 

These days, Industries increasingly demand leaders who integrate psychology to build ethical, emotionally intelligent, people-first companies.

Launching with Emotional Resilience and Strategy

Launching a business requires more than strategy; it demands emotional stamina, adaptability, and self-awareness in unpredictable conditions. Therefore, Eliot launched his boutique consulting firm, BrandKarma, during the pandemic, a time of massive global disruption and personal uncertainty. 

“It was lockdown, so it was not the fertile ground to start a new business,” he emphasises. (02:48) Rather than being discouraged, he used emotional intelligence as his compass. “What we do…is fairly new…so we were seen kind of as a nice to have,” Eliot adds. (06:29)

Subsequently, this inspired him to build a consulting business that merges digital psychology and emotional intelligence with strategy to bridge organizational gaps.

Positioning EQ as a Modern Leadership Advantage

Today’s most successful leaders go beyond managing tasks; they connect with people to inspire and build authentic relationships. Moreover, emotional intelligence creates trust, collaboration, and ethics in a world increasingly shaped by automation and uncertainty.

As a digital psychologist, Eliot builds BrandKarma on this principle: how a brand treats people, employees, or customers, is what it returns. “Where other consultants focus on IQ, we focus on EQ,” Eliot stresses. (03:12) 

Additionally, Eliot recognises and designs for human emotion, building ethical and inclusive frameworks for AI-driven workplaces. He believes that, on average, “Every second AI model has a gender bias.” (13:50)

Hence, Eliot’s journey proves that high emotional intelligence isn’t just a soft skill; it drives impactful leadership, as shaped at Webster Vienna.

Emotional Skills in Business Education

Traditional education prioritises theory; however, careers of the future demand emotional self-awareness and socially driven, experiential learning. As a result, Eliot advocates shifting business education toward creativity, reflection, and human-centric, experience-based learning models.

He states, “We need to find greater soft skills, not just the STEM…and STEAM courses.” (10:25) This shift is gaining traction. Hence, Business schools are integrating emotional intelligence and ethical thinking into leadership programs globally. 

The 2004 alumnus actively supports school events like the Webster Vienna Alumni Symposium on emotional intelligence and leadership. 

Moreover, by transforming education into a platform for emotional maturity, institutions can produce leaders and change-makers with high EQs.

Choosing Webster Vienna for Career and Community

Eliot chose Webster Vienna for its vibrant city life in Europe and his connection with the faculty. Eliot states, “I love Vienna. I love the city…and I knew a lot of the faculty that was going to be teaching the MBA course.” (00:23) 

Meanwhile, he gained hands-on experience from active professionals and aligned his passion with his career goals and faculty strengths. Moreover, Webster Vienna fostered cross-cultural friendships and encouraged growth through real-world, beyond-classroom experiences.

Preserving Human Connection in a Tech-First World

As AI reshapes work and communication, leaders must actively preserve empathy and authentic human connection. In response, Eliot ensures that technology enhances, not erodes, human motivation and emotional awareness in organisations.

“A Zoom or a Teams meeting has been proven by Yale University as less engaging…than if it were a face-to-face,” Eliot highlights. (12:35) As a result, he urges business schools to redesign learning methods that prioritize ‘human time’ and that test for critical thinking, not just memorisation. He contemplates, “Not just creating summaries or essays, we need new ways of testing knowledge.” (13:02)

Consequently, Eliot leads BrandKarma by balancing advanced analytics with emotionally grounded, values-driven strategies for modern leadership.

Pursuing Leadership with Passion, Purpose, and Self-Awareness

In today’s hustle culture, Eliot reminds leaders that authentic leadership begins with alignment, curiosity, and self-awareness. For this reason, he believes passion, not pressure, should drive your leadership path and everyday decision-making.

Eliot says, “If it’s something that you’re not really interested in, it’s going to be twice as hard.” (15:26) Additionally, he encourages MBA students to build relationships in every direction, not just upward or hierarchical. “Talk to as many people as you can…enriching yourself with intellect, inspiration, with ideas,” he stresses. (16:06)

As a result, emotionally intelligent leaders can shape the future through empathy, learning, and purpose-driven growth.

Elevating Leadership with Empathy and Soft Skills

The next frontier of effective leadership will not be defined by who has the sharpest mind, but by who leads with the deepest heart. Eliot Mannoia’s journey proves that blending emotional intelligence with business strategy doesn’t just prepare you for success, it humanizes it. As a result, his story challenges traditional MBA narratives centred only on profit and company growth.

Now, business success depends on building cultures rooted in empathy, creativity, and ethical leadership. By combining psychology, technology, and entrepreneurship, Eliot developed a leadership style suited for complexity, not certainty.  His message stays clear in today’s data-heavy world: Soft skills are hard currency. Hence, Emotional Intelligence isn’t a “nice to have”; it’s the new standard of sustainable leadership skills.

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