Technology-centric electives are an increasingly important part of most MBA programs. But the IÉSEG School of Management takes tech-focused business education to the next level. The IÉSEG Leadership and Coding MBA track is uniquely focused on the fusion of technology and leadership.
IÉSEG (Institut d’Économie Scientifique et de Gestion) School of Management is a French private graduate business school with campuses in Lille and Paris. IÉSEG approaches MBA programs differently from other business schools. Rather than offering multiple distinct MBA programs, they have what they call an “MBA HUB”.
Within the MBA HUB, candidates follow three MBA tracks with a common core: the Executive track, the International track, and the Leadership and Coding track. Each of these tracks is tailored to unique career trajectories. The Executive track is for those with five years of work experience who want a part-time course. The other two tracks are full-time and are geared toward those interested in working internationally or with technology.
Perhaps the most groundbreaking of IÉSEG’s MBA HUB specialization offerings is the MBA in Leadership and Coding. While it’s becoming common for business schools to integrate tech-centric electives into their curriculum, it remains a rarity to see coding positioned at the core of an MBA program.
Let’s find out a little more about IÉSEG’s forward-thinking Leadership and Coding MBA track.
IÉSEG’s Leadership and Coding MBA track harmoniously merges human leadership with the power of technology. MBA candidates are equipped with valuable leadership skills but also gain an understanding of how digital technologies are disrupting business.
Jacob Vakkayil is the Director of the International MBA program at IÉSEG. He explains what attracts students to the Leadership and Coding track.
“There is an increasing realization that technology drives many things, including what people traditionally do in marketing, finance, or global supply chains,” he says. “So this is the reason why students get excited about technology and why they want to join this track in the program.” (02:42)
The Leadership and Coding track’s curriculum includes eight coding modules taught at le wagon, a coding school based in Paris. Here, students will delve into topics like software design, programming, web development, and machine learning.
If that sounds a little daunting, there’s no need to worry. Most of the program’s participants come from a non-tech background so modules are suitable for students without any coding experience.
The program’s objective isn’t necessarily for students to become expert coders or professional programmers. Rather, the idea is that they gain enough knowledge of these areas to understand and discuss them. Such an understanding ensures graduates can confidently and effectively communicate about these emergent technologies within corporate settings.
This concept is also related to the other key focus of the track: leadership.
Leadership isn’t just about understanding theories; it’s about effective communication and collaboration within an organization. A leader’s prowess is amplified when they have a holistic grasp of all an organization’s components, from traditional business functions to emerging technologies. This perspective drives the leadership modules of IÉSEG’s Leadership and Coding MBA Track.
According to Jacob, success hinges on a student’s ability to relate the coding “aspect to managerial concepts that they do in the other part of the program.” It is about understanding how digital technology aligns with leadership. (02:18)
In the modern business landscape, mastering traditional fundamentals like finance, marketing, and management is just the starting point. To stand apart, MBA graduates need an understanding of digital technologies. So an MBA program emphasizing this digital proficiency can be a game-changer.
Paris is a testament to international diversity; nearly half of the city’s population are immigrants or have at least one immigrant parent. The IÉSEG MBA reflects that global pulse. According to the FT European Business School Ranking 2022, 89% of the IÉSEG faculty are international, one of the highest proportions of any school in Europe. This diversity helps students to look at business challenges from a cosmopolitan lens.
While IÉSEG’s MBA International track focuses explicitly on global business, the Leadership and Coding track shares some modules. So all MBA students situate their learnings within a global context. To further reinforce this, students are provided opportunities to explore prominent business centers across the globe.
Additionally, IÉSEG students can choose to study an elective abroad at one of the school’s partner institutions. This is a vital part of the IÉSEG experience, and one that stands at the center of all its MBA programs.
The IÉSEG Leadership and Coding MBA track equips students with a comprehensive understanding of tech-centric contemporary businesses. This enhances a student’s grasp of how these organizations function and primes them for leadership roles down the line.
This multifaceted skill set paves the way for potential transitions across industries or job functions. However, Jacob says it’s essential to have clear goals before attempting to change careers.
“The only thing is if you make too many different shifts at the same time, it becomes more challenging for you,” he says. “So the idea is to plan your career project in such a way that you eventually end up where you want to be. You need to have a long-term perspective when you want to make these changes.” (07:04)
Ultimately, though, the Leadership and Coding MBA track is focused on the intersection of technology and business. If you understand how digital technologies will shape the future of work, you can set yourself apart from other MBA graduates. From there, the possibilities are endless.
If you’re looking to be at the forefront of this intersection, IÉSEG might just be your next destination.
Interested in undertaking an MBA in France? Engage with MBA candidates and alumni from French business schools via the MBAGRADSCHOOLS Ambassadors page.
