The Stockholm School of Economics (SSE)’s Executive MBA is ideal for seasoned professionals. The program elevates their leadership skills and expands their business understanding. Hear from EMBA graduate Axel Berning, a manager at DNB Bank, and explore how the program helped him get out of his comfort zone.
In today’s rapidly evolving business world, business professionals are constantly seeking ways to grow and adapt. The Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) offers an excellent opportunity to do so. SSE’s Executive MBA (EMBA) program is ideal for seasoned professionals wanting to step out of their comfort zone. This English language program is highly suited for EMBA candidates who want to gain a global perspective, improve their leadership skills, and elevate their careers.
Axel Berning is an SSE EMBA graduate. When starting the program he was Head of Transaction Banking Sweden at DNB. Through the program, Axel felt empowered to start a new position. Having gained new skills and perspectives throughout the program, he felt ready for a change. He ultimately decided to switch roles to become the General Manager of Asian Operations at DNB.
He says, “How I’m being challenged in this program? I must say that a lot of it has to do with me stepping out of my comfort zone.” (00:05)
The program challenged him and his peers to step out of their comfort zones to explore new perspectives and try new methodologies.
The 2023 Financial Times EMBA ranking puts SSE’s Executive MBA as the 57th best EMBA in the world. Located in Sweden, this makes it one of the highest-ranked EMBAs available in the Nordic countries.
The 18-month program has ten weeks on campus. The time on campus includes interactive lectures, visiting speakers, and company trips. Three of these weeks are also dedicated to international field trips. Participants travel to Latvia, Singapore, and the US.
Another advantage of the program is that participants earn an MBA degree and three extra certificates. These certificates are awarded in collaboration with Stanford Center for Professional Development, the National University of Singapore, and the Global Network for Advanced Management.
The EMBA also encourages participants to explore diverse perspectives to become global leaders.
During the field trips abroad, participants gain first-hand knowledge about how businesses work in other countries. They attend lectures and guest talks at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Standford University, and SSE Riga.
Additionally, participants are encouraged to pursue electives that match their interests and have the option to take electives outside of SSE and Stockholm.
As Axel says, “The opportunity to study, not just here at SSE in Stockholm, which has been great, but the opportunity to go to Singapore, to go to the US and visit Stanford – it has certainly been a different sort of mindset and a shift of perspective.” (01:02)
The international study options and global approach to learning are a great advantage of the program. The program reflects the skills and knowledge needed for business leadership in an increasingly globalized world.
Axel highlights the engaging nature of the SSE EMBA’s unique program.
“During the course week, we have a lot of discussions with the professors attached with a lot of group work, seminars, and individual work as well.” (00:39)
One of the standout features of the Executive MBA at SSE is its executive coaching program. This personalized coaching is designed to meet the professional development needs and goals of each participant.
For example, the LeadershipLive program focuses on all aspects of leadership development. Participants focus on self-reflection, confidence building, collaboration, and communication skills. Participants are encouraged to learn about leadership on multiple levels. Through the program, participants learn what it truly means to be a global leader.
Reflecting on the program, Axel notes that he was pleasantly surprised by the many different perspectives in the classroom. Being in a multicultural environment with people from various industries inspired him. This dimension of the program infused his own work with new insights and fresh energy.
“Being part of these great institutions has been a very inspiring experience in itself. Being challenged by peers, not just from my own industry, but the variety of industries that we see here is quite astonishing. It also gives the insight that people think in different ways depending on where they work and how their industry is structured.” (01:26)
Firsthand exposure to different business cultures and methodologies has broadened Axel’s business understanding. After completing the program, he has a renewed view of challenges and opportunities, seeing them through a multifaceted lens. This has influenced his approach to work at DNB Bank.
What else will he bring back to DNB Bank from his EMBA experience?
Axel identifies two key things: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and organizational thinking. (00:51)
CSR reflects a commitment to integrating ethical practices and sustainability. This is a core component of the EMBA program. In fact, the Executive MBA program at SSE ranks #9 worldwide for ESG-related content. This highlights the program’s continued commitment to addressing environmental and social issues in its core courses.
Organizational thinking, on the other hand, aims to enhance internal structures and processes to promote efficiency.
Axel reflects on his initial apprehensions, due to the high workload of the program.
He reflects, “I entered it a little bit conflicted because of the amount of work… but in hindsight, it was all very worth it because I’ve learned so much, I’ve gained so many new friends and the insights are something that’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” (01:58)
Getting out of your comfort zone, and pursuing perspectives outside your industry or culture can be a life-changing experience.
Axel’s experience underscores the value of stepping out of your comfort zone for personal and professional growth. The interactive nature of the program, the global approach, and the diverse cohort helped Axel gain invaluable skills and knowledge.
With this new set of tools, he can tackle challenges in his career with fresh insights and a broadened perspective.
Explore the Stockholm School of Economics profile page for an overview of what the business school offers.
