A Week of Strategy and Innovation with ECEMA: November Wrap-Up at ESEI
This November, we had the pleasure of hosting 42 Master’s students from ECEMA University in France here at ESEI International Business School. The group, specialising in Strategy and Business Development, joined us for an academic programme designed to strengthen their skills, broaden their perspectives and connect classroom learning with real examples from the world of business.
Monday: AI in Business
The week began with the workshop “AI-Powered Business Development: From Data to Deals” taught by Kate Busby. Students explored applications of artificial intelligence in business development and learned how data-driven decisions support strategic growth. The workshop was highly interactive, with students using digital platforms such as Lovable, Replit, and Base64 to create their own apps and websites. These exercises allowed them to increase automation and reduce the time required to bring a product to market, providing hands-on experience in integrating technology with business processes. Students analysed real business challenges, designed digital solutions and tested their impact on efficiency and scalability, reinforcing the link between strategic thinking and technological implementation.
Tuesday: Lean Startup and Strategic Adaptation
The second workshop, “Pivot and Prosper: Mastering Strategic Adaptation with Lean Startup Methods”, was led by Antoine Delmas. Students examined the Lean Startup approach and discussed how rapid testing, iteration, and adaptation support effective strategic decision-making. The session emphasised practical methods for validating business hypotheses, reducing risk, and efficiently allocating resources when launching new products or services. Participants also learned how to apply these tools to real-world business scenarios, enhancing their ability to respond quickly to changing market conditions and customer feedback.
Wednesday: Scenario Planning and Financial Foresight
Midweek learning continued with “Strategic Scenarios: Navigating Uncertainty with Financial Foresight”, taught by Denis Boevskiy. This session focused on anticipating risks, modelling different market conditions and preparing for strategic uncertainty. Students explored scenario planning techniques, built financial models to evaluate potential outcomes, and considered the broader implications of global economic trends on business strategy. By applying these approaches, they strengthened their ability to think critically, anticipate challenges and make informed decisions in complex business environments.
Thursday: Innovation Sprints and Certificates
On Thursday, the final academic session, “Agile Innovation Sprints: Design Thinking Meets Scrum”, was delivered by Daria Vaguina. Students engaged in collaborative, hands-on exercises that combined creativity, problem-solving, and user-focused design. They learned how to structure innovation projects, iterate rapidly, and manage cross-functional teams effectively. The workshop emphasised agile project management techniques and the integration of user feedback into product development, preparing students to implement these methods in real business contexts. Following the workshop, ESEI hosted the Certificate of Participation Ceremony, recognising the students’ engagement and achievements over the week.
Friday: Industrial Visit to Estrella Damm
The week concluded with a full-group industrial visit to the Estrella Damm brewery, one of Catalonia’s most established companies. Students observed the brewing process, analysed operational workflows, and explored the company’s brand positioning. This visit allowed participants to connect the theoretical frameworks from the week’s workshops—such as strategic adaptation, scenario planning and agile innovation—with practical, real-world business applications.
A Memorable Week at ESEI
This programme reflected what ESEI stands for: international education, practical business learning, personal development and real-world application. The ECEMA University students demonstrated curiosity, teamwork and professionalism throughout their time with us. We were delighted to welcome them to our campus in Barcelona and look forward to future collaborations that continue to open doors for students and society.
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