Friday, June 26

Dress code: formal and classic attire.

3.30 – 5.30 p.m. | Anniversary celebration

This year, we are marking special anniversaries for selected cohorts, offering a dedicated opportunity to come together and celebrate.

This year's celebratory cohorts:

• 20 year anniversary for Full-time MBA 2006
• 15 year anniversary for Full-time MBA 2011, EMBA 2011
• 10 year anniversary for Full-time MBA 2016, EMBA 2016, MIM 2016
• 5 year anniversary for Full-time MBA 2021, EMBA 2021, Telekom MBA 2021, Doha EMBA-EMPA 2021 and MIM 2021

Please note, the year refers to your graduation year.

The reunion activity will be tailored based on registrations and group size. The exact activity will be communicated at a later date.

6.00 – 7.30 p.m. | Town hall with alumni awards ceremony & executive dialogue

We open with our traditional town hall led by ESMT President, Jörg Rocholl, who will share the latest updates from the school. In a special ceremony we will announce the winners of this year's alumni awards. We will also celebrate the very first 20 year milestone of the MBA cohort and reveal the winners of the alumni scholarship challenge. 

We will continue the town hall with the executive dialogue. The speaker will be announced soon.

7.30 – 11.00 p.m. | Evening reception

We round off the day with an evening reception filled with music, conversation, and celebration.

Saturday, 27 June

Dress code: inspired by home. Guests are invited to interpret “home” through their attire - whether through traditional garments or modern pieces influenced by cultural heritage.

12.00 – 1.00 p.m. | Arrival & lunch

Arrive on campus, grab a quick lunch and network with fellow alumni.

1.00 – 2.30 p.m. | Breakout sessions

Choose from a diverse range of interactive sessions designed to challenge perspectives, build new skills, and offer new perspectives:

When your boss creates chaos: how to lead, influence upward, and protect your team by Matthew Bothner
Why do some leaders create disruption - reshuffling roles, raising expectations, or setting bold directions without clear guidance? In this session, Prof. Matthew Bothner examines annealing: deliberate disruption designed to reveal talent and drive adaptation. The session draws on his recent research on strategic disruption and leadership dynamics. Through discussion and a brief in-class case, you will assess when to cool the system, when to harness the pressure, and how to lead upward while protecting your team.

From customer centricity to customer impact by Dirk Zimmermann
This interactive session introduces CX- and Journey-Management as practical tools for customer centricity. The session explores CX as a management challenge: how do organizations align strategy, insights, decision-making, and execution around the customer? After a brief, accessible introduction, participants work with a development and maturity model covering six key dimensions: journeys, insights, skills, culture, operations, and tools. Using a guided self-diagnostic, alumni reflect on how mature their own organization is across these dimensions and discuss the implications with peers.

When the plans fall apart: executive improv for real life by Qiao Zhang
Now with everything changes so fast around us, we as leaders often face situations, that our prepared scripts, plans, and answers are completely made redundant and irrelevant from one minute to the next. When surprises and disruption walk into the room, how do we say "yes" to them, and navigate the situations with courage, creativity and collaboration? In this session, we will experience how an improv actor works – without scripts and plans – and come up with brilliant work with their ensembles. We see what business leaders can learn from this process and what we can take back to our daily executive improv show.

The leadership stage: leading with vision and empowerment by Nadeshda Kreya
What can leaders learn from the art of theatre? This highly interactive session uses theatre practice as an experiential laboratory for self- and team leadership. Rather than analyzing leadership concepts, participants step into a space where vision, empowerment, and presence become tangible. In this session, participants will explore leading through vision and meaning, balancing guidance and empowerment, fostering co-creation and shared ownership in teams, among other topics. Participants leave with a sharpened sense of how leadership is experienced by oneself and others - and how authentic impact is created.

From alumni to angel: how to become a business angel by Baris Efe
This session is designed for alumni who are curious about taking their first steps into angel investing. We'll explore what it really means to be a business angel; from evaluating early-stage startups and structuring deals, to the mindset and networks needed to succeed. Whether you're considering your first investment or simply want to understand the ecosystem better, this session offers practical insights from those who have made the leap from the business world into startup investing.

Getting headhunted: how executive recruiters think by Kati Najipoor-Smith
This session is open to executives only (EMBA alumni and MBA with 15+ years of work experience).

In this interactive session, Kati Najipoor-Smith - drawing on her experience in executive search - offers a behind-the-scenes look at how headhunters identify and assess senior talent. Through discussion and practical insights, participants will explore what makes leaders visible and attractive to recruiters, how to position themselves strategically in the market, and how to engage with executive search opportunities in a thoughtful and effective way. A focused session for those looking to better understand and navigate the executive talent landscape.

Broken rung to breakthrough, moderated by Nadine Voronich
This interactive fishbowl session explores how women leaders can turn strategic visibility into real career opportunity and influence. Building on the latest McKinsey research and insights from The Broken Rung, the discussion will focus on the critical first step to leadership, the shift from mentorship to sponsorship, and the mid-career plateau that many women experience.

Fishbowl conversation attendees include selected ETP alumnae who have navigated and overcome the “broken rung” in their own careers: 
1. Ludmila Bezuglaya - Product Director at Yager
2. Elena Tsoukka - Consultant, COO, Business Insider Top 25 Zukunftsmacherinnen
3. Amira El-Deeb - Dean of the School of Continuing Education at Zewail City of Science, Technology and Innovation
4. Heinke Richter - Head of Director Presidential & Supervisory Board Office at ADAC Germany.
5. Diana Radke - Managing Director at Europace Ratenkredit GmbH

The hidden fragility of AI adoption in organizations by Julia Odegova
Most organizations assume that once employees receive access to AI tools and some training, adoption will naturally follow. Evidence from a corporate pilot study of Microsoft 365 Copilot suggests a more fragile reality: many employees rarely engage with AI tools outside structured training environments. The findings indicate that sustained adoption depends less on formal training and more on trust, peer learning, and team-level experimentation. This seminar is intended for leaders and practitioners responsible for implementing AI initiatives within organizations. It is particularly relevant for those preparing teams for the challenges of deploying generative and agentic AI in everyday work.

2.30 – 3:00 p.m | Coffee break

Take a moment to recharge, reflect on your session, and continue conversations over coffee.

3.00 – 5.00 p.m. |  Experiential networking session

Our interactive session combines insightful discussions with guided interaction. First, we will hear from Gauri van Gulik, who will invite us to reflect on our career paths and explore ways to make our jobs more meaningful and impactful. This will be followed by an experiential networking session designed to help you connect with a wider range of alumni in a focused and engaging way. You will take part in a facilitated experience that begins with a short group exercise to bring participants together, followed by structured networking in relevant, pre-assigned groups. The format is designed to encourage meaningful exchange across industries, backgrounds, and experience levels.

5.15 – 6.00 p.m. | Campus tour

Rediscover the ESMT campus with a guided tour, offering a fresh perspective on a familiar place. Participation is limited to 30 people per group. You'll be able to sign up for the tour at the registration desk on the day.

5.00 – 9.30 p.m. | Summer fest

As the afternoon transitions into evening, join us outdoors for a lively summer fest. Enjoy great food, music, and relax in the garden. Dedicated kids' corner will be available for those attending with their little ones. 

9.30 – 2.00 a.m. | Party

End the day on a high note with a late-night party. Dance, celebrate, and enjoy the night. Cash bar will be available.