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​Rewriting the rules of the game

Posted on 31st Jan 2018 in University Study, Spain

looks at 'the art of reinvention' in the Digital Age.

Twenty years ago, Reed Hastings returned an overdue film to his local Blockbuster and was hit with a $40 late-fee. Like many Blockbuster customers, he was embarrassed and annoyed. But Hastings had an idea. An idea that would revolutionize home entertainment.

Netflix is the world’s leading subscription streaming service and even produces its own movies and TV shows. It has changed the way we watch TV and has an annual turnover of $5.5 billion. Hastings, along with co-founder Marc Randolph, created a business model that overhauled an industry. With a company culture that values honesty, passion, curiosity, judgement and innovation, Netflix is the epitome of a cutting-edge 21st century business. And Blockbuster has sunk without a trace.

We’re in an age of unprecedented technological revolution. The way we live, work and interact is changing fast. With the emergence of new forms of business, the question of what it means to be innovative in business requires a new answer.

Many traditional forms of business are now dated. The most influential businesses in the world today are not only coping with complex market changes, but actively shaping them. They are being driven by a new generation of businesspeople with a wide ranging understanding of modern business, together with a certain freedom of creative thought. These visionaries are using technology to create new business models, new industries and to redefine the customer experience.

As the paradigms shift, a world-class business education becomes increasingly important. The ability to adapt to new situations, to embrace challenges and thrive outside of a comfort zone will make the difference in the modern world of business. This is where studying at a top business school comes into play.

Since 1973, EU Business School (EU) has been at the forefront of business education. With campuses in Barcelona, Geneva, Montreux, Munich and online, they offer internationally recognized, cutting-edge programs that prepare students to become adaptive, innovative leaders, with the ability to inspire others.

Providing small, dynamic classes in English, with the best of both North American and European academic curricula, EU gives students a hands-on educational experience. Managing director Luc Craen explains their philosophy: “Reshaping and rethinking business education is extremely important”, says Luc. “We need to prepare students for jobs that don’t exist yet. At EU Business School, this is achieved through an experienced faculty and experts from different industries, who give an insight into current trends and the future of business.”

It’s this enthusiasm to constantly evolve and willingness to push boundaries that makes EU stand out.

Changing lives

Students come to study at EU from all over the world. After completing her high school studies in India, Divya Joshi left behind the comforts of home to study in Europe. The opportunities she discovered changed her life.

“I studied an MBA at EU Business School Montreux, graduating with the award for the highest GPA – 3.9 on a 4.0 scale,” says Joshi. “It taught me to think, act and work like a business leader. My course and the faculty helped train me thoroughly to understand complex business issues and to think strategically. EU provided me with the business skills I was lacking and enhanced my soft skills, such as leadership, cross-cultural understanding and teamwork.”

Divya’s studies led her to New York University, where she now works as a content creator and digital marketer. “My growth as a businessperson was structured in a disciplined way, which equipped me with the necessary frameworks and models to analyze real-world business problems and opportunities. Overall, EU built me into a better learner and worker, who now analyzes situations more intricately and strategically than before.”

International exposure

From developing essential life skills to forging life-long connections, the benefits of studying in an international environment are many. Exposure to different cultures broadens the mind, leading to a greater understanding of the world. This is something that cannot be taught in a classroom, but is instead experienced through open interaction with people of the same age and with similar ambitions. Studying in an international environment gives students a fresh perspective, not only on other cultures, but also on their own, enabling them to see their country through the eyes of another. It builds character and empathy, fundamental attributes in today’s increasingly connected world.

With more than 100 nationalities at EU, students are immersed in a truly multicultural learning environment. An open and adaptive attitude towards foreign cultures is cultivated, enabling students to become more adept at making lasting connections.

Many EU alumni have progressed to play crucial roles in successful international businesses. For instance, Julian Baladurage graduated from EU in 2012 and soon founded his own company. Regarding working in an international environment, he says “You learn a lot about different cultures, about their way of problem-solving, their work ethics, their way of communicating. I run a company with more than 40 people and we have over 15 nationalities among them. [The international study environment] is quite helpful in building intercultural communication and understanding skills.”

A new age

The evolution of business goes hand-in-hand with the evolution of education. Studying at a top business school such as EU is a life-altering choice for students from all over the world; an immersive educational experience that allows them to shape their own future. From mastering the art of reinvention to learning how to communicate with people from all walks of life and being able to learn from failure, EU students graduate ready to break new ground. They will play the game their own way, writing their own rules along the way.