UK Calling: Exploring Leadership & Innovation

This May, fourteen students from The Alba MBA, Online MBA, Msc in International Business & Management & Msc in Strategic HRM programs embarked on an enriching field trip to London.

The trip was meticulously designed by Alba International Office in collaboration with Henley Business School, ICMA Center in order to expose students to diverse aspects of leadership, artificial intelligence (AI), deal room trading, human resources policies, energy trading and sustainability issues.

On Tuesday, May 7th, the journey began at ICMA Centre at Henley Business School, University of Reading. The students were warmly welcomed by Prof. George Alexandridis and participated in an engaging Dealing Room Simulation Challenge led by Dr. Michael Smith. This hands-on experience provided the students with a taste of the trading world. Students also attended a Leadership Masterclass at the Henley Centre for Leadership. Prof. Dorota Bourne and Prof. Bernd Vogel conducted sessions on understanding personal leadership styles and energizing leadership for optimal performance. This session was both enlightening and interactive, fostering a deeper understanding of effective leadership.

On Wednesday, May 8th, the group met headed to Level 39, a renowned tech hub at London business center. Prof. Vasilis Theoharakis delivered a thought-provoking lecture on sustainable competitive advantage, AI, and ethics in marketing. This was followed by a company presentation by Pantelis Adamopoulos, founder of Adam Ventures and Erasmusbnb, who shared his entrepreneurial journey. 

The afternoon featured a visit to Cisco Meraki, a cloud-managed IT company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Cisco Meraki offers products including wireless, switching, security, enterprise mobility management, and security cameras, all centrally managed from the web. Acquired by Cisco Systems in December 2012, Meraki continues to innovate in the field of cloud-managed IT. Danielle Murphy and Stefania Triantou (Alba alumna) provided insights into the company's strategic vision and HR practices and policies.

Thursday, May 9th, began with a visit to RWE Energy Trading Ltd. RWE is at the forefront of the transition to a green energy world, with its investment and growth strategy, Growing Green, contributing significantly to the decarbonization of the energy system. Dr. Georgi S. Slavov discussed critical issues of climate change and sustainability, highlighting the importance of sustainable practices in the energy sector. In addition, students visited Mazars a leading international audit, tax, and advisory firm. Richard Karmel, Business and Human Rights partner at Mazars shared inspiring business cases on Ethics and equality.

The final day, Friday, May 10th, saw the group return to the ICMA Centre for a session on AI in business strategy and operations by Dr. Mona Ashok. This session delved into the benefits and challenges of digital transformation, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of AI's role in modern business.

Alba Graduate Business School continues to provide its students with opportunities to engage with industry leaders and gain practical experience, reinforcing its commitment to delivering a comprehensive and dynamic education. The Alba Study Field trip is organized annually by Alba International Office in collaboration with one of the 80 plus Alba partner schools.