HEC LAUSANNE EXECUTIVE MBA
OUR PEOPLE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
HEC Lausanne
WELCOME TO A WORLD OF
OPPORTUNITIES
Each year our EMBA programme attracts a diverse group of motivated professionals pursuing roles that require
new skills, greater responsibility, and strong leadership.
Although each of our participants arrives with their own specific goals, they all share a common
objective: a commitment to change.
At HEC Lausanne we share this commitment. Our comprehensive programme enables our graduates to better
understand and negotiate the ever-shifting business environment, at both a personal and professional level. Our
culture provides a unique learning environment that combines a Faculty known for its cutting-edge research,
diverse teaching methods, and a network of partners that will prepare you to transform your career, your
organisation, or your industry.
We look forward to meeting you and discussing how our programme can help you achieve your goals.
“Our Executive MBA offers a unique opportunity to take time out from your business
life to reframe your focus and review your aims. Many of the participants who complete
our programme are transformed professionally and personally. They are energised with a
fresh new vision of the possibilities open to them and equipped with the skills to fulfil their
highest potential.” Jeffrey S. Petty
Academic Director
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WHY HEC LAUSANNE?
The Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Lausanne
prepares responsible managers and entrepreneurs to generate and
implement ideas that impact society.
The Faculty is regarded as a leading business school, offering the highest quality
management and economic education and conducting notable research across
various fields of business studies.
Fast Facts
University of Lausanne
Founded in 1537
Became a university in 1890
7 faculties
14,189 students
HEC Lausanne delivered its first MBA programme in 1979. Designed for ambitious
managers seeking to enhance their career opportunities, the full-time MBA evolved
into an Executive MBA in 2005. Initially launched with a focus in Corporate Finance,
the programme rapidly grew in size and scope with a second track being offered in
2011, the Executive MBA focus in Healthcare Management.
3,154 full-time employees
The Executive MBA enables participants to interact with their international
peers and professors, as well as gaining a more in-depth knowledge of business
fundamentals within a challenging university environment.
88 full-time professors
HEC Lausanne
Founded in 1911
3,000 students
300 researchers
10,000 alumni
Executive MBA Programme
A HIGHLY RANKED PROGRAMME
The Executive MBA programme is accredited by EQUIS and AMBA, two
international accreditation bodies that ensure its quality and academic excellence.
Cohort of 40 to 50 students
870 alumni
International Business School
100 academic partnerships
The programme has been ranked among the top 100 Executive MBA programmes
for the past four years by the Financial Times. Moreover, the focus in Healthcare
Management is recognised by the Fédération des Médecins Suisses (FMH).
Graduates of the Healthcare focus are eligible to receive 25 credits toward ISFM
training.
“Our EMBA programme has been ranked among the top 100 Executive MBA
courses for the past four years by the Financial Times.”
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42% international students
65% international faculty
INSPIRING PROFESSORS AND LECTURERS
How can we expect to nurture participants into visionaries, leaders and agents of change if we are not
inspiring teachers ourselves?
Our dynamic, bold, sometimes unorthodox, often unusual teaching methods have helped us consistently rank as
an exciting, best-in-class EMBA programme.
Our professors develop theories and new methodologies that form the foundations of our academic excellence.
As a university-based business school, HEC Lausanne has two main missions toward the community: Research and
Teaching. These activities complement each other, as our professors use their research to enrich and strengthen
their teaching.
HEC professors hold doctorates from world leading universities and have many years of teaching experience
within the Executive MBA programme. In addition to their academic responsibilities, they are an active part of the
international business community.
AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Situated at the heart of a key European business cluster and with over half of the Faculty comprised of international
professors and lecturers, HEC Lausanne is a global campus, one of the most cosmopolitan business schools in
Europe.
Our location in French-speaking Switzerland, home to the headquarters of many international corporations, the
United Nations, a strong finance industry, and a significant pharmaceutical hub, means we attract a particularly rich
and unique mix of mid-career professionals. Participants work in global organisations, and are highly motivated to
learn and bring their skills to the classroom.
“HEC Lausanne is one of the most cosmopolitan business schools in Europe, with a highly international Faculty.”
PARTNERSHIPS ENRICH OUR PROGRAMME
Strong relationships with key partners are the result of our clear business and market orientation. We actively
collaborate with organisations and businesses that enhance the value of the academic, leadership, and careerrelated aspects of our programme.
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WHY CHOOSE US?
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QUALITY, EVIDENCE-BASED TEACHING
HEC Lausanne is recognised for its efforts devoted to research and academic publications. The
Executive MBA programme leverages the latest research and specific methodologies to deliver
courses developed to match the needs and expectations of managers operating in demanding and
dynamic environments and organisations.
Oriented toward teaching and promoting responsible business practices, our programme challenges
participants to develop new perspectives that require them to consider the impact of their actions on
both their organisation and society.
“We leverage the latest research and methodologies to deliver courses developed to match the
expectations of today’s managers.”
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PEERS THAT WILL CHALLENGE AND INSPIRE YOU
The selection process for the Executive MBA at HEC Lausanne is intensive, for a reason. We believe
that it is our responsibility to build a dynamic yet heterogeneous class with an appropriate blend of
academic backgrounds, professional experiences, and career ambitions.
Learning, especially in the context of the Executive MBA, is a social process, and your classmates as
well as your professors will contribute to your progress.
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A GREAT FIT FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE
Designed to fit your professional and personal commitments, classes are offered every other week.
Preparation for classes and completing assignments requires time, but the scope and delivery of the
programme allows you to maintain a balance in your personal and current professional life.
What to expect from the
programme
The Executive MBA HEC Lausanne lasts 15 months and all courses are taught in English.
Classes take place at the UNIL campus on Fridays and Saturdays (8h30-17h30) every second week, with three
additional block weeks throughout the programme.
Participants choose one of these two focus areas:
In Healthcare Management
In Management & Corporate Finance
Key learning objectives of the Executive MBA programme include:
•
Developing effective management strategies and leading their implementation;
•
Exploiting financial planning opportunities to drive performance;
•
Leveraging key management concepts and tools to enhance your organisation’s competitiveness;
•
Learning and applying the latest leadership principles.
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DYNAMISM THROUGH DIVERSITY
At HEC Lausanne we value diversity, meaning we evaluate each participant’s professional experience, academic
achievement, and personal qualities. Each year our participants hail from a wide variety of organisations and have
worked around the world. They all have a strong motivation, ambition and clear career aspirations. They
understand how the programme can help them to achieve their personal and professional goals.
The experience and personality that each participant brings to our programme continuously shapes and informs
the classroom experience. Whether it is our participants, professors, alumni, or partners, our people really are a
differentiating and defining element of our Executive MBA.
•Class of 45-55 participants
35+20+3015w
70+20+10w
Other
Engineering
•Female Ratio:25%-40%
Sciences |
Natural Sciences
•Average age of 38
Management |
Economics
•educational background
35%
20%
30%
15%
Engineering
Management & Economics
Sciences & natural sciences
others
Other
Swiss
European
• different nationalities
•20
•Average of 13 years of work experience
*Statistics from the past three classes (Class of 2015 to Class of 2017)
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«My name is Stéphanie. I have over 15 years of professional experience and I am
currently Head of the Quality and Risk Department at IATA for its financial and
distribution services division. I am married and have two children.
My motivation to pursue an EMBA was to acquire new capabilities, especially in
the finance area. I also wanted to broaden my business knowledge and skills.
At HEC Lausanne I found not only a relevant programme with high quality
courses and professors but also a real cohesion between my classmates. I was
very inspired by the people I met. They have greatly contributed toward my
experience by exposing me to different ways of thinking.
I can safely say that choosing HEC Lausanne was more than worth it!»
«I am Mario and I come from Colombia. After many years in Germany where
I have been studying and working, I moved to Switzerland to establish myself
professionally.
With a background in engineering, I developed my technical skills and
competencies in leadership and business as one goes along in my work.
Nevertheless, I did not have the chance to build strong foundations in
management and corporate finance.
With the EMBA HEC Lausanne, I was able to learn key elements of a solid
management strategy that can generate value-added for both my corporate
strategic projects and my company. This knowledge also allowed me to further
develop my career within SBB FFF FFS from Project Manager to becoming Deputy
QM Manager toward the end of the programme.
In addition, HEC Lausanne gave me an extraordinary cosmopolitan playground
for enrichment through meeting experienced professionals from different global
and local industries.»
«My name is Ramin. I am German and a father of two boys. I am the Founder
and Managing Director of Nexus Consulting, a training consulting company that
delivers services worldwide.
During my first weeks at HEC Lausanne, I rapidly realised the strengths of the
programme. The positive environment and the work we were absorbed in
created collaborations and sharing among all of us. We were not only learning
from our professors but were also enriched by our contacts with each other.
Arriving at the end of this journey, I enhanced my entrepreneurial spirit,
knowledge and skills, which helped me to further grow my business. I also made
life-long friends. We collaborated on the hard work with an incredible class
team-spirit and we did it with a lot of passion, joy and fun.
I would love to repeat this experience again!»
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PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
CORE CURRICULUM
The core of the programme aims to enhance participants’ understanding of business analytics, strategic
management and leadership.
• Accounting & Control
• Leadership
• Business & Society
• Leading Organisational Culture & Change
• Business Economics
• Marketing Management
• Business Law Fundamentals
• Negotiation
• Business Statistics
• Operations Management
• Entrepreneurship
• Public Speaking & Presence
• Finance Fundamentals
• Strategic Management
• Financial Accounting
• Sustainability & Strategy
YOUR CHOSEN FOCUS AREAS
Healthcare Management
The Healthcare Management Focus, oriented toward the specific needs of the healthcare sector, provides
participants with strong knowledge and tools to meet future challenges in the ever-changing healthcare
environment.
• Healthcare Strategy & Marketing
• Health Technology Assessment & Regulation
• Therapeutic Innovation
Management & Corporate finance
The Management & Corporate Finance Focus provides managers with deeper knowledge in corporate finance.
This focus strengthens participants’ understanding of the fundamental concepts of finance.
• Corporate Finance
• Financial Investments
• Strategic Taxation Issues
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PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
At HEC Lausanne, our personal and professional development modules – which run throughout the programme
- aim to enhance your skills and help you to develop your career plan.
Our tailored approach will enable each participant to identify and analyse his or her particular needs and goals.
Participants will work with our professionals and executive coaches to develop their skills and methodologies to
strengthen particular aspects of their interpersonal competences.
• Career Management Series
• Individual & Group Coaching
• Marketing Yourself
• Mindfulness & Personal Reflection
CAPSTONE PROJECTS
Collaboration especially comes into play with the capstones projets. Participants will work on these assignements
to apply the tools and knowledge acquired in class from an executive management viewpoint. The projects
have the aim to make participants embrace a particular problematic while developing the big picture mindset.
• Individual Strategy Project
• Entrepreneurship Group Project
• Sustainability & Strategy Group Project
*Detailed descriptions of the modules are available upon request.
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INTRODUCTORY PROGRAMME
& STUDY ABROAD MODULE
INTRODUCTORY PROGRAMME
Start the programme by re-wiring your brain!
For many participants, the last time they set foot in an academic institution was years or decades ago.
This is why our Introductory Programme is so important. It is a way of kick-starting your return to
studying, helping your get re-acquainted with the university environment and back into a learning
mode.
The four-day immersive experience helps prepare you to ‘unlock your brain’ to get the most out of this learning
experience. You will discuss and brainstorm optimum cognitive methods and how to better maximise the learning
process.
You will work on your first project, the Sustainability & Strategy Group Project. You will explore a real-world
business case and diverse stakeholders will intervene to give their expertise on different topics related to this
scenario, for the duration of the project.
This Introductory Programme is intensive but has a strong social aspect, oriented toward networking and meeting
your fellow participants. You will get to know the people you will spend the next 15 months with, as we believe
that a collaborative class dynamic forms the foundation of your hard work, enriched by a team-spirit and plenty
of fun.
STUDY ABROAD MODULE
HEC Lausanne has a longstanding partnership with renowned institutions abroad, with which we organise an
annual week-long study tour. Classes take place on the campus of partner schools, and participants visit local
companies that represent outstanding business principles and practices. The study tour is an enriching and
complementary addition to the programme.
*The programme reserves the right to modify the location or institute of the study tour without notice.
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CAPSTONE PROJECTS
In the academic world, a capstone project is a practical assignment, based on a real-life challenge, and which
represents the culmination of your knowledge.
During your Executive MBA programme, you will work on three major projects: your Individual Strategy Project,
which you will be requested to identify straightaway, the Sustainability & Strategy Group Project during the
introduction week, and a Group Entrepreneurship Project, which starts every June. The aim of these is to create,
adapt and apply new strategies and knowledge to situations you have experienced or expect to anticipate in your
career.
INDIVIDUAL STRATEGY
This is a personal piece of work directly linked to a strategic challenge
within an organisation, company or firm that you are associated with.
The Individual Strategic Project (ISP) is an opportunity for you to take
a concrete challenge with a view to making a real impact in your
professional or personal field. You will integrate newly acquired skills
and competences to a real-world challenge and will act as an in-house
consultant.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Whether you are an employee or a business owner, the Entrepreneurship
course will enhance your entrepreneurial mindset and capabilities.
Collaborating in small groups, you will choose to work either on a brandnew venture or on a new project in an existing organisation willing to
diversify its activities.
SUSTAINABILITY & STRATEGY
During the Introductory Programme, the Sustainability & Strategy
Group Project offers an integrative view of how economic, societal and
environmental sustainability considerations are incorporated in a value
chain. Based on a real case study, you will explore the challenges of
aiming for competitiveness and sustainability along the entire value
chain.
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SUPPORTING YOUR PERSONAL &
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
To advance in one’s career and personal life, self-awareness, confidence and social skills play a key role in helping
us become the successful, driven, and self-aware individuals we all seek to be.
At HEC Lausanne, participants will be able to benchmark themselves with respect to communication, team work,
leadership and presentation skills. A personalised plan will be developed to guide each participant to his or her
continued development in alignment with his or her personal aspirations and professional direction.
INDIVIDUAL & GROUP COACHING
Everyone is supported in their aim to pursue deeper self-assessment and
awareness. This module focuses on self-development but also on building
effective teams. Through personalised and group sessions, you will learn
to give and receive high quality feedback, develop your individual goals
and identify your strengths and development opportunities.
CAREER MANAGEMENT SERIES
Our career management series aims to support you in your professional
development. Career advice is offered to participants who would like to
assess their professional situation.
Whether seeking a career change or advancement in your organisation,
you will learn how to more effectively build and leverage your professional
network, use the latest career search tools, and better understand how
different assessment tools are used in the job market.
MINDFULNESS & PERSONAL REFLECTION
Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention on the present.
Throughout practical lessons, you will learn to reflect on your thoughts
and feelings without judgment and explore the connection between
mind and body.
It will get you familiarise with the philosophy, the techniques and the
ethical considerations of mindfulness in order to increase your overall
quality of life.
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BUILD A LASTING BUSINESS
NETWORK
Our participants come from a wide variety of educational and professional backgrounds. They have different
personalities but the same willingness to excel, learn and share, which is key to building strong and valuable
relationships.
During 15 months, you will be alongside people who work and think differently than you do. You will share
knowledge and experiences that will broaden your vision and generate new opportunities.
Your social and professional network is strengthened during the whole programme and will continue to grow
within the MBA HEC-Alumni Association. Your network of contacts will be very international but anchored in the
Swiss and European economic landscape.
MBA HEC LAUSANNE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
The Executive MBA HEC Lausanne is a lively community of people who often network and get together after
graduation.
This independent organisation is exclusively run by alumni. It serves the needs of more than 870 members with
support services and events such as conferences, workshops, company visits, etc.
Thanks to the alumni efforts, the EMBA HEC Lausanne community continues to grow worldwide.
“As the president of the MBA HEC-Alumni Association, I am pleased to see that our
association is growing rapidly. The efforts to proactively engage with all our members
and develop our activities do not only help to increase the network of each of our
alumni but also the value of our common HEC degree. I am always amazed by the
people who join us each year. With incredible international experiences, cultures and
different job positions, they highly contribute to build our community!”
Laurent Wenker
Alumnus of 2008
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ADMISSION PROCESS
QUALITIES WE LOOK FOR
We strongly believe in open-mindedness, personal initiatives and innovative change. Our objective is to help you
enhance your personal, corporate and social responsibilities by further developing your capabilities and critical
thinking.
The programme is intended for ambitious executives who want to further their career, enhance their skills and are
willing to embrace the challenge of this Executive MBA programme.
YOUR NEXT STEPS
Admission to the programme is based upon a competitive selection process which ensures the right mix of qualified
participants for each class.
We operate on a rolling application process, which means that we accept applications throughout the year; the
sooner you apply the sooner an admission decision is made.
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2
3
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PRE-ASSESSMENT
Entry Requirements
Should you have any doubts about your eligibility, we strongly recommend
that you contact us for a one-on-one discussion and a review of your CV
prior to completing the application form.
•
APPLY ONLINE
The application form is available on our website. Your application file
must be completed with accurate information and please ensure that you
submit all of the requested documents.
University degree or
equivalent;
•
Min. 5-7 years of relevant
professional experience;
•
Fluency in English.
Tuition
34,500CHF
INTERVIEW
Application Rounds
Based on a review of your completed application, the Admissions
Committee will inform you if you are short-listed for an admission
interview.
Round 1: November 30th
Round 2: February 28th
Round 3: April 30th
Contact
HEC Lausanne Executive MBA
University of Lausanne
Quartier Dorigny
Extranef Building
CH-1015 Lausanne
Tel: +41 (0)21 692 33 91
Email: executivemba@unil.ch
www.hec.unil.ch/executivemba
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How to find us
By rail
Lausanne railway station is approximately 20 minutes by metro from the University of Lausanne. From the railway
station:
• Take the metro M2 in the direction of «Croisettes»
• Get off at «Lausanne Flon» stop
• Take the metro M1 (TSOL) in the direction of «Renens CFF»
• Get off at «UNIL-Dorigny» stop
By car
The average journey time from Geneva is 40 minutes. The A1 motorway links Geneva directly to the university.
• Take the direction of «Lausanne-Sud»
• Leave at «UNIL-EPFL»
• Follow «UNIL»
• Then «UNIL-Dorigny»
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Legal disclaimer: The content of this brochure is subject to change without prior notice.
© September 2016, HEC Lausanne Executive MBA | UNIL
HEC Lausanne