With the sports industry becoming more digital, international and in need of future-proof strategies, it needs experts capable of rising to the challenges posed by the modern era. This first-of-its-kind program has been designed for professionals with a growth-oriented mindset and a strong interest in how the European sports industry functions.

The program is made up of three distinct modules, each taking place in English, on-site over the course of three days – and in three major cities across Europe. The first program will begin on February 14, 2024, and run until late May.

Under the supervision of Professor Sascha L. Schmidt, Director and Chairholder at WHU’s Center for Sports and Management, Professor Martin Carlsson-Wall, Director of the Center for Sports and Business at SSE, and Professor Karoline Strauss, ESSEC Sports Chair, participants will benefit from a comprehensive experience. They will become proficient in state-of-the-art techniques for systematically analyzing and leveraging the future efficiently and gather with like-minded leaders so as to build a strong, international network of their peers. They will also delve into the pivotal roles that leadership, purpose and culture play in effectively managing change in sports organizations.

“We aim to provide our participants with a forward-thinking perspective that prepares them to seize opportunities and manage risks in the changing sports industry,” said Professor Sascha L. Schmidt.

“As the sports industry continues to evolve in a digital, globalized landscape, there’s an increasing demand for leaders with strategic acumen and strong leadership capabilities. The European Sports Business Program (ESBP) is truly innovative, designed to empower professionals with the skills and insights needed to tackle the challenges of the modern sports industry. Through this program, we aim to nurture future leaders who can not only adapt to this ever-changing landscape, but also drive it forward,” said Professor Karoline Strauss.

Sport is central to ESSEC Business School.  Excellence, teamwork, pushing one’s limits: the values promoted by sports resonate with ESSEC’s own values. That’s why ESSEC has been developing programs and courses in sports business for over 20 years, with the creation of its first Chair in International Sports Marketing in 2001 and the launch of its new Sports Chair in 2020.

About SSE Executive Education

Stockholm School of Economics Executive Education is Northern Europe’s leading partner for executive education and ranked number one in the Nordics according to the Financial Times. The wide range of programs offers training in leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainable growth, and financial economics, as well as specialist programs in finance and insurance.

Further information is available at https://exedsse.se/en/

About ESSEC Business School

ESSEC, founded in 1907, is one of the world’s top management schools and holds the “triple crown” accreditation from EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA. With 7,400 students; a faculty comprised of 169 full-time professors, 23 of which are emeritus professors, in France and Singapore, recognized for both the quality and influence of their research; a wide range of management training programs; partnerships with the world’s best universities; and a network of 69,000 alumni, ESSEC continues to foster a tradition of academic excellence and a spirit of openness in the fields of economics, social sciences and innovation. In 2005, ESSEC opened a campus in Asia. ESSEC’s operations in Asia Pacific, strategically located in Singapore, present the perfect foothold for ESSEC to be part of the vibrant growth of Asia and to bring its expertise to the expanding region.  Additionally, in 2017 ESSEC opened a new campus in Rabat, Morocco.  ESSEC’s international expansion allows students and professors to study and understand the economic forces at work in the different regions of the world. 

For any additional information, please visit www.essec.edu or www.essec.edu/asia.

About WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management

WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management is an internationally oriented, privately financed business school with university status, located in Vallendar and Düsseldorf. At WHU, more than 60 faculty members research and teach in the fields of management, finance and accounting, economics, entrepreneurship and innovation, marketing and sales, and supply chain management. WHU’s high level of research competence is the result of a focus on three fundamental research principles: quality, internationality, and relevance for teaching and practice.

WHU’s strategy is based on four core values: excellence, entrepreneurship, strong cohesion, and a cosmopolitan culture. An atmosphere characterized by openness, curiosity, diversity, and equal opportunities is of utmost importance to WHU.

Further information is available at https://www.whu.edu/.