This first module, held at the WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management, delved into a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip participants with the skills necessary to navigate strategic uncertainties, identify and assess strategic opportunities, lead strategy making processes, and devise strategies for growth. Under the academic guidance of Professor Sascha Schmidt, Director of the Center for Sports & Management at WHU, the ESBP participants engaged in a dynamic learning environment.

The first module featured guest speakers such as Ingo Sauer (Managing Partner, Concept8), Alexander Jobst (CEO, Fortuna Dusseldorf), Dr Sebastian Koppers (Head of Football Research & Innovation, DFB Academy) and Maike Trach (Senior Manager Strategic Projects, DFB Academy), along with insightful panel discussions featuring Anna Schreyer (Senior Business Leader, L'Oréal), Silke Kuisle (Senior Vice President Strategy, DFL), Lukas Klumpe (Founder, GMPLN) and Andreas Heyden (CEO, Dyn Media). Moreover, Patrick Eckholt (Head of Business Opportunities & New Products, BVB) and David Steinkuhl (Team Lead Content, BVB) supported and provided an inspiring task for a consulting sprint.

Participants of this year's cohort represent the entire sports business ecosystem, ranging from clubs, leagues, federations to marketing agencies, consultants and entrepreneurs, as well as education and media. Among others, CSB's Executive Director Anna Laurell Nash, as well as the CEO of the Swedish Hockey League, Jenny Silfverstrand, are part of this year's European Sports Business Program.

Overall, the European Sports Business Program aims to prepare high potentials in sports business for the (future) challenges within their industry through a tailor-made executive education program. The participants not only discovered new skills and explored new ways of thinking, but also expanded their network through a diverse group of international peers as well as world-class experts, including academics as well as practitioners. 

Going forward, the ESBP participants will continue their learning journey with the second module of the European Sports Business Program held at the Stockholm School of Economics in April under the guidance of Professor and Research Director of the Center for Sports & Business at SSE, Martin Carlsson-Wall, to dive into sports as an emotional asset and how to create and capture value in this unique industry.