EMBA students in Lyon exploring the leadership of international teams

During the course days, the students are working on the emlyon business school campus as part of the Building and Leading Multi-Cultural Teams course. The studies focus on themes such as national, group-level, and individual ways of working, and how these are reflected in collaboration, interaction, and leadership.

The course draws on Mijnd Huijser’s Model of Freedom and introduces students to individual characteristics through tools such as MBTI, as well as through observations related to behaviour and bodily awareness. The themes encourage students to reflect on their own role as leaders and team members in an international working environment.

Learning is not limited to the classroom. The programme also includes a company visit to Château de La Chaize, a historic wine estate in the Beaujolais region. The visit offers an opportunity to explore business, culture, and the local operating environment from a new perspective.

During their free time, the students have also had the chance to enjoy the atmosphere and long history of Lyon. A guided walking tour in the city centre and old town has added local colour, stories, and shared experiences to the week. Lyon was an important centre of trade already during the Roman Empire, and its old town is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The week-long course is an important part of the University of Oulu Executive MBA studies. It gives students an opportunity to deepen their leadership competence in an international environment while also building shared experiences with their own EMBA group.

Warm thanks to the course organisers and instructors Rickie Moore, Élisabeth Gelas, Hajo Specht, and Charles-Henri Maylie.