EMDIEL in China
Diving into the Heart of a Thriving Tech ecosystem
Participants and staff of ESCP’s Executive Master in Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurial Leadership (EMDIEL) embarked on their second module with a rare opportunity: to witness, up close, the speed, scale and bold experimentation that define China’s tech ecosystem.
Over the course of an intensive week, the cohort navigated a packed agenda that brought them face-to-face with pioneering companies, emerging ventures, and thought leaders shaping the future of digital business in Asia.
From exploring cutting-edge applications of AI and platform economics to gaining insight into local entrepreneurial mindsets, participants were immersed in a learning environment where innovation is not only encouraged: it's expected.
In the following answers, they reflect on what surprised them, what challenged their assumptions, and how the Shanghai experience broadened their thinking about global digital strategy and entrepreneurial opportunity. Their stories capture both the energy of the city and the transformative impact of engaging directly with one of the world’s most dynamic innovation landscapes.
ESCP: How did the pace of innovation in Shanghai challenge or change your perspective on digital transformation?
Aurélien Jagot, EMDIEL participant of 2025-26: Being in Shanghai felt like stepping into a parallel timeline where digital transformation has already happened. The quickest way to see that is by trying to pay without WeChat or AliPay. The pace is so fast that it forces you to confront how slow and cautious we can be in Europe, where we often intellectualise innovation too much. Whether it was robotics, elderly-care tech or massive data platforms, everything was built to be deployed fast. It pushes me to rethink my own relationship with speed, execution and ambition.
ESCP: What surprised you the most about China’s entrepreneurial ecosystem?
Maha Khan, EMDIEL participant of 2025-26: China managed to build an entire modern ecosystem without relying heavily on external models, and that genuinely amazed me. The ability of companies and even their society to adapt, shift direction, and reinvent themselves in such short cycles is something I’ve never seen at this scale. Their approach to order, structure, and people management is extremely different from what I’m used to, yet highly effective within their context. It opened my eyes to how many ways there are to design systems that actually work.
ESCP: Which visit made the biggest impression on you and why?
Fabian Schilling, EMDIEL participant of 2025-26: The visit that impacted me most was to a high-tech elderly care center, where technology wasn’t a buzzword but a lifeline. Seeing how thoughtfully applied digital tools could ease daily routines, enhance dignity, and create real value was eye-opening. It was a masterclass in true digitalisation—designing solutions from first principles rather than simply transferring offline processes into an online format. This experience sharpened my conviction that meaningful innovation comes from re-imagining, not replicating.
ESCP: If you could describe your experience in one word, what would it be?
Fabian Schilling, EMDIEL participant of 2025-26: One word: Igniting. The visit to Shanghai was igniting in the truest sense, sparking a surge of energy, clarity, and forward momentum. Experiencing a culture where action outweighs hesitation and where ambition is matched with execution left me charged to return to work with a sharper bias for action and a renewed determination to move ideas into reality. It reminded me that pace, courage, and momentum are choices.
ESCP: What will you take back to Europe?
Prof. Dr. Christoph Seckler, Professor of Entrepreneurship and academic director of the EMDIEL: In Europe, we talk much about becoming more entrepreneurial. In Shanghai, they simply move with results speaking for themselves. I have followed China’s development since my student days in Mannheim, even studying Chinese for several semesters. But being in Shanghai and experiencing the entrepreneurial spirit, speed and scale, provided a depth of understanding that years of studying it “by the book” can never reach. What stood out most was how digital infrastructure, talent and policies interact in a mutually reinforcing way. Ideas and innovation move quickly because the system is built to reduce friction and make experimentation routine rather than exceptional. What I take back to Europe is to encourage thinking beyond incremental optimisation and towards environments that rewards experimentation and fearless learning at scale.
ESCP: How do you see global exposure like this immersion shaping participants’ leadership approach?
Sven Scheid, Director of Executive Education at ESCP Berlin campus: The EMDIEL immersion trips shape leadership by expanding perspective and strengthening self-awareness. Being placed in unfamiliar cultural and professional contexts forces people to reflect on how they communicate, listen, and build relationships. It teaches them cultural humility, adaptability, and the importance of leading with empathy. Ultimately, global exposure helps participants to become more grounded, inclusive, and self-confident leaders.
ESCP: What key takeaways do you think you can apply in your own professional context?
Debashish Das, EMDIEL participant of 2025-26 :
- Adopt a test-and-scale mindset: Move quickly, experiment boldly, and refine based on real data.
- Strengthen cross-functional agility: Break down silos to create more fluid collaboration and faster execution.
- Embrace digital ecosystems: Think beyond standalone products toward integrated, user-centric solutions.
- Cultivate cultural openness: Encourage teams to seek inspiration from global markets and diverse ways of working.
- Prioritise speed without sacrificing purpose: Optimise for momentum while remaining aligned with your long-term vision.
The insights show how the Shanghai module delivers something rare: direct exposure to one of the world’s fastest-moving innovation ecosystems and the spark to think and act more entrepreneurially. If this inspires you to explore your own next step in digital innovation or venture creation, EMDIEL could be the catalyst you’re looking for.
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