Learn about the EMDIEL
through the successes of our alumni
Almost 10 years ago, ESCP's Executive Master in Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurial Leadership (EMDIEL) was first created. Today, alumni around the world are a testimony to the success of ESCP Berlin campus' executive master programme. Read their stories and find out what happens when you push the envelope, adopt new perspectives, and experience culturally diverse ecosystems - all the while enhancing your skill set in the digital realm.
A transformative experience - personally and professionally
A modern alternative to the traditional Executive MBA, the EMDIEL combines global modules with an intensive focus on digital innovation and entrepreneurship. The programme is designed to inspire and challenges participants to get out of their comfort zones. Backed by ESCP's own incubator, the Blue Factory, many participants join the master's programme to start their own venture. The start-ups that emerged from the Executive Master in Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurial Leadership, are just as diverse as their founders:
Doing what you love - how EMDIEL graduates are successful at founding and growing their start-ups
“The programme builds on fundamental blocks like idea validation, branding, sales, fundraising, product development and technology trends (and more) but focuses on the practical application,” says alumnus Sebastian Daus. When working on their own projects, everything is covered for the participants - from inspiring people to winning startup pitch events and convincing clients and investors. Sebastian, who founded the GreenTech start-up FixFirst out of the EMDIEL, is convinced that the programme helped him gain the skills, mindset and network to achieve this. Additionally, he acknowledges that it made him learn a lot about himself.
Jaqueline Vasconcellos agrees with these insights. Growing up in the unstable Brazilian economy, she often faced a lack of resources, and therefore came to easily accept losses as part of the learning curve. She states that understanding this and more about herself, she discovered to be a born entrepreneur.
“This was essential in understanding how I should shape my new future.”
Starting the EMDIEL, Jaqueline knew that she wanted to work in innovation and the start-up ecosystem, but she didn't know where or how. The programme taught her to define her professional life mission and envision long-term career goals.
"The course business modelling and prototyping was a game-changer for me. It allowed me to found Speculative Futures Paris collective, an NGO with the mission to empower communities of futures thinkers." Today she is an entrepreneur in innovation, and works in consulting and training.
Expanding upon what you already know - how the EMDIEL can give you courage to take a leap of faith
Matthias Trummer and Lennart Paul, both participants of the 2017 cohort - the first year of the EMDIEL - are pursuing their own ventures in similar areas that they started in.
Matthias, who joined the EMDIEL due to his interest in Legal Tech and Legal Innovation topics in 2017, has since founded his own law firm. Before and during the programme, he had advised in many venture capital transactions, from seed financing rounds to large exits, both startups, business angels and investors, so he knew about funding. However, he wanted to educate himself in new or unfamiliar fields. The EMDIEL was the perfect match for his vision.
During the master's programme, he found professional growth in innovation topics and personal growth in the art-thinking workshop Improbable. As the co-founder of VALFORD Attorneys, he now specializes in technology and digital business.
Lennart, who came into the EMDIEL having co-founded a start-up at his previous employer, has successfully ventured out on his own. BEX technologies GmbH, a logistics platform for transportation in construction, closed a gap in the logistics market and helps customers reduce costs through an expansive network, digital processes, and documentation. For Lennart, the entrepreneurial decision-making method “effectuation” has been a key experience during the EMDIEL. "I am a strong believer in this way of being an entrepreneur — of taking action and working with what you have, who you know, etc." he says.
Keeping things balanced - an EMDIEL project lives next to a corporate career
For Carolin Ehrensberger, EMDIEL class of 2023, one of the biggest assets of the EMDIEL are the people involved in it. She is now working part-time on her mental-health app Coach-Wave alongside fellow EMDIELers, while continuing her career in the software industry. A project that is deeply meaningful to her.
“During the entire programme, I was surrounded by an amazing group of people who enriched my knowledge and me as a person. The kindness and openness of the group were incredible and I thoroughly enjoyed the module weeks in different places all over the world. Many students already had businesses and their perspectives were very helpful. I benefited from the network, the connections I built, and enjoyed discovering a lot of different companies, and ecosystems.”
If you are feeling inspired by our alumni and would like to join the programme yourself, please reach out to us for more information.
The EMDIEL in a nutshell
The Executive Master in Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurial Leadership is part-time programme that lasts up to 24 months. You can complete it with a Master of Science (MSc.) or a Certificate. Directed at open-minded, internationally orientated individuals, the programme delivers actionable insights and proven methodologies to drive growth and innovation within organisations, but also helps entrepreneurs to start, grow or scale their own ventures.
Campuses