Our EMBA-Global 2027 cohort finalised their first term in August, following three rigorous months of Orientation, core modules and commute between the two campuses (London & New York). Despite the programme’s high intensity and adrenaline, the experience is truly one-of-a-kind, while the drive to transform individuals and respectively their careers remain a primary objective.
Our current students, Elise Drexler and Philipp Martens, exemplify this sentiment, as they reflect on the past few months being both inspiring and fulfilling. The pressure of juggling multiple commitments (full-time work, studies, family) and the lack of sleep in between were certainly worthwhile, as they gained valuable connections, friendships, and joy. Let’s hear their insights below:
1. Could you please tell us a little bit about your current background and career journey?
Philipp: I’m a turnaround guy – that’s always been my core. I started in restructuring consulting in Germany during the global financial crisis, working with companies under pressure. Later, I became CFO of a shipping company in Argentina, where I led a full-scale turnaround amid constant macroeconomic turbulence. For contrast, I moved to Switzerland, where I managed a $1 billion portfolio of distressed shipping loans at a Swiss bank. Today, I’m CFO of a private equity-backed geotechnical services firm, leading another transformation. What ties it all together is a hands-on approach to strategy and execution. That mindset is what also led me to EMBA-Global to expand my leadership capacity and prepare for what’s next.
Elise: I was raised in cowboy-country Texas, studied English at Columbia University for my BA degree, and did a gap year at Seoul National University before going on to earn my MFA in Film Directing & Production from UCLA. I then spent nearly a decade in Los Angeles’ entertainment industry on projects for Disney, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Netflix, and Apple TV. Those years honed my craft as an artist, project manager, and storyteller. More recently, I’ve pivoted into consulting as a creative specialist, working with clients across the marketing, sports, corporate, and independent film sectors. My career journey has been colourful and kaleidoscopic—non-linear, but always united by creativity, production management, and strategy.
2. What made you pursue the EMBA-Global programme? What is your goal?
Philipp: I always wanted to study in the US or the UK, this programme lets me do both. It was an easy choice. I wanted to attend Warren Buffett’s school, learn from great minds, expand my network, and update my thinking. I also wanted a new perspective on leadership, and better understand the private equity space, where I enjoy working as an operator. My goal is to continue growing into broader, top-level leadership roles. The EMBA-Global is helping me build the tools, mindset, and network to get there.
Elise: As a filmmaker, I felt like an underdog applying to business school. I knew I was unconventional, but the upheaval in my industry made me realise I needed to expand in new directions. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak, but I didn’t know how to chart the path toward building and scaling a venture. I wanted to enter the corporate world, and EMBA-Global felt like the right bridge—equipping me with the business acumen to walk into corporate rooms and stand on even ground. My goal is to unite my creative background with this training to build imaginative, sustainable ventures at the intersection of art and business.
3. First term is now over—two weeks already in London (May & August) and one in New York (June). What do you think you have learned so far that you did not know before? Have you already applied it in your daily job?
Philipp: I’ve learned many things so far and have received a lot of inspiration from my classmates. However, what surprised me the most, was the large amount of time we spent on introspection. I never spent so much time thinking about my personality, motivation, values, and leadership style. This is helping me become a better version of myself and a more effective leader. I am already applying what I’ve learned: how I run meetings, how I communicate, and how I work with my team. The academic insights are valuable, but the self-development and the discussions with like-minded peers have been just as powerful.
Elise: The most seismic shift so far has been in how I navigate conflict, lead myself and others, and approach strategy. I’ve always been guided by intuition, but I’m now learning how to back decisions with data-driven insights and a compass of clearly defined values. Already, exposure to these new frameworks has allowed me to ask sharper questions in my client work, ground creative decisions in numbers, and operate at a higher, more strategic level. I consider more deeply now how I show up in my professional and personal life. I move with greater intention, pay more attention to impacts, and feel more attuned than ever to complex world dynamics.
4. What course & faculty did you enjoy the most?
Philipp: Leadership and Organisational Change with Professor Paul Ingram made a deep impression on me. Paul challenged not just how I lead, but why. Through structured exercises and peer discussions, I came to understand my values and how they influence the way I lead, connect, and decide. They weren’t abstract theory or ethics lectures on values. They were personal, practical, and highly relevant for my life choices and better understanding the choices of others. It’s the kind of course that leaves a lasting impression and changes how you approach leadership from that point forward.
Elise: This is an incredibly hard question because all four professors this term should be in the teaching hall of fame! Amir Ziv, Jean-Pierre Benoit, Alexander Yang, and Paul Ingram—each one was a force of nature, electric with brilliance, wit, and wisdom. Coming from the arts with little quantitative background, I found their courses challenging, but I loved every minute of grappling with the material. To learn from minds like these has been humbling, exhilarating, and one of the great privileges so far.
5. Despite long hours of study, work and commute, EMBA-Globals still find time for a lot of networking and socializing. What has your cohort been up to?
Philipp: Despite the full schedule, we make the most of the time together. We go out every night and there’s a strong spirit of collaboration and curiosity. Our social committee is very active and dedicated. They organise dinners, outings, and events during each module. Beyond that, classmates have put together international trips, to Mexico, Colombia, Italy, and Saudi Arabia. We’re not only learning from one another in the classroom, but we’re building great relationships across borders and industries.
Elise: Our cohort is so social—we stay outside! Once we land for block weeks, it’s nonstop from morning to night. We’ve done swanky candlelit dinners, a party bus tour, cruising the Thames River, and salsa dancing night—you name it. And now we’re planning trips to each other’s hometowns and countries. I’m even trying to lure everyone to Texas for rodeo season and some country dancing! What I love most is how open everyone is to exploring cultures and how wholeheartedly they throw themselves into the adventure.
6. What piece of advice would you have for any future prospective student willing to join next year’s cohort?
Philipp: Just do it. It’s demanding, no question – balancing study, work, and travel isn’t easy. But it is fun, and you’ll learn a lot. You’ll grow in ways you don’t expect. You’ll meet smart, driven people like yourself who will challenge and support you. You’ll learn things that change how you lead and how you think. And you’ll do it all in two of the world’s exciting cities. What more can you ask for? If this programme is in your sights, trust that instinct. It’s worth it.
Elise: With every fibre of my being, I’d advise you to throw everything you’ve got into getting here. In my three-plus decades of life, I’ve never known anything like this in terms of educational rigor, global immersion, intellectual stimulation, and social bonding. The specs sheet will tell you about the dual MBAs from top universities, the world-renowned faculty, and the state-of-the-art campuses. But what makes this programme truly singular is the kind of people it attracts: prodigious scholars and tender dreamers alike—doctors, lawyers, engineers, pilots, pageant queens, C-suite executives, artists—trailblazers from every field, embodying every good hope for the future of humankind. And yet, you will come to know them as your dearest friends and EMBA family. I can’t recommend this experience enough. Its value is immeasurable, and its impact transformative. At this stage of life, I didn’t expect to be so moved, but I find myself revealing in every moment of this glorious metamorphosis.
For more information about the EMBA-Global programme, please visit our website.