Celebrating 35 Years of the Solvay EMBA: A New Design for New Challenges

In response to the industry’s shifting demands, from digital acceleration to sustainability, from workforce transformation to geopolitical volatility, the Solvay EMBA has been redesigned to deliver not only knowledge but lasting capability. With new specialisation tracks, coaching journeys, innovation capstones, and learning formats tailored for executives, this is the most dynamic version of the EMBA yet.

Learning That Builds Real Capacity

The new EMBA centers on a clear mission: to help professionals build the capacity and soft skills to lead in complexity. Across industries, BEL20 CEOs have identified core leadership skills – like strategic communication, resilience, and change navigation – as essential to success at the highest levels of business, and as always, we listened and adapted to the pulse of the industry. 

To meet this need, the programme now embeds the Personal Development & Coaching Reflection Process (PDCRP), a structured journey that runs in parallelly throughout the curriculum. Participants work with expert coaches to define their leadership identity, align their values with their ambitions, and map out their path for personal and professional growth – and emerge as certified coaches themselves by the end of it. 

The learner’s capacity-building is deepened by the dedicated Executive Capacity Training throughout the entire curriculum. More than technical know-how, this training focuses on the behavioural and interpersonal competencies that define executive performance. Through simulations, feedback, and guided reflection, participants develop the clarity and confidence to lead with impact, not only in their current roles but in the leadership challenges still to come.

A Programme Designed to Specialise and Apply

Another key feature of the updated EMBA is the opportunity to go beyond general management. With today’s roles becoming more hybrid and strategic, participants now have the option to pursue an official specialisation track, earning a university certificate in one of two areas:

• Corporate Finance: For professionals seeking to deepen their financial expertise and gain mastery in valuation, risk, ESG investing, and global M&A strategies - read more in dedicated our article.
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship: For those looking to lead transformation within their organisations or bring new ventures to life through courses in business model innovation, product development, and entrepreneurial finance - read more in our dedicated article.
  
  

After either track and for the last sprint of the programme, everything culminates into the Capstone Project, giving participants the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned to high-impact, real-world challenges.

• In the Advisory Capstone, participants work in teams to deliver strategic consulting projects for corporate clients. Projects are matched based on skill sets, interests, and growth goals and are supported by a coach and faculty advisor.
• The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Capstone empowers participants to develop a new venture or product idea, integrating digital and ESG challenges and culminating in a data-driven business pitch.

These capstones provide a real testbed for leadership, creativity, and the practical application of everything the programme develops.

Women's Circle: Supporting Gender Equity in Leadership

Leadership development must also address systemic imbalances. The new Solvay EMBA Women’s Circle offers a dedicated space for women in the programme to connect with experienced women leaders — including alumnae and guest CXOs — through mentorship and peer exchange.

Together with initiatives such as the Women Change-Agent Scholarship, the Women’s Circle demonstrates our dedication to promoting diversity and equity in leadership, particularly in fields that have been traditionally male-dominated.

The Delta Series: Where Business Theory Meets Industry Practice

A hallmark of the Solvay Executive MBA, the Delta Series (Δ Series) offers participants unparalleled exposure to real-world business challenges. Co-designed with leading industry experts, this series further bridges the gap between academic knowledge and practical application.

Through interactive sessions and hands-on engagement, participants gain a platform where industry leaders address today's pressing challenges right in class with them, share transformative strategies, and inspire forward-thinking change.

35 Years of Leadership, And We’re Just Getting Started

Over the last three and a half decades, the Solvay Executive MBA has prepared hundreds of professionals to lead in business, government, and the non-profit sector. Today, with a renewed structure, stronger focus on specialisation and coaching, and an ever-evolving community, we remain one of Belgium’s most recognised and trusted executive education programmes.

Because leadership doesn’t stand still, and neither do we.