Advanced Management Progrmamme (AMP) International Module at IESE: A Week of Global Insight and Cultural Immersion

When Executives arrived in Barcelona on September 22nd, they stepped into more than just a classroom; they embarked on a week-long journey where learning, culture, and personal growth came together.

For the Advanced Management Programme (AMP) cohort from Strathmore Business School, the International Module at IESE Business School, held from September 22nd to 26th, became a powerful experience that showcased what it means to lead across borders.

Day One: Macro Trends, Strategy & Connection

The module’s first sunrise in Barcelona brought a session on the World Economic Outlook, where participants were guided through shifting trade flows, inflationary pressures, currency volatility, and the delicate balancing act emerging economies must perform amid global headwinds. It was a sobering reminder that any ambitious leader must understand the winds of change beyond their borders.

From there, the class dove into a strategic case on “Creating Value through International Expansion”. The case demanded participants to dissect market entry choices, alliance governance, local adaptation, and risk mitigation.

Later, the cohort engaged in an “Understanding Country Differences” workshop. Here, cultural dimensions, institutional frameworks, regulatory barriers, and informal norms came alive in charts and debates over when to standardize and adapt.

As evening arrived, the cohort reconnected this time with cooking pans, recipes, and laughter. In small teams, participants prepared Spanish dishes, compared notes on leadership styles, and learned that collaboration isn’t limited to boardroom slides. Dinner followed at Poble Espanyol’s Cookiteca, an architectural village in Barcelona that recreated the essence of Spain’s many regions, just the right backdrop for stories, friendships, and shared vision.

Day Two: Simulation, Innovation & Institutional Insight

If Day One was about direction, Day Two was about the mechanics of leadership. Participants engaged in business simulation using LEGO bricks. It was not child’s play but design thinking in physical form. The goal? Teach process innovation by letting teams redesign their operations, resource flows, and feedback loops in real time. The key lesson: innovation often lives in what you do, not just what you imagine.

Day Three: Culture, Exploration & Identity

Barcelona’s spirit is more than its skyline; it’s in the streets, the festivals, and the heartbeat of Catalonia. On Day Three, after morning company visits, the cohort immersed themselves in La Mercè, Barcelona’s weeklong festival honoring its patron saint, the Virgin of Mercy. As one of the city’s grandest celebrations, La Mercè features over 600 free events from street performances and human towers (castellers) to fireworks, dance, and light shows.

After soaking in the festival’s energy, the group made a pilgrimage to the FC Barcelona Museum. With Camp Nou undergoing renovation, the museum offered a deep dive into the club’s history, values, and global significance. For many, “more than a club” stories resonated not just with the trophies, but with identity, purpose, and connection.

AI, Leadership & Futures

On the final stretch, sessions turned forward. Students delved into Artificial Intelligence not as passive observers, but as users. They learned practical applications: productivity tools, decision support, and using AI as a multiplier of effectiveness. The concept of prompt engineering introduced how leaders can craft queries, guide models, and extract meaningful insights.

Through this, participants glimpsed the future of leadership: human plus machine, intuition enriched by data, ethics as the guardrail. It wasn’t just about what AI can do but what AI should do under responsible leadership.

About the Advanced Management Programme (AMP)

AMP challenges senior leaders to reflect deeply on their leadership style, understand global trends, and drive organizational growth. The immersive, modular, and international module format allows participants to learn and live theory.

Learn more about the Programme HERE.

Article by Joseph Wanjohi