BMW and ESMT: Scholarships for the managers of tomorrow!

BMW and ESMT: Scholarships for the managers of tomorrow!

The collaboration between the BMW Group and ESMT Berlin will reach a new high point in the coming academic year. A total of eight scholarships will be awarded, aimed at young talents with a strong mathematical and technological background. These scholarships include two places in the full-time MBA program and two in the MSc program, both with intakes in fall and spring 2025/2026, and four scholarships in the global online MBA program. This initiative is part of the BMW Group Change Maker Fellowships, which aims to foster a broader and more diverse group of future leaders, as [esmt.berlin] emphasizes.

Applicants must either be citizens or permanent residents of Germany, India, Portugal, Romania or South Africa, or have refugee status in Germany. A requirement is also that MSc and full-time MBA applicants be 30 years old or younger on September 1, 2025. Another important aspect of the application is answering the question: “Which aspect of a digital future fascinates you most and why?”

Technological excellence and talent development

With this initiative, the BMW Group, which employs over 10,000 people worldwide in the areas of IT and software development, shows its commitment to sustainable talent development. The BMW Group's technology hubs, which have existed since 2008 and are located in countries such as Germany, India and China, leverage their own strong tech culture to attract talented professionals.

ESMT President Jörg Rocholl emphasizes the shared mission with the BMW Group to train leaders capable of tackling technological challenges. This promotion of tech-savvy managers is essential today as companies face new challenges. Digital transformation requires skills that go beyond traditional leadership skills, as current analyzes show.

Leadership skills in the digital age

In the digital age, technological developments and volatile markets place the highest demands on managers. Traditional leadership approaches are often not enough to be successful in this dynamic environment. Innovative leadership development programs aim to develop leaders in a competitive and digital world, focusing on essential components such as an understanding of data analytics, cybersecurity and agile leadership. These aspects are crucial for adapting to constantly changing market conditions, which is highlighted by [wirtschafts-nachrichten.de].

Another focus is on emotional intelligence and the need to establish a learning culture within the company. Managers must not only be able to successfully lead their employees, but also build trust and promote communication in hybrid work environments. It is therefore important that organizations create structures that support continuous learning, such as through mentoring programs and industry-specific conferences.

In summary, the change in strategy in the collaboration between the BMW Group and ESMT Berlin is a step in the right direction to prepare future leaders for the challenges of the digital age. The introduction of the Change Maker Fellowships makes a valuable contribution to talent development that meets the requirements of a changing business life.