The first days of a program can shape the years that follow. Our MBA integration experiences are designed to forge real connections, build shared identity, and develop the leadership instincts tomorrow’s professionals will need. Through cultural immersion, creative challenges, and strategic simulations, participants go beyond icebreakers—they begin crafting their collaborative mindset. Whether in a historic abbey or a creative atelier, these experiences set the tone for what’s next: curiosity, trust, and the courage to lead
Context
To welcome a new international MBA cohort, a prestigious business school needed an integration program that would go beyond orientation. The goal: create a meaningful first week that would build cohesion, stimulate leadership instincts, and embed participants into the richness of French culture.
Solution
Set at the historic Abbey of Reigny in Burgundy, the program combined hands-on learning with immersive local experiences. Teams competed in a vineyard management simulation, making real-time strategic decisions. A traditional pétanque tournament introduced a playful layer of rivalry, while a barrel-making workshop emphasized teamwork and precision. Master artisans shared their savoir-faire, reinforcing the values of craftsmanship and attention to detail that define leadership at its best.
Result
By the end of the week, the group had evolved into a united cohort—energized by challenges, enriched by culture, and grounded in shared experience. It was more than an integration—it was the start of a leadership journey.
Context
As part of an MBA integration framework designed for diverse and high-potential cohorts, this module focused on a specific challenge: bringing together individuals from previously competing or misaligned teams. The objective wasn’t just to connect them—but to realign creative instincts, restore trust, and reforge a common vision of leadership.
Solution
Hosted in Burgundy, this experiential module was built around symbolic, emotionally intelligent tasks. Participants collaborated on the creation of a gourmet dinner, learning coordination and timing in the kitchen under a renowned chef. They then took part in a visual triptych challenge, each team painting a portion of a shared canvas without seeing the others’ work. The final reveal underscored the beauty—and difficulty—of interdependence.
Result
This experience became a turning point for many. It helped participants reframe leadership not as individual performance, but as shared alignment. Integrated into the wider MBA onboarding sequence, it offered a deeply human counterpoint to more analytical modules—anchoring emotional awareness as a key leadership tool.
