USI Executive MBA explores Boston's innovation ecosystem during its annual Study Tour

The 2026 edition of the USI Executive MBA Boston Study Tour offered participants an immersive learning experience at the intersection of leadership, innovation, sustainability, and systems thinking. Throughout the week, the cohort engaged with internationally renowned faculty, industry leaders, and innovation experts from some of the world's leading institutions, including MIT Sloan School of Management, Harvard Medical School, Babson College, Brandeis University, Villanova University, UMass Lowell, and the System Dynamics Society.

Designed to bridge academic excellence with real-world application, the Study Tour combined interactive lectures, company visits, and networking opportunities, providing participants with direct exposure to one of the world's most dynamic innovation ecosystems.

The programme began with an exploration of Systems Thinking and Business Dynamics, led by Prof. Hazhir Rahmandad (MIT Sloan School of Management) and Prof. Mohammad Jalali (Harvard Medical School), who introduced participants to system dynamics as a powerful framework for understanding complexity and improving strategic decision-making.

As the week progressed, participants explored emerging topics shaping the future of business, including Agentic AI and Business Models with Prof. Nitin Joglekar (Villanova University), Innovation Modes with Prof. Sebastian Fixson (Babson College), and climate action with Prof. Juliette Rooney-Varga (UMass Lowell). They also visited Helbling, gaining first-hand insights into innovation and engineering in practice, and attended an inspiring session by Lydia Meyer-Turkson (Climeworks) on direct air capture technologies and the role of carbon removal in addressing climate change.

The programme concluded with the En-ROADS Climate Action Simulation, facilitated by Rebecca Niles, Executive Director of the System Dynamics Society, where participants explored how policy, technology, and leadership decisions interact to shape global climate outcomes.

A special evening at the Swiss Residence

One of the highlights of the Study Tour was an invitation to the official residence of Philippe Roesle, Consul of Switzerland in Boston and CEO of Swissnex in Boston and New York, located in the historic town of Lexington, Massachusetts. Philippe Roesle has led Swissnex Boston and New York since August 2025, continuing Swissnex's mission of strengthening connections between Switzerland and the United States in education, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

This reception marked the first time a USI delegation was officially welcomed to the residence of the Swiss Consul in Boston, representing an important milestone in the long-standing collaboration between USI and Swissnex.

The evening provided participants with a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations beyond the classroom, experiencing first-hand the role of Swiss science diplomacy in fostering international collaboration and strengthening ties between Switzerland and one of the world's leading innovation ecosystems.

The USI Executive MBA extends its sincere gratitude to Philippe Roesle and the entire Swissnex Boston and New York team for their generous hospitality and for making this memorable experience possible.

The Boston Study Tour once again demonstrated the Executive MBA's commitment to developing globally minded leaders by combining academic excellence with international exposure, industry engagement, and meaningful cross-cultural connections.