GEMBA

The Rotman SDA Bocconi Global Executive MBA

Truly global, distinctly personal.

General Management & Strategy

StartSep 2025

Duration18 months

WhereMilan / Rome / Toronto / Mumbai / San Francisco / Copenhagen / Shanghai / São Paulo

FormatFull-time

LanguageEnglish

Avg. working experience10 + years

The Rotman-SDA Bocconi Global Executive MBA (Master in Business Administration) is a modular program that combines the expertise and perspectives of a leading European and a leading North American business school in a transformative journey across international business hubs. Designed as a launchpad for future career growth and senior management roles, GEMBA offers a highly personalized approach to leadership development while connecting participants with a diverse network of exceptional managers, faculty, executives, and thought leaders—expanding their global outlook.

This unique 18-month program, spanning eight cities across four continents, expands your global perspective and leadership potential while enhancing leadership abilities and managerial skills from day one—without disrupting your professional and personal commitments. The Rotman-SDA Bocconi GEMBA transforms the way you think, network, and do business in some of the world’s biggest markets, providing you with a wider range of opportunities, contacts, and experiences. Offered in partnership with the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto in Canada, this program equips you with the skills and global exposure to advance your career.

Rotman-SDA Bocconi GEMBA Perspectives
Words from the Director
Ferninando Pennarola - GEMBA

Who is it for?

The Rotman-SDA Bocconi GEMBA is the right choice if you:

• Seek a cross-continental experience, earning dual credentials from top-ranked global schools.
• Want a transformative experience across eight business hubs, immersing in local cultures while building the knowledge and skills to succeed in a fast-changing, interconnected world.
• Aim to gain sector-specific insights and compare perspectives in Milano, Italy’s business hub, and Toronto, Canada’s innovation center.
• Desire a personalized leadership focus and access to a global network of top executives and thought leaders.

GEMBA 2024-2026 (5th edition)

Students

Women

years

Average Age

years

Average work experience

years

Average management experience

countries represented

Including secondary citizenships

Class Profile

Why choose us?

1. Global Advantage: Europe, Americas, Asia
Milano, Roma, Toronto, Mumbai, San Francisco, Copenhagen, Shanghai, São Paulo: immerse yourself in the local cultures of eight international business centers, cross borders, bridge continents and transcend insular thinking.
2. Two credentials and two networks
A Global Executive MBA from SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. The combined strength of these brands will position you for lifelong success.
3. Insight sharing with thought leaders
Learn from globally focused faculty, who can offer guidance, act as mentors and open doors to new opportunities. And share firsthand insights into global business challenges with corporate leaders on campus and on site tours.
4. Flexible format, timing and location
Combine professional, personal and learning opportunities no matter where you are located, through the flexible executive format that blends residency modules around the world with distance learn.
5. Personalized Leadership Development Program
Grow your potential as a leader through regular personal assessments, skills workshops, coaching conversations and a leadership retreat.

Highlights

7
WW
Joint Programmes
QS Executive MBA Rankings 2024
Learn more
2
Credentials
from top-ranked Int'l schools
8
Cities
Milano, Roma, Toronto, Mumbai, San Francisco, Copenhagen, Shanghai, São Paulo
Rotman
In partnership with Rotman School of Management

Calendar and contents

6th edition 2025 - 2027

Timeline

Calendar

settembre 2025ottobre 2025

Module 1 - Toronto

Managerial Economics
Quantitative Reasoning for Management
Leading People in Organizations
Working in Teams
Leadership Development Practicum

novembre 2025

Module 2 - Milan / Rome

Corporate Finance
Financial Accounting and Reporting
Marketing

febbraio 2026

Module 3 - Mumbai

Financial Markets and Institutions
Entrepreneurship in India

aprile 2026

Module 4 - San Francisco

Mergers and Acquisitions
Business Design

giugno 2026

Module 5 - Copenhagen

Strategic Management
Performance Management and Control

luglio 2026agosto 2026

Module 6 - Milan and/or Toronto

2 Electives (students may choose electives offered in Milan and/or Toronto)

6 Jul 2026 (Milan) 3 Aug 2026 (Toronto)
10 Jul 2026 (Milan) 8 Aug 2026 (Toronto)

settembre 2026

Module 7 - Toronto

Change Management
Corporate Strategy

novembre 2026

Module 8 - Shanghai

Operations Management
Economics of Global Markets
Negotiation

gennaio 2027

Module 9 - São Paulo

Sustainability Strategy
Business Ethics

marzo 2027

Module 10 - Milan

Corporate Governance
Business Analytics
Innovation Management

The GEMBA experience: traveling towards success

Grow your leadership on the global stage
The Rotman-SDA Bocconi GEMBA transforms the way you think, network, and do business in major global markets. With 24 core courses plus electives, you'll master business fundamentals while gaining cutting-edge skills in areas where our schools excel—design thinking, luxury brand management, analytics, fintech, and more. Build a powerful international network and accelerate your career.
Ten residential modules
The program is built around ten residential modules. These take place at the Rotman School, at both SDA Bocconi Campuses in Milan and Rome, and on the campuses of our international afﬁliate academic partners, providing in-depth local perspectives on global management. Each module consists of several courses, and includes lectures, team discussions, and other dynamic, real-time learning opportunities.
Real-world experiences and learning safaris
Classroom sessions are interspersed with real-world experiences - company visits, exchanges with local executives, and dynamic networking events - that we call 'learning safaris': an impactful formula blending standout site visits with direct interaction with top executives. It's the essence of experiential learning, where participants witness and engage firsthand.
Evenings are ﬁlled with group projects, individual assignments and time to explore the local culture and cities.
Online learning
Online learning predominates in the periods between modules: preparation begins for the next set of courses, with study materials delivered a month or two before class begins. This is also the time to complete assignments and team deliverables, participate in review sessions and write exams.
The program by the numbers
18
months

64
in Class Days

53
out of Office Days

3
9 day modules From Friday to Saturday (noon) = 8.5 days (6 working days)
Total learning days (classroom + company visits) = 25.5
Total work days (participants' out of office) = 18
6
1 week modules = 5.5 days (5 working days)
Total learning days (classroom + company visits) = 33
Total work days (participants' out of office) = 30
1
elective module
either in Milan, Toronto or to exchange partner schools
1 Week: from Monday to Saturday (noon) = 5.5 (5 working days).
Learning model
The Global EMBA is delivered through a variety of learning formats. The learning platform of the Global EMBA aims to make full use of your time by combining lectures, case studies, group projects, and business simulations with distance-learning sessions.

Faculty

Ferdinando Pennarola

GEMBA Director, SDA Bocconi School of Management

View CV

At SDA Bocconi we take the GEMBA meaning seriously. It is a global executive MBA, designed to equip future leaders to navigate global challenges - an essential prerequisite for advancing your career and driving organizational success.

Our GEMBA learning experience embodies globalization through a contextual learning model that takes you around the world. Future leaders must tackle global challenges in a distinctly personal way. If you share this vision, I would be delighted to welcome you on board for an exciting journey—the Rotman-SDA Bocconi Global Executive MBA.

Jan Mahrt-Smith

GEMBA Academic Director University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management

It is not easy to create truly sustainable value for a business — or for yourself. In this program, we teach you the former and help you achieve the latter, all with a truly global lens.

Emilia Paolino

GEMBA Coordinator

View CV

GEMBA is not only an exceptional program, remarkable for its depth and the international exposure it offers participants, but it also provides a truly transformative experience.

It seamlessly combines valuable knowledge with meaningful relationship-building, both professionally and personally. I would describe it as a life-changing journey. Being part of this and accompanying participants along the way is a privilege and an immensely rewarding

Admissions

We seek highly motivated candidates with diverse backgrounds, strong professional experience, and a drive for global business transformation.
The strength of the Rotman-SDA Bocconi GEMBA lies in its talented, diverse, and ambitious students. We invest considerable effort in the selection and admissions process to ensure a dynamic and enriching learning environment.

Requirements:

Degree certificate (in any discipline), transcript of the grades
Application form
Detailed CV/Resume
5+ years of full-time professional experience
2+ years of mid-to senior management experience (people, project or budget experience)
Current full-time employment
Proficiency in English
GMAT or GRE
Two references
Interview
Strong motivation, good leadership and interpersonal skills

Go to selection process

Fees and Scholarships

The Rotman-SDA Bocconi GEMBA represents a significant financial commitment, but it is a strategic investment in global business leadership with substantial long-term benefits.
The tuition fee for GEMBA 2025-2027 is USD 110,000, payable in five installments.

Thanks to the support of the Bocconi Alumni Community, USD 300,000 in merit-based tuition waivers are available for outstanding candidates.

Go to fees and expenses Go to scholarships and tuition waivers

In close contact with the business world

Career Advising

Companies are an integral part of the Global EMBA, as sponsors, partners, and educators. The companies that participate in SDA Bocconi’s educational activities share with the school the vision of continuous learning, which starts in the classroom and is firmly based in the real world. For this reason, companies are constantly present throughout the program.
By the end of the program, you can count on a network of direct contacts with companies and professionals from all over the world.

A large number of companies from all industries and of all sizes are part of the SDA Bocconi network, and new companies are continuously joining the network by supporting the participation of their employees in an MBA program.

The benefits to the company are immediate, as Global EMBA participants bring in new stimuli and a drive for growth. In turn, through close contact with company managers, the school receives the necessary inputs to continuously update its educational offerings and fine-tune the program to remain relevant to the needs of real companies.

Discover more

The GEMBA experience

Your journey at SDA Bocconi goes beyond the classroom—it's a full-immersion experience that challenges, inspires, and transforms you. You'll join an international community of ambitious peers, connect with world-class faculty, and engage with industry leaders who will broaden your perspectives.

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My GEMBA in 60 seconds - Alfonso Lavorgna
My GEMBA in 60 Seconds - Salome Pirtakhiya

Student Clubs

Clubs are a key part of the SDA Bocconi experience. They foster connections and spark ideas through exchange among students, faculty, alums, and industries around shared interests. Fully student-led, they’re real-world labs for leadership and innovation—requiring skills to fundraise, develop business plans, and manage media and corporate relations.

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