Smart Week: a transformative journey for the MBA Hybrid Online English Edition
17 March 2025The Smart Week of the MBA Hybrid Online English Edition is one of the most significant moments of the program—a key occasion where academic theory and business practice converge to enrich the learning experience.
The event offered participants an in-depth immersion into the most prominent industrial realities of the Emilia region, combined with an intense hackathon at Villa Guastavillani.
A crucial balance: flexibility and human connection
In today’s professional landscape, flexibility is a fundamental element. Maria Stoeva, a master’s participant and a professional with a rich portfolio of international experience, confirms this:
“Distance learning was essential for me, given my dynamic schedule that balances career, frequent travel, and family life. One of the main reasons I chose the MBA Hybrid at BBS is the well-structured program, communicated in advance, which allowed me to integrate it seamlessly into my routine.”
Despite the advantages of remote learning, Stoeva also recognizes the importance of in-person interactions:
“While distance learning offers flexibility, in-person interactions remain invaluable. With such a diverse group spread across different locations, I was eager to meet my colleagues in person. Smart Week gave me this opportunity and much more.”
This reflection highlights the essence of the MBA Hybrid Online English Edition: an effective combination that leverages the strengths of both learning modes. Smart Week thus becomes a central element of the program—”the most important moment of the journey for me,” in Stoeva’s words.
A journey through Italian excellence
During the smart week participants visited five companies that symbolize Italian industrial excellence, each with a distinctive vision of innovation and quality:
- Marchesini Group – where precision and innovation drive automation in pharmaceutical and cosmetic packaging
- Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano – a testament to 900 years of artisanal mastery
- Max Mara Fashion Group – an immersion in the balance between creativity, brand longevity, and entrepreneurial discipline
- HAVI Logistics – a window into modern global supply chains
- Automobili Lamborghini – the embodiment of how speed, craftsmanship, and tradition drive innovation
For Stoeva, whose perspective is shaped by her experience in organizational development consulting, this diversity represented a unique opportunity:
“Each visit offered a particular perspective on what excellence means in different industries.”
The collaborative dimension: the hackathon
The journey concluded with a hackathon hosted at the historic Villa Guastavillani, home to Bologna Business School. Here, the acquired knowledge was applied through a structured process: challenge launch, solution development, presentation preparation, and results sharing.
This moment was a concrete example of experiential learning, where participants developed innovative solutions, applying in real-time the insights gathered during the company visits.
Skills for a complex future
The Smart Week experience provided participants with both technical skills and a broader perspective on the meaning of professional excellence. As Stoeva observes:
“Smart Week reinforced the importance of innovation, precision, and adaptability—not just as concepts, but as daily practices in high-performance companies.”
This immersion developed crucial abilities to navigate the complexity of contemporary business environments:
“The experience strengthened my ability to connect ideas across different industries, apply structured problem-solving in real-time, and collaborate meaningfully.”
Particularly relevant was the opportunity to transfer these insights into her own professional context:
“Observing how industry leaders operate in different contexts gave me a broader vision of strategic thinking and problem-solving, fundamental aspects for my work in consulting and client development across Europe.”
The essence of the experience: immersion, collaboration, excellence
Asked to describe Smart Week in three words, Stoeva chose:
- immersive – a deep dive into various industries
- collaborative – the power of teamwork as a catalyst for innovation
- excellence – the common thread connecting different realities
“Smart Week was not just an opportunity to observe best business practices, but to actively engage with them, making it a pivotal stage of the program,” she concluded.
A model for effective education
The Smart Week of the MBA Hybrid Online English Edition represents a concrete example of how modern educational programs can offer a learning experience that is both flexible and engaging.
In a professional environment that demands both specialization and broad vision, both autonomy and collaboration, this hybrid model proves particularly suitable for shaping leaders capable of navigating complexity and driving innovation.
