The event opened with a warm welcome from Dr. Christian Jansen, GBS Managing Director, followed by program introductions and insights from the GBS team. Pharma MBA graduate Xiaoxing Qing then shared personal reflections on his GBS experience, highlighting five key values that shaped his studies: community, horizon, engagement, empowerment, and resilience.

We share some common goals, joint interests. This community is not just a network, it’s a safe place for exchanging ideas and life experiences, for sharing inspirations and challenges at work and in life, and for building trust and long-term mutual support.

Between sessions, students enjoyed food, drinks, and icebreaker activities such as a scavenger hunt and the lively MBA Bingo challenge, setting a tone of curiosity and collaboration. The second day focused on team building, led by Dr. Karolien Notebaert and Dr. Nicole van Hoeck. Through interactive exercises, students deepened their connections and learned to leverage diverse perspectives – skills that will serve them throughout their MBA journey.

A highlight of the Orientation Days was Thibault Massart’s keynote, “Innovation & Bold Mindset.” His talk inspired a lively discussion on how to drive change and foster innovation within organizations.

True innovation begins with the desire to push the boundaries of what is possible. A bold mindset that constantly questions the status quo, together with a curious spirit, are powerful drivers of that progress.

The event concluded with a networking reception where new students met GBS alumni and celebrated the start of an exciting new chapter. At Goethe Business School, our part-time master programs are designed for working professionals, combining academic excellence with practical relevance. The Pharma MBA focuses on management topics within the pharmaceutical industry, while the Goethe MBA offers specializations in Digital Transformation, Data Science, and Sustainability – empowering future leaders across industries.