The ESSEC Online EMDT Journey
Carlos Navarro, originally from Colombia, recently completed ESSEC Online‘s Executive Master in Digital Transformation (EMDT) program. In an interview with MASTERGADSCHOOLS, he shared his personal journey through the program. His story is a compelling case for why the right program at the right moment can help you get to exactly where you want to be in your career.
Why ESSEC Online’s EMDT Stood Out
When Carlos started searching for an executive program, he was not looking for a generalist master’s program. He specifically wanted something that blended digital strategy with real operational application. That is what made ESSEC Online’s EMDT program stand out to him.
The experienced and senior cohort, combined with a human-centric approach, impressed him. Moreover, the focus on organizational transformation and business reinvention presented the holistic approach he was looking for.
The fully online, flexible, and modular study format sealed his decision. It meant that Carlos could study without stepping away from his career. Ultimately, the combination of these factors made it the perfect fit for him.
The Career Gap Carlos Was Determined to Close
Carlos came to the EMDT with a strong track record at an operational level but a clear ambition to move beyond it.
He shares, “I had strong delivery experience, but I wanted to make the leap from executing transformation to shaping it at a strategic level. And I wanted to do it with rigor and an academic framework.” (01:35)
The ESSEC EMDT program helped Carlos to develop transferable skills, a fresh mindset, and new frameworks to take his career to the next level.
Based on a modular approach, the EMDT program structure allows students to customize their learning. They select four certificates (32 ECTS) from six available options.
These options include:
- Artificial Intelligence for Business
- Design Thinking & Agile Methods
- Mastering Digital Business Models
- Driving Digital Change – People & Processes
- Leading with Data-Driven Strategies & Analytics
- Innovative Brand & Digital Marketing Strategies: Insights of the Luxury Industry
For Carlos, the Digital Transformation modules provided the strategic vocabulary and industry insights he sought.
Moreover, he learned how to effectively implement AI and digital transformation processes within his work. Rather than only understanding the theory behind digital transformation, he learnt how to implement it in live business settings to lead change within his organization.
It All Starts With a Mindset Shift
Before the EMDT program, Carlos had a product ownership background. He was very technology-oriented. The program pushed him to zoom out and see the bigger picture.
He shares, “The program really made me understand that transformation is 20% technology and 80% people and governance. Without a good understanding of the business needs and without the tools to influence people, that is where the problems lie. There is way more [to it] than just technology.” (03:27)
Today’s leaders need to learn to leverage technology without forgetting to take a human-centered approach. ESSEC’s EMDT program teaches this important balance.
He further explored how technology and human influence overlap in his thesis. He titled it “Codifying Tacit Knowledge in Warehouse Operations: A Design Science Research Approach to the Put-Away Process”.
Carlos adds, “The program pushed me to think about change adoption, knowledge preservation, and organizational culture in a way that a purely technical training [program] never would have.” (04:09)
He currently works as a Digital Transformation Leader at Katoen Natie. It is a large logistics multinational based in Belgium. He drives projects across Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. His learnings from the EMDT program continue to inform how he approaches every project that he leads today.
Balancing Work And Studies
Committing to studying 10 to 15 hours a week while also working requires excellent time management skills. For Carlos, structure was essential. The variety of learning tools also made the coursework manageable.
In the ESSEC Online Portal, students work with various tools. This includes watching videos, reading articles, completing practice exercises, and listening to podcasts. Students also complete assignments, follow webinars, and meet online with classmates.
He notes, “The content was very diverse. You really didn’t have an excuse [not to do the work]. They give you PDFs, videos, [and] podcasts. I used a combination of all of them… I also listened to a lot of podcasts. It was really useful. While I was on the train or driving to work, I was actually in my lessons already.” (04:24)
The flexibility of ESSEC Online is ideal for professionals who want to learn and level up without pausing their careers. The diversity of learning materials ensures that students can study at their own pace and learn in their own style.
Learning That Stays With You
The skills that Carlos learnt during the program were directly transferable to his career. In particular, he highlights “strategic framing” as a key skill he developed.
He highlights, “It’s the ability to take a messy operational challenge and structure it into a problem statement. You define operations and present a clear recommendation to a senior stakeholder in five minutes or so… This is something that you learn in the Executive program, it’s no nonsense. You just go to the facts, the problem, the options, the pros and cons, the risks, and frame it all in a package.” (06:18)
Carlos defines it as a ‘very direct and effective’ way of communicating. In the business world, efficiency and clear communication are pivotal. By expanding his business toolkit, Carlos left the program prepared to lead with confidence in the digital stratosphere.
A Peer Network That Raises Your Own Bar
A program is only as good as its student cohort. And in Carlos’s case, his group was excellent. He describes his master’s cohort as very international and senior. This ensures rich peer learning.
While much of the program is online, it also includes in-person events in Paris. For Carlos, this made networking with his peers even more accessible and engaging. He underscores, “This [program] created a good blend with face-to-face and online.” (07:31)
Even after graduation, they keep in touch via LinkedIn and WhatsApp groups. Being one of the youngest in the class, he was able to learn a lot from his peers. They had extensive work experience in senior roles. In fact, the average work experience in this program is an impressive 14.5 years. Cohort members are, on average, 39 years old, and the classroom brings together over 15 nationalities.
He shares, “I had vice presidents, financial controllers from multinational entities like the UN or the European Union. It was a very good blend of nationalities and backgrounds. It was very rich.” (08:12)
Being among such esteemed peers, he felt inspired to strive for the highest level. And it didn’t end after graduation. He continues to gain support, inspiration, and insights from his former peers to this day.
From the EMDT to ESSEC Online’s EMAI
Ultimately, the ESSEC Online EMDT program offers you a full skillset in digital transformation and management to help you boost your current career or to pivot industries. It offers flexibility and accessibility without compromising on peer learning, engagement, and quality.
Carlos’s advice? He says, “Just do it. It is a very good opportunity. The perfect moment never comes… it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” (08:42)
Are you more interested in AI? Then the new ESSEC Online Executive Master in Artificial Intelligence (EMAI) program may be the right fit for you. Carlos views it as a natural next step after completing the EMDT program and is considering doing it next.
Want to study at ESSEC Online? Take our eligibility quiz to see if you qualify!
