The fourth MBA Global Sailing League closed in Cala dei Sardi. "In the company is like on a boat"

Sport. Networking. Training and confrontation. Fun. Sustainability. Made in Italy. So many values in the field for the fourth edition of the MBA Global Sailing League, organised at the Yacht Club Cala dei Sardi last week by the POLIMI Graduate School of Management, co-winner of the event together with the London Business School. A series of regattas in its own right that does not, however, focus on competitive spirit: it prefers camaraderie, networking and the sharing of an educational, memorable experience that allows everyone to return home richer with a wealth of knowledge, tactics, friends and special moments that remain.

Fifty-seven sailors from ten international business schools took part in the event (in addition to the POLIMI GSoM, the London Business School, Istituto de Impresa of Madrid, Oxford, Columbia Business School, Bologna Business School, People Friendship University of Russia, Corvinus University of Budapest, Seconda Università degli Studi of Naples, and Imperial College Business School were present) divided into nine crews. The boats used were not only the J/24, the world's most popular monohull racing yacht (created way back in 1977, it continues to be very popular: in June, the European championship is scheduled to be held at the prestigious Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo), but there was also a division dedicated to some more comfortable 46-foot-long racing-cruising yachts. The competition involved a total of around 60 international companies represented between participants and guests.

The traditional annual appointment, which each year proposes a different Mediterranean destination, also included a rich programme of ashore training appointments curated in the wake of business teachings, but with a touch of high-level seamanship: It was no coincidence that the president of the Yacht Club Cala dei Sardi, Captain Gianfranco Bacchi, the 122nd and third last commander of the Amerigo Vespucci, offered teachings and anecdotes enriched by his vast military experience, thus contributing to provide a unique and valuable perspective on the dynamics of leadership and teamwork.

Concluding this edition, Professor Sergio Terzi, Associate Dean of GSoM, emphasised the importance of sailing as a training tool within the Executive MBA context, highlighting its impact on learning soft skills and developing a sense of belonging and collaboration among students. Terzi emphasised the role of the sailing event in providing a practical and stimulating experience for students, offering them the opportunity to apply the skills acquired during the MBA course in a dynamic and challenging context: 'The regatta is not just a sporting competition, but a unique opportunity to put into practice the leadership, problem-solving and collaboration skills learned during the MBA course.

Talking about the importance of Executive MBAs in the business world, Terzi highlighted their role in preparing professionals to face the challenges of the global marketplace, providing them with the necessary skills to successfully lead organisations in today's environment: "Executive MBAs play a crucial role in training leaders capable of tackling the complex challenges of global business, providing them with a solid foundation of knowledge and practical skills, along with the development dimension of cross-functional and soft skills. The 'soft' side, having trained many engineers, some of whom return to business school years after graduating from Polytechnic, is one of the ones they need most'.