Business schools are undergoing, but also leading, change driven by trends such as digital transformation and sustainability, highlights John Byrne, CEO of Poets&Quants, in a conversation in the Executive Chats series with Rector Gianmario Verona.

“There have been positive changes as a result of the pandemic – such as the acceleration in distance learning. In the future we will see far more higher education delivered through technology,” he says. “And technology has also transformed the world of business and is reshaping the workforce – and business schools are preparing their students for this.”

Another important factor of change is the drive to sustainability. “Sustainability has become an important topic at business schools, in part because this generation demands in it. Business schools have the responsibility to teach people about the implications of their decisions on people, society and the environment,” he says. “And the demand and interest from young people for the topic of sustainability and social impact is there.”

And as “business schools put more and more resources into the area of entrepreneurship, we are also seeing more young people starting companies that have an impact on sustainability and the environment,” he adds.