Bachelor in Transformational Leadership and Social Impact ESADE Business School

Be an agent of change. Become an entrepreneur for social impact!

Become a transformative leader with social impact

Do you care about the planet and the problems of society? Do you dare to make things better?

Climate change, pandemics, inequality and unsustainable use of resources all demand new responses from humanity. The world needs a new generation of leaders who can harness the power of business to improve life for everyone.

• University-specific degree from Esade - University Ramon Llull: 3 years, 180 ECTS
• Official degree: 4 years, 240 ECT (official accreditation is in process)
• Fees: €21,000 for each of the first 3 years + €10,500 fourth year

If you’ve got an entrepreneurial mindset if you’re passionate about the planet and its people if you want to face global challenges if you feel comfortable with uncertainty and if you’re eager to take action, the Bachelor in Transformational Business and Social Impact (BITBASI) is for you.

Over the course of the programme, you will become an active agent of change with the skills and knowledge you need to create companies that change the world. The first? Your own start-up with social impact, which will be your final degree project.

With this programme, we are empowering young, entrepreneurial with a social conscience – people like you – to find new ways forward for the good of everyone.

It’s designed to give you the tools you need – the knowledge, skills and experiences – to make a difference. To help you change the world by imagining and bringing to life disruptive and innovative projects. To use what you learn to find solutions that benefit both business and the planet.

How?

Through holistic learning

Combining the knowledge, learning methodologies and soft skills you need to become a successful agent of change.

Rethinking the way you learn

We’ve created a learning model specifically for students with your profile.

Learning is a personal and holistic process. In this programme, we’ve selected four scientifically tested learning methodologies to help you develop your talent to the max.

Where?

You’ll learn in diverse learning spaces and ecosystems of innovation and entrepreneurship.

• Rambla of Innovation: Decision Lab, eWorks, Fusion Point, eGarage, FabLab, MediaRoom, Finance Lab.
• Esade Creapolis
• International companies with social impact
• Esade Sant Cugat Campus
• Hubs of entrepreneurship and innovation in Barcelona, Berlin and Shanghai

Why?

• Become an agent of change who uses the power of business to do good for society
• Accompanied by an excellent team of professors and mentors that will help you to become the best version of yourself
• Work on real projects in social impact companies and B-Corps
• Grow through a personalised model of competencies and soft skills

The Bachelor in Transformational Business and Social Impact is for people who care about human and social problems – and who dare to solve them. We’re looking for nonconformists who love learning and want to develop a growth mindset. People who want to take action and drive transformations that improve the world. Future leaders with a talent for entrepreneurship and a passion to address issues such as sustainability, climate change, inequality and building a circular economy. People like you.

A journey based on project learning and ability development

Your interconnected learning journey in humanities, management, technology and innovation will take place over the course of the programme. Your study plan combines cognitive skill development (Learn to Learn) and entrepreneurship projects (Learn to Innovate) plus liberal arts sessions and reflection through Socratic dialogue to strengthen your knowledge and develop your personal and interpersonal skills (Learn to Think).

In addition, the programme includes two study tours, which will immerse you in international innovation and companies with social impact.

In your final year, you will carry out your Final Project: the creation of your own start-up with social impact.

If you want, you can extend your BITBASI learning experience by 12 months to obtain an official degree qualification.

During this extra year, you will be able to dive deeper with specialist electives in either Corporate Innovation & Business Transformation or Social Entrepreneurship.

You’ll also gain invaluable real-world, hands-on experience in driving transformation through a professional internship.

First year

Prototype the foundations of your startup

During the first year, you will lay the foundations for all of the programme’s pillars. In seven subjects from the Learn to Learn module, you’ll begin to develop your leadership and your cognitive skills for entrepreneurship. The subjects include communication principles, critical thinking, data analysis, social interaction, and probability and statistics.

You’ll carry out three projects (Learn to Innovate): creating a personal website that will serve as future projects portfolio achievements, prototyping an impact technology with digital fabrication tools in a fab lab, and creating an impact-driven business model validated with Lean Startup methodology and communicated and promoted through a Crowdfunding campaign. During these projects, you’ll start to develop your innovation management and changemaker skills and knowledge: teamwork, interpersonal relationships, rapid prototyping, marketing, finance, operations, design thinking, innovation, people management, etc to build the foundations of your startup.

At the same time, you will begin sessions on debating, critical reflection and philosophical thinking in order to complement what you’ve learned (Learn to Think).

Second year

Solve real-world challenges through impact

In the second year, you will complete the last subjects of the Learn to Learn module. In this phase, you’ll consolidate the skills you need to become an agent of change, capable of learning from reality and adapting to changing environments in different types of companies, sectors and circumstances. You’ll take a deep dive into communication techniques, creative thinking and quantitative methods, seeking optimal solutions through the use of data and leadership strategies.

At the same time, you’ll work on three new projects. The first one will take place in the Esade Rambla of Innovation where you'll learn about the Google Design Sprint methodology to solve a real business challenge in just five days (Learn to Innovate). They also enable opportunities to develop both your soft skills (Learn to Think) and management knowledge. The second project aims to solve an impact-driven challenge inside a B-Corp in Barcelona using the search-oriented innovation methodologies learned during the first year. During the third one, which will take place in Berlin on your Study Tour, you will have to solve a systemic challenge related to the city. By taking advantage of the local innovation ecosystem and acting as “central gears” to align the interests of various stakeholders to drive collective impact. You will continue learning with the added bonus of being in an international environment.

Third year

Become an agent of change with your startup

Year 3 is the time to reinforce your knowledge. You will do a final review of what you have picked up in the Learn to Learn module; you will carry out two projects exploring disruptive innovation and Exponential Organizations (Learn to Innovate); you will travel to Shanghai for your Study Tour and you will take all the final subjects and activities of the Learn to Think module (liberal arts and Socratic dialogue method).

Final Project*

This consolidation of knowledge will reach its peak in the Final Project when you’ll create a start-up with social impact and prepare it for the start of an investment round. This will challenge you to apply/implement everything from the "Learn to Learn" module plus your knowledge of management and your personal and interpersonal skills. You’ll also have to use everything you have learned from your immersion in different company cultures, and in innovation and entrepreneurship environments such as Esade Creapolis. In brief, you will show that you are an agent of change, capable of creating a business project with real social impact.

*If you choose the University-specific degree from Esade - University Ramon Llull, you will do the Final Project in year 3. If you choose the official degree, you will do it in year 4.

Year 4

To obtain an officially recognised degree qualification, you will have to complete the 4th year of the programme.

This extra year gives you the opportunity to develop further your expertise and your experience.

Expertise – Specialisation Electives

You’ll select electives in your final year that develop your expertise and take you closer to your chosen career goals. There are two paths:

Experience – Mandatory 5-month Internship

You’ll join a top national or international organisation and take on real responsibilities. Put your knowledge into practice as you learn first-hand about day-to-day life in transformational companies or NGOs, developing practical abilities that help your CV stand out.

This is your chance to dare to make a difference. To use the power of business to improve life for everyone. To take your first step into a world of transformative possibilities.

Final Project – Putting it All Together*

This consolidation of knowledge will reach its peak in the Final Project when you’ll create a start-up with social impact and prepare it for the start of an investment round. This will challenge you to apply/implement everything from the "Learn to Learn" module plus your knowledge of management and your personal and interpersonal skills. You’ll also have to use everything you have learned from your immersion in different company cultures, and in innovation and entrepreneurship environments such as Esade Creapolis. In brief, you will show that you are an agent of change, capable of creating a business project with real social impact.

*If you choose the Esade-specific qualification, you will do the Final Project in year 3. If you choose an official degree qualification, you will do it in year 4.

• #1 Private University in Spain for a Bachelor in Management - El Mundo 2021
• #1 University in Innovative Education - El Economista, 2020
• 10th Best university in Europe to study business administration undergraduate degrees, QS World University Ranking by subject

The Bachelor in Transformational Business and Social Impact gives you the tools, skills and knowledge you need to develop businesses that, in addition to generating economic benefits, have a positive impact on society or the environment.

When you graduate, you will have the entrepreneurial and leadership skills to be an action-oriented agent of change. You’ll have the cognitive capabilities to overcome personal and professional challenges, and the technical and technological knowledge to succeed in the corporate world of the digital age.

This will be your graduate profile

• With a multidisciplinary and disruptive education
  Management, humanities, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and liberal arts.
• Expert in high-impact projects
  You will master the keys to developing businesses or projects that make positive changes to the planet or society.
• With knowledge of liberal arts
  History, literature, writing, philosophy, sociology, psychology, creativity, communication, etc.
• With cognitive capabilities
  Critical, creative and algorithmic thinking, based on evidence, will allow you to overcome challenges and function in ambiguous environments.
• With soft skills – Pentabilities
  Responsibility, cooperation, autonomy and initiative, emotional management and thinking abilities
• With experience in innovation and entrepreneurship hubs
  Thanks to the programme’s projects and study tours.
• Action-oriented
  You will be prepared to make high-impact decisions and implement action plans.
• With international experience
  You will get to know the business and social culture of different countries thanks to studying tours and projects in innovation hubs abroad.
• With effective communication and discussion skills
  Thanks to your training in liberal arts and the Socratic method used in the degree.

Your abilities