Combining academic rigour with a distinctly human approach to leadership, the Copenhagen Business School (CBS) Full-Time MBA is designed for professionals who want to make an impact – not just in business, but in the world around them. Set in the heart of one of Europe’s most sustainable and liveable cities, the programme reflects Denmark’s collaborative, values-driven approach to business: purposeful, practical, and global in outlook.
As Associate Dean Professor Andreas Rasche explains, “Our philosophy is simple – business is not just about profit maximisation. It’s about value creation in a broader sense, and that means considering environmental and social impact, not just financial results.”
The Danish way of leading is the future. Source: Copenhagen Business School
Business as a force for good
At CBS, sustainability isn’t a separate module, it’s a foundation. This reflects both Denmark’s global leadership in sustainable business and CBS’s conviction that future executives must be able to integrate ESG principles into every strategic decision.
Prof. Rasche notes that CBS’s distinctive “Nordic Nine” leadership framework helps participants link values with action. “The Nordic Nine is a mindset that shapes how you approach business – emphasising curiosity, collaboration, and a commitment to the greater good,” he says.
Participants learn to think long-term and act responsibly, developing the capacity to lead change rather than simply react to it. This combination of reflection and impact runs through the entire MBA, from its integrated sustainability focus to its Strategy Project, where participants work directly with real companies on live business challenges.
Small cohort, big perspectives
CBS takes pride in its intimate cohort size: typically around 45 to 50 participants from 15 to 20 nationalities. This creates a learning environment that’s personal, collaborative, and international.
“Smaller classes allow for meaningful discussions, not just lectures,” says Prof. Rasche. “Our participants learn as much from each other’s experience as from faculty input. The diversity of backgrounds – from engineering and finance to law, healthcare, and design – leads to rich conversations and creative problem-solving.”
The collaborative ethos extends well beyond the classroom. Participants engage with Danish and international companies through projects, company visits, and networking events. The goal is to ensure that by graduation, every participant has not only mastered core business skills but also built a professional network in one of Europe’s most dynamic economies.
From AI to ESG, the CBS MBA prepares you for today’s most disruptive forces in business. Source: Copenhagen Business School
Learning that mirrors real leadership
The Copenhagen MBA is known for its balance between theory and practice. Courses such as “Strategic Human Resource Management” – taught by Assistant Professor Julia Bodner – bring leadership and organisational behaviour to life through interactive learning, experimentation, and reflection.
“We make sure participants are fully engaged in the learning process. They learn by doing, by discussing, experimenting, and reflecting together,” says Assistant Prof. Bodner.
“People skills are not something you’re simply born with – they can be learned or embedded in the organisation. If we understand incentives, structure, and culture as levers of strategy implementation, we can motivate and enable people to work towards a goal together, even as the world changes.”
She views the classroom as an ecosystem that reflects real organisational life. “The classroom is an organisation in itself,” says Assistant Prof. Bodner. “We have to set the incentives and structure and shape a culture in which participants can best achieve a common goal – learning.”
That philosophy underpins CBS’s distinctive pedagogy: experiential, reflective, and rigorously human. “Participants walk out of the course understanding human interaction and behaviour better in groups,” adds Assistant Prof. Bodner. “They define what they want to influence – and have knowledge of the mechanisms to do it intentionally.”
Participants emerge ready to lead not just through technical expertise but through empathy, structure, and intent – qualities that define modern leadership.
Small cohort, big ideas. Source: Copenhagen Business School
Prepared for a changing world
As global challenges reshape industries, CBS graduates are equipped to navigate them with confidence. From AI and automation to hybrid work and cross-cultural management, the programme helps leaders anticipate disruption and manage it effectively.
CBS’s integration of sustainability, innovation, and people-centred leadership prepares graduates for roles that demand both analytical skill and emotional intelligence, a combination that’s consistently recognised by employers. As Study International’s previous feature explains, CBS alumni are prized for their adaptability, integrity, and ability to lead diverse teams in complex, international settings.
A uniquely Scandinavian foundation
Denmark ranks among the world’s happiest and most sustainable nations – and that spirit infuses every aspect of the CBS MBA. The Scandinavian leadership model is built on trust, equality, and collaboration, qualities that define both the classroom and the workplace.
“For many of our international participants, the Danish way of leading is a revelation,” says Prof. Rasche. “It shows that you can empower people, give them freedom and still achieve exceptional results. That’s the future of leadership.”
Transform your career – and your mindset
The Copenhagen MBA is more than a qualification; it’s a transformation. Students leave not only with new knowledge but with a deeper sense of purpose, a global network, and the confidence to lead responsibly.
As Prof. Rasche puts it, “Our MBA is about what you learn and how you see the world and the kind of leader you choose to become.”
