Responsible leadership cannot be learned from textbooks alone. It begins with self-reflection, exposure to different cultures, and the willingness to challenge your own assumptions. These were the guiding principles of the International Perspectives on Responsible Leadership elective week, hosted by Corvinus University in Budapest as part of the MaastrichtMBA Responsible Leadership elective.
Open to both On-Campus MBA and Online MBA participants, the international week is one of three elective weeks students can choose alongside the core MaastrichtMBA curriculum, with at least one taking place abroad.
Hosted at Corvinus University’s modern Gellért Campus, the programme combined interactive workshops, company visits, leadership simulations and peer discussions to bring responsible leadership to life within the Central and Eastern European context. Participants explored topics ranging from leadership decision-making and mergers and acquisitions to gender-inclusive leadership and social entrepreneurship.
For Özlem Akinci, Superintendent at Stolt Tankers, the experience began well before arriving in Budapest. Although the preparation required a significant amount of reading and adapting to a different online learning environment, she believes it provided a good foundation for the week and helped the students engage more effectively with the topics discussed. Once in Hungary, the practical aspects quickly faded into the background. Özlem: “Travelling within Europe was convenient and enjoyable, allowing participants to focus entirely on the learning experience rather than the logistics.”
Rather than concentrating solely on leadership theories, the programme encouraged participants to better understand themselves as leaders. A central element was the FLIGBY leadership simulation, developed around the concept of flow, which challenged participants to make more than 150 leadership decisions while receiving immediate feedback on their choices and leadership style.
For Özlem, the simulation became one of the defining moments of the week. She explains that the FLIGBY experience generated the deepest level of personal reflection and learning and challenged her to reflect on her own leadership style, strengths and areas for development. Another participant experienced a similar shift in perspective, noting that the programme raised his awareness of the impact my actions, words, body language and decisions have on others. By better understanding people’s emotional states, he realised that leaders can create the conditions in which both individuals and teams are able to perform at their best.
Together, the combination of theory, reflection and practical application created a learning experience that extended well beyond the traditional classroom.
The company visits formed an essential part of the programme, illustrating how responsible leadership takes shape in different organisational settings. Visits to the family-owned bakery Jókenyér, the historic Zwack Unicum distillery and the social enterprise Ízlelő enabled participants to connect academic concepts directly with real-world leadership challenges.
The visit was particularly memorable because of its commitment to creating value beyond financial performance. “To me, the organisation is a powerful example of responsible leadership in practice, demonstrating how social purpose and business performance can successfully go hand in hand,” Özlem explains.
The programme also included a live case competition led by Dr. Ákos Kassai, where participants tackled a real-life merger and acquisition scenario while considering the complexities of Central European business culture. Another participant shared: “I was especially inspired by the visit to Jókenyér, where Managing Director Gábor Zsikla demonstrated in a very simple but powerful way the distinction between leadership and management. One lesson that particularly resonated was the importance of leaders spending time on the operational shop floor before making strategic decisions”.
Beyond the academic programme, Budapest itself became an important part of the learning experience. Through company visits, discussions and cultural immersion, participants gained valuable insights into how history, culture and society influence leadership and business practices across Central and Eastern Europe.
For Özlem, who is originally from Türkiye and has lived in the Netherlands for almost five years, the experience provided a valuable opportunity to experience Hungary beyond the perspective of a visitor. She explains: “Observing the differences in historical context, societal attitudes and ways of working between Eastern and Western Europe reminded me how deeply culture, history and political developments shape our perspectives and behaviours”.
The international classroom further enriched these reflections. Looking back, Özlem says: “I realised that our own backgrounds influence the way we perceive other cultures, reinforcing the importance of understanding different perspectives, challenging assumptions and remaining open-minded as a responsible leader”.
While the academic content was highly valued, many participants considered the international MBA cohort to be one of the week’s greatest strengths. Spending an intensive week abroad together created opportunities to exchange experiences across industries, cultures and professional backgrounds in an international context, strengthening both personal and professional networks.
One participant described the group as the personal highlight of the week, explaining that everyone spent the week “growing together, sharing experiences, learning from one another and building new relationships”, creating an environment that was both inspiring and transformational.
Özlem shares: “Reflecting that spending time with peers from completely different professional, cultural and industry backgrounds significantly broadened my understanding of leadership. The conversations challenged existing assumptions and ultimately left me with greater self-awareness, new perspectives and practical ideas that I can directly apply within my own organisation.
By combining academic rigour with cultural immersion, practical company visits and personal reflection, the International Perspectives on Responsible Leadership elective exemplifies the MaastrichtMBA philosophy of learning by doing. Throughout the week, participants discovered that responsible leadership begins with self-awareness, is strengthened through understanding different cultures and perspectives, and becomes truly meaningful when theory is translated into practice.
For Özlem, the experience brought all these elements together. “I rate the programme a perfect 10 out of 10. I experienced that the combination of academic learning, personal reflection, cultural experiences and meaningful connections made this International Week one of the most impactful experiences of my MBA journey so far”. Her reflections mirror those of many participants, who left Budapest not only with new leadership frameworks and practical insights, but also with a deeper understanding of themselves, their peers and the responsibilities of leading in an increasingly interconnected world.
This article presents a recap of the elective week on Perspectives on Responsible Leadership at Corvinus University, Hungary. This elective module of our Responsible Leadership elective is part of the executive modular part-time MaastrichtMBA programme. The programme has a Triple Crown accreditation and is aimed for professionals with at least 5 years of working experience.
