The MSc DMDS Learning Seminar, Stockholm – an immersive bonding and educational experience
The annual Learning Seminar is organized as part of the emlyon MSc in Digital Marketing & Data Science in a conscious effort to offer students a fully immersive experience – on an academic, corporate, cultural and personal level. The October 2024 edition held in Stockholm was no exception. Head of Program Alice Houvenaeghel and current students Anahi Bautista, Kalliopi Georgiou and Jenny Ting share their expectations and impressions of their recent five-day delve into the way of life and doing business in the capital of Sweden.
Editor’s note: This program is evolving into the Master in Digital Marketing & Data Analytics for the 2025 intake.
A packed schedule including the Avicii Experience interactive tribute museum, an excursion to Vaxholm Island, a workshop with health tech unicorn Kry, and a fire-setting session with renowned outdoor Swedish brand Fjällräven put the students through their paces whilst providing insight into Scandinavian ways of doing business and the particular challenge of living in a part of the world where climatic conditions also pose a challenge.
For Professor Houvenaeghel, the seminar program was devised intentionally to tick several learning objective boxes: “on a personal level, we seek via this kind of initiative to build self-confidence within the cohort whilst helping them to bond in sometimes testing conditions. On the corporate side, the idea is to shed light on how business is done here, to compare and contrast it with their knowledge of business elsewhere in the world and also explore how government and research provides support to entrepreneurs. Sweden is a fertile territory for data-driven marketing and innovation and marks an important step in the students’ learning process that will also see them discover another environment over May to June at McGill University in Canada.”
So what of the students themselves, their expectations of the trip, the key takeaways and their advice to prospective students tempted by a similar opportunity?
Q. What were your hopes and expectations of the seminar?
Anahi: “I was really looking forward to learning more about Swedish life and working culture and getting to know my classmates more plus, as a Californian, I knew the climate would pose an interesting challenge! Stockholm does a good job at inclusion and making sure everyone feels supported, so I was really keen to visit companies that are actively working in this direction. “
Kalliopi: “I was especially interested in discovering a completely different culture and attending meaningful and insightful events, including with businesspeople who would give me a broader perspective on how companies in Stockholm foster innovation and growth.
Jenny: “I expected the seminar to be an enriching experience that would introduce me to diverse enterprises and business sectors in Sweden. I hoped to gain insight into Nordic business practices and expand my understanding of Swedish culture, which certainly proved to be the case. I learned to design user-friendly interfaces that enhance a product's appeal. Achieving this involved working closely with a team under time constraints, which sharpened my skills in communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving.
Q. What do you consider were the highlights?
Kalliopi: “The excursion to Vaxholm Island and the workshop with Kry were my favorite experiences. On the third day of our trip, we took a boat through the Stockholm Archipelago to Vaxholm, a popular island and resort town, where we had the chance to connect with nature, enjoy the peaceful surroundings and take a refreshing break from the city.”
Jenny: “The two highlights from the trip were definitely the hiking and fire-setting experience on Vaxholm island. Together as a group, our program spent an afternoon hiking, during which I talked to so many people, most of whom I hadn’t had the chance to talk to before. It was a great opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone and learn more about others. Another standout moment was the session with Fjällräven. As someone with limited outdoor skills, this hands-on task pushed me beyond my limits.
Q. Would you recommend such an experience to your fellow students?
Anahi: “I want to work for an international nonprofit in the future so having constant exposure to other cultures and mindsets is essential. One thing I do recommend is to face your fears and just take the chance, because moving to another country with another language can be intimidating. You will see quickly that being surrounded by other students who also took that chance and are just as excited to be here builds a great foundation for new friendships with like-minded people.”
Kalliopi: “It’s not every day you get the chance to explore a new country, meet with industry leaders and visit their company headquarters – it’s much more than just a tourist experience. The learning trips chosen by the school are carefully selected and truly make the program stand out.”
Jenny: “I would 100% recommend students from the program to take advantage of this opportunity to go on the Learning Seminar, as it is more than an academic experience—it’s a journey of cultural immersion and personal discovery. Through engagements with local businesses and hands-on activities, students will develop practical skills and gain a deeper appreciation of a different culture.”
