Alumni Study Trip

Why Join?

The Study Trip is often one of the most impactful parts of the MBS journey, where learning expands beyond the classroom, shaped by new environments, fresh perspectives, and deep connections with peers and local networks. By popular demand, we are now bringing that experience back – for alumni. Because leadership does not stop at graduation, and neither should your development.

In a city at the forefront of climate action, we will explore the frontiers of AI and sustainability through an engaging mix of case discussions, real-world projects, and personalized teaching with the Católica Porto Business School faculty – all grounded in a proven Action-Learning methodology. You will be exposed to cutting-edge innovation, sustainability strategies, and regenerative business practices in an international context alongside fellow alumni and experts from the school’s corporate and academic network.

All this paired with enjoying the rich culture of Porto with good food, world-class port wine, and exploring tiled alleyways outside of the crowded tourist season will be a recharging and re-energizing experience in the middle of the darkest time of the year.

Wayne Visser

Galp Chair & Professor of Practice in Regenerative Business, Innovation & Technology | Fellow, Head Program Instructor & Lecturer, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership | Visiting Professor in Sustainable Transformation, Antwerp Management School | Author of 44 books, including the international bestseller “Thriving” | Director, Kaleidoscope Futures Lab | Founder, CSR International | Board Member, Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative (GRLI) | Award-winning film producer & presenter, Closing the Loop | Former Director of Sustainability Services, KPMG | Former Strategy Analyst, CapGemini | World top 10 “pracademic” in sustainable and regenerative business, innovation and leadership (ChatGPT 4o) | Top 10 ESG speaker (Nexxworks), Top 10 most influential faculty thinkers on issues of responsible business in social media (University of Bath #thinklist),, a top 100 thought-leader in trustworthy business (Trust Across America) and a top 100 sustainability leader (ABC Carbon) | Global CSR Excellence & Leadership Award | Emerald Literati Outstanding Author Contribution Award | Outstanding Teacher Award (Warwick MBA) | Published over 375 chapters, articles and reports | Delivered over 570 keynote speeches, lectures, courses and workshops in over 50 countries |

Manuela Pintado

Ph.D. in Biotechnology from the Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Associate Professor of the School of Biotechnology (ESB-UCP) | Associate Director of ESB-UCP and Director of CBQF (Centre of Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry, a Portuguese Associate Laboratory) | Established strong levels of collaboration with industry with more than 100 R&I closed projects involving industry as the President of EBRI - European Biotechnology Research Institute (EBRI), a Technology Transfer unit | Coordinator of the Alchemy Project with Amyris Inc. since 2016 and Coordinator of the Department of Scientific Services for Industry (2013-2016) | Head of Bioactive and Bioproducts Research Laboratory, working in the field of circular economy, mainly by-product and unvalued resources valorisation, to obtain new sustainable products | Co-leader of INSURE.Hub - Innovation in Sustainability and Regeneration Hub | Published papers (ca. 600 papers) in refereed international journals, authored 70 chapters in handbooks on these topics, and created more than 25 patents | Since 2019, Manuela Pintado has been part of the World's Top Most Cited Researchers in the area of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forest, according to the “World’s Top 2% Scientists" ranking, prepared by Stanford University (USA), which also highlighted her work for its impact on science.

António Vasconcelos

Executive leader of Planetiers New Generation and co-leader of INSURE.Hub - Innovation in Sustainability and Regeneration Hub - founded by the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto with Planetiers | One of his main areas of focus is tos upport business leaders to use sustainability as a key component of business strategy /innovation and organisational transformation | Chairman of The Natural Step International, aSwedish-based NGO that has been applying scientific knowledge in sustainability to progressive organisations worldwide for almost 35years | With extensive experience in professional services and new projects’ development, he was international Vice President at Oliver Wyman (strategic consulting) with projects in the EU and the US, and work ed in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions at an investment boutique led by J.P. Morgan | Degree in management from Universidade Católica Portuguesa-Lisbon and MBA from Nova SBE | Invited Professor for training programmes at Universidade Católica Portuguesa Porto (CPBS and ESB) and speaker in (inter)national events

Luis Rochartre

Forestry engineer (UTAD), post-graduate in Sustainability (Stanford and Harvard), with a 30-year career dedicated to sustainability, forestry, defence industry, consulting, executive search and business management | Director of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and Secretary General of BCSD Portugal | Senior Advisor at Greenlab, Planetiers New Generation, Novais Advogados, Rega Energy and GlobeScan | Principal Consultant at Von Rohr & Associates, Sustainability Practice Advisor at Epic Talent Society, and Sustainability Curator at Spinn | Guest lecturer at ISEG and Industry Fellow at Universidade Católica Portuguesa – Porto | Currently working with The Natural Step Portugal, Build Up Labs, Zero Emissions World, Help Images, CITAB/UTAD, and Colab ForestWise.

Getting there Participants arrange their own travel. There are direct flights to Porto from the main European airports, e.g. Frankfurt.

Accommodation We’ve secured a special deal at Hotel Boa-Vista Porto between June 18 and 21. Room prices per night:

• Single room front: €123.25
• Single room standard: €96.90
• Double room front: €145.35
• Double room standard: €119.00

Booking instructions will be sent upon registering for the study trip. Of course, participants are also free to choose their own preferred stay in Porto.

The Feast of São João (St. John’s Festival) is Porto’s biggest and most beloved annual celebration.

Every year on the night of June 23, Porto explodes with color, music, and energy for the Festa de São João, the city’s most famous festival. It’s a one-of-a-kind street party that takes over every corner of the city, from the historic Ribeira district along the Douro River to the beaches of Foz do Douro.

At midnight, the city gathers along the Dom Luís I Bridge and the riverfront for an incredible 15-minute fireworks show launched from barges on the Douro. The reflections on the water and the backdrop of Porto’s hillside skyline make it one of Europe’s most stunning fireworks displays.

After the fireworks, the party doesn’t stop—people dance in the streets until sunrise, and many locals walk to the beach to watch the dawn break over the Atlantic.

Find an overview of all the attractions on this website. You may wish to consider extending your stay after the Alumni Study Trip to take part in this unique event. 

• The study trip fee is €1,599 (incl. 7% VAT). The same fee applies for MBS alumni and a Plus One. The fee does not include travel and accommodation.
• A first installment of €500 (incl. 7% VAT) is required upon booking to secure your spot. The remaining balance will be payable after the registration deadline.
• Good to know: Tax offices usually recognize costs for your further education if they are job-related. Outside of Germany, please check details with a tax advisor in your country of residence.
• Cancellation policy: Cancellations are possible up to 60 days before the event, with a full refund excluding the €500 (incl. 7%VAT) deposit. After that, a refund is only possible if the event is sold out and we are able to resell your spot. If the event is cancelled by MBS, the full amount including the deposit will be refunded. We will inform you until end of August, in case we have to cancel the event. 

If you have any questions about the Alumny Study Trip, our Alumni Relations & Career Development team will be happy to answer them.

Booking Process

1. Fill out the registration form and send it to alumnitrip@mannheim-business-school.com
2. after we confirmed your participation, please pay the first installment of €500 (incl. 7% VAT) via Flywire
3. we will inform you when the second installment needs to be paid (depending on how quickly we reach the minimum number of participants)

Why we use Flywire for our Lifelong Learning Offers?

• it is a secure, flexible option to pay from 240 countries and territories, in 140+ currencies
• you can choose from convenient, local payment methods including bank transfers, credit cards, e-wallets and more
• you can take advantage of Flywire’s Best Price Guarantee for local bank transfers
• you can track payments every step of the way via email, mobile app and text alerts

Laura Lehtola

Manager Career Development

Responsibilities: 

• Programs: ESSEC & Mannheim EMBA, Mannheim EMBA, Mannheim Master of Accounting & Taxation (both Tracks)
• Industries: Hospitality, Logistics, Manufacturing, Media/Entertainment, Real Estate
• Network Clubs: Diversity Club, Leaders of Tomorrow Club, Marketing & Sales Club, Pride Community and Women in Business Community
• Alumni Career Counselor
• Lifelong Learning Offers

Contact: alumnitrip@mannheim-business-school.com

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