From classroom to consulting: BCG deepens ties with SSE

Students don’t just study business, they experience it firsthand. Through its long-standing partnership with Boston Consulting Group, SSE connects students with real-world challenges. Now, that collaboration is expanding to deepen learning and innovation.

For many students at the Stockholm School of Economics, the first encounter with a global consulting firm does not happen at a job interview, it happens in the classroom. A guest lecture turns into a case discussion. A case becomes a project. And suddenly, theory meets practice in a very real way.

That is how Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has been part of the SSE experience for years. Now, the firm is taking the next step, joining the school’s Corporate Partnership Program as a Capital Partner. The move reflects a deeper commitment to working closely with students, researchers, and faculty on some of today’s most pressing challenges.

Partner perspective

SSE is one of Europe’s leading business schools, recognized for its world-class research, global outlook, and strong emphasis on entrepreneurial leadership. Our partnership reflects a shared commitment to bridging academia and business—fostering dialogue, advancing societal impact, and preparing the next generation of leaders.
Erik Surtevall
Managing Director & Partner at BCG

This connection is becoming increasingly important. Businesses today face rapid changes driven by artificial intelligence, climate transition, and global uncertainty. For students, understanding these shifts is not just useful, it is essential.

At SSE, that understanding often starts with exposure. Through lectures, mentorship, and collaborative projects, students gain insight into how companies make decisions, adapt strategies, and respond to new demands. The partnership with BCG helps bring these perspectives into everyday learning.

A growing focus is resilience: the ability of organizations and societies to adapt and recover in times of disruption. SSE’s recent initiatives in this area, including new research environments, create opportunities for companies like BCG to contribute with practical experience while also learning from academic research.

“As a leader in strategy and transformation, we value partnerships that offer mutual learning,” Surtevall adds. “We’re excited to engage more deeply with SSE on critical topics like AI, climate transition, and innovation—both to share our expertise and to gain fresh perspectives from students and faculty.”

A shared investment in future talent

For SSE, partnerships like this are also about preparing students for a changing job market. The consulting industry, like many others, is evolving quickly. Digital tools, geopolitical shifts, and sustainability demands are reshaping how companies operate—and what skills they need.

By working closely with industry, SSE gives students a clearer picture of what lies ahead. They gain not only technical knowledge, but also the ability to navigate complexity, collaborate across disciplines, and think critically about real-world problems.

“BCG’s engagement has long enriched the SSE community, and we are very pleased to welcome them as a Capital Partner,” says Lars Strannegård, President at the Stockholm School of Economics. “Their global expertise and focus on innovation and transformation bring valuable perspectives to our students and faculty.”

For students, that link can make all the difference. It turns abstract concepts into concrete challenges and opens doors to careers where they can make an impact from day one.

As the partnership continues to grow, both SSE and BCG share a common goal: to equip the next generation with the tools, insights, and confidence to lead in an uncertain world.