Executive education for the financial industry

Dec. 08, 2015

Stockholm School of Economics Executive Education has been around since 1960 and the education has always been based on the research and faculty at the Stockholm School of Economics. Per Strömberg and Bo Becker, both Professors of Finance, have been teaching at SSE Executive Education since 2000 and 2013 respectively.

Prior to that, they have a long experience of teaching in the US, including in various executive education programs at Chicago Booth and Harvard Business School, respectively, where they were faculty until 2004 and 2013.

– Many professionals have an excellent basic educational background but need specialized education packaged in smaller modules targeted at their current needs. One big transformation since I started working with this is that, these days, professionals at large corporations all speak English. That opens new possibilities for education aimed at a broader European market, says Per Strömberg.

Also, leading experts on a topic are often not Swedish, adds Bo. Nowadays, the best executive education programs include faculty and participants from a mix of countries, which also contributes to a more dynamic and challenging classroom environment.

– One advantage SSE Executive Education offers is access to outstanding scholars and teachers. The long term work of building one of Europe’s top finance departments definitely shows when we produce executive education, says Bo Becker. Both Per and Bo are enthusiastic about bringing a case-based education to the forefront at SSE Executive Education. –

Normally we have a group of 20 – 40 people. Case studies as a method of teaching make for a lot more interaction, and the ideal group is large enough that we get a diversity of views but small enough that everyone can be involved. Depending on the program, the participants can be very experienced, with a lot to contribute. The teachers are facilitators of the discussion, provide context and perspectives rather than just give a lecture, says Per Strömberg.

During the next year a new risk management program will be offered for the first time, in collaboration with WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany. Bo Becker has developed the program in cooperation with Professor Garen Markarian from WHU Executive Education.

– The program is based on real case examples from Europe, the US, and Asia, and will take place during two days in Stockholm followed by two days in Frankfurt. We combine the strengths of both school’s faculties, and will address a range of pressing issues faced by financial institutions. I believe this program is a good example of how modern executive education should be designed and I look forward to the launch, says Bo Becker.

More information about the risk management program can be found here.