Practical Innovation Lifehacks for GSEM Students

15:45, May 7, 2020

How to become a leader and create innovations – that was the topic of Prof. Ed Overes’s lecture for International Economics and Business students

The course International Management for Bachelor students featured a series of classes by a ‘visiting’ professor Ed Overes from Zuyd University in the Netherlands delivered online. The topic of leadership is especially relevant now that many companies are looking for new strong leaders and new ways of operating in this uncertain environment.

Prof. Overes told about corporate innovation process in great detail turning students’ attention to necessary resources, management tools and key success factors. The classes also covered real cases of international companies: the types of leaders, how they act and how they organise team work. The students defined their leadership styles and got practical advice on self-development: how to enhance their leadership skills and where to find innovation ideas.

The students engaged in a fruitful discussion with the Professor, thanked him for interesting online classes and shared their impressions.

Polina Koryukina, a 3rd-year student of International Economics and Business:

First of all, Prof. Overes’s lectures were interesting for me because of Walt Disney Studio’s case that allowed for connecting the theory with real life. Both topics – Leadership and Innovation – were reflected in this case, and it was fascinating to learn how this real, living, imperfect person overcame all difficulties of doing business, learnt from his own mistakes and became a reputable leader in his industry. We therefore could not only learn the theory but also see an inspiring example of a person becoming a great leader and changing the world with their innovations.

Samuel Mattio, an exchange students from the University of Turin:

For me these classes were very interesting. I think the topics and relevant and fundamental for any business. In terms of innovations, it is undoubtful that their role is vitally important. I was interesting to learn how to make innovation implementation easier and how a company manages innovation in general. I especially liked the part on leadership, particularly Walt Disney case analysis. Thanks to this case discussion, Prof. Overes made it really clear how subjective opinion and freedom of interpretation are important for understanding a subject.