It’s eight in the morning, and the bicycle traffic in Denmark’s capital is already in full swing. Outside the Frederiksberg campus of Copenhagen Business School (CBS), swarms of professionals glide along well-kept bike lanes, weaving through crisp autumn air that carries an unmistakable hint of ambition. It’s a scene both quintessentially Danish and surprisingly emblematic of the school’s broader vision: business can and should move forward: just not at the expense of our planet.

For more than a century, CBS has steadily built its reputation as one of Europe’s heavyweight institutions for business and economics. But in the last decade or so, it’s gained international recognition for something beyond its academic stature. In a business world grappling with environmental and ethical dilemmas, CBS has positioned itself at the crossroads of profitability and purpose. Step inside any lecture hall here, and you’ll quickly see why top recruiters—and purpose-driven MBA candidates—are paying attention.

A framework for modern leadership: The Nordic Nine

CBS’s transformation isn’t cosmetic; it goes down to the curriculum’s DNA. This is most evident in something the school calls the “Nordic Nine,” a framework of capabilities that MBA students are encouraged to develop. Think of it as a set of guiding principles where empathy, ethical reasoning, and long-term thinking count just as much as the classic MBA toolkit of financial analysis and marketing know-how.

Unlike the traditional MBA playbook, which prioritises operational efficiency and profitability, CBS’s Nordic Nine develops leaders who:

• Think critically and act ethically – recognising and addressing humanity’s challenges through entrepreneurial solutions.
  
  
• Embrace ambiguity – developing analytical skills to address uncertain global conditions with confidence.
  
  
• Create lasting value – contributing to both global prosperity and the well-being of local communities.
  
  
• Protect future generations – prioritising sustainable practices to safeguard resources for years to come.
  
  
• Understand ethical dilemmas – possessing the leadership values needed to overcome complex challenges.

The Nordic Nine approach underscores the importance of seeing the bigger picture. Modern leaders often face dilemmas that go far beyond a spreadsheet: supply-chain disruptions from climate events, calls for transparency from diverse stakeholder groups, or rapid innovation that leaves regulatory frameworks scrambling to keep up. By the time students complete their MBA, they’ve encountered these complexities head-on, learning to balance strategic goals with ethical considerations.

The Strategy Project: When theory meets reality

Most MBAs offer an internship or capstone project toward the end of the programme, but CBS takes that concept and runs with it. Over four months, students embark on the Strategy Project—a deep collaboration with actual companies, often major players like Maersk, Novo Nordisk, or Vestas. But don’t be fooled: this isn’t a token internship or an optional extra. It’s a structured, for-credit immersion where students tackle live challenges and propose tangible, data-backed strategies. For some, that means refining decarbonisation plans for shipping routes. For others, it might mean exploring how a biotech firm could integrate ESG targets into quarterly performance reviews.

Unlike a typical internship or a loosely structured project, the Strategy Project is embedded into the heart of the MBA. Faculty members guide each team, expecting evidence-based strategies that can withstand scrutiny from senior executives and business stakeholders. Students are exposed to the complexities of real budgets, timelines, and potential trade-offs—gaining skills that equip them to drive tangible progress once they graduate.

A leadership lab, minus the corporate jargon

If there’s one thing that often defines an MBA, it’s leadership training. In many programmes, that might take the shape of memorising frameworks or doing a few weekend retreats where you practice giving motivational speeches. CBS, though, embraces a different tack. Its Leadership Discovery Process thrusts students into simulations that mirror real crises and ethical quandaries. Picture trying to negotiate a last-minute bailout for a failing manufacturing partner, or addressing conflicting demands from local communities and global investors. Throw in some demanding role-plays, and you start to see how the school tests a student’s moral fabric as well as their strategic skill set.

These sessions reflect the realities of today’s global business landscape, where a single corporate decision can reverberate through communities, financial markets, and international supply chains. By honing emotional intelligence and ethical grounding—alongside technical expertise—CBS prepares graduates to lead with both strategic acumen and moral clarity.

CBS Graduates: More than leaders – changemakers

After spending a year in such an environment, CBS graduates tend to come out more than ready for the demands of modern business. The numbers for the cohort of 2023 back this up: 93% of graduates secured employment within six months, with an average salary increase of 67%. But while the financial boost is a draw, you sense that for many alumni, the real reward lies elsewhere—namely, in the chance to steer companies toward meaningful transformation.

Roles vary widely, from sustainability consulting to brand-new positions focused on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) metrics. Tech startups looking to reduce their carbon footprint often snap up graduates who can merge entrepreneurial grit with a solid business grounding. Meanwhile, established giants like Maersk or Novo Nordisk continue to recruit from CBS, appreciating the blend of commercial acuity and ethical perspective that the school cultivates.

Notably, about 70% of CBS MBAs remain in Denmark after graduation, helped by the country’s welcoming policy of a three-year work visa for non-EU graduates. Many cite that they’ve grown attached to Copenhagen’s lifestyle—prioritising community, quality of life, and climate-conscious living are habits hard to shake once you’ve experienced them daily.

Building a community, not just a credential

One facet that stands out is the tight-knit cohort. Each Full-Time MBA class typically enrols around 40 to 50 students, deliberately kept small to foster deeper connections. The alumni network now spans more than 80 nationalities, with many former classmates collaborating long after they’ve graduated. The atmosphere is more akin to a family you choose rather than a stepping stone on a cut-throat career ladder.

The school regularly invites alumni back for panel discussions and mentorship sessions. It’s not just about networking for better job prospects—though that certainly happens. Rather, it reflects the idea that forging a global community of like-minded, ethically grounded leaders can help shift how industries operate. In that sense, CBS acts less like a traditional educational institution and more like the epicentre of a growing movement, one that believes business can be simultaneously bold, profitable, and responsible.

It’s eight in the morning, and the bicycle traffic in Denmark’s capital is already in full swing. Outside the Frederiksberg campus of Copenhagen Business School (CBS), swarms of professionals glide along well-kept bike lanes, weaving through crisp autumn air that carries an unmistakable hint of ambition. It’s a scene both quintessentially Danish and surprisingly emblematic of the school’s broader vision: business can and should move forward: just not at the expense of our planet.

For more than a century, CBS has steadily built its reputation as one of Europe’s heavyweight institutions for business and economics. But in the last decade or so, it’s gained international recognition for something beyond its academic stature. In a business world grappling with environmental and ethical dilemmas, CBS has positioned itself at the crossroads of profitability and purpose. Step inside any lecture hall here, and you’ll quickly see why top recruiters—and purpose-driven MBA candidates—are paying attention.

A framework for modern leadership: The Nordic Nine

CBS’s transformation isn’t cosmetic; it goes down to the curriculum’s DNA. This is most evident in something the school calls the “Nordic Nine,” a framework of capabilities that MBA students are encouraged to develop. Think of it as a set of guiding principles where empathy, ethical reasoning, and long-term thinking count just as much as the classic MBA toolkit of financial analysis and marketing know-how.

Unlike the traditional MBA playbook, which prioritises operational efficiency and profitability, CBS’s Nordic Nine develops leaders who:

• Think critically and act ethically – recognising and addressing humanity’s challenges through entrepreneurial solutions.
  
  
• Embrace ambiguity – developing analytical skills to address uncertain global conditions with confidence.
  
  
• Create lasting value – contributing to both global prosperity and the well-being of local communities.
  
  
• Protect future generations – prioritising sustainable practices to safeguard resources for years to come.
  
  
• Understand ethical dilemmas – possessing the leadership values needed to overcome complex challenges.

The Nordic Nine approach underscores the importance of seeing the bigger picture. Modern leaders often face dilemmas that go far beyond a spreadsheet: supply-chain disruptions from climate events, calls for transparency from diverse stakeholder groups, or rapid innovation that leaves regulatory frameworks scrambling to keep up. By the time students complete their MBA, they’ve encountered these complexities head-on, learning to balance strategic goals with ethical considerations.

The Strategy Project: When theory meets reality

Most MBAs offer an internship or capstone project toward the end of the programme, but CBS takes that concept and runs with it. Over four months, students embark on the Strategy Project—a deep collaboration with actual companies, often major players like Maersk, Novo Nordisk, or Vestas. But don’t be fooled: this isn’t a token internship or an optional extra. It’s a structured, for-credit immersion where students tackle live challenges and propose tangible, data-backed strategies. For some, that means refining decarbonisation plans for shipping routes. For others, it might mean exploring how a biotech firm could integrate ESG targets into quarterly performance reviews.

Unlike a typical internship or a loosely structured project, the Strategy Project is embedded into the heart of the MBA. Faculty members guide each team, expecting evidence-based strategies that can withstand scrutiny from senior executives and business stakeholders. Students are exposed to the complexities of real budgets, timelines, and potential trade-offs—gaining skills that equip them to drive tangible progress once they graduate.

A leadership lab, minus the corporate jargon

If there’s one thing that often defines an MBA, it’s leadership training. In many programmes, that might take the shape of memorising frameworks or doing a few weekend retreats where you practice giving motivational speeches. CBS, though, embraces a different tack. Its Leadership Discovery Process thrusts students into simulations that mirror real crises and ethical quandaries. Picture trying to negotiate a last-minute bailout for a failing manufacturing partner, or addressing conflicting demands from local communities and global investors. Throw in some demanding role-plays, and you start to see how the school tests a student’s moral fabric as well as their strategic skill set.

These sessions reflect the realities of today’s global business landscape, where a single corporate decision can reverberate through communities, financial markets, and international supply chains. By honing emotional intelligence and ethical grounding—alongside technical expertise—CBS prepares graduates to lead with both strategic acumen and moral clarity.

CBS Graduates: More than leaders – changemakers

After spending a year in such an environment, CBS graduates tend to come out more than ready for the demands of modern business. The numbers for the cohort of 2023 back this up: 93% of graduates secured employment within six months, with an average salary increase of 67%. But while the financial boost is a draw, you sense that for many alumni, the real reward lies elsewhere—namely, in the chance to steer companies toward meaningful transformation.

Roles vary widely, from sustainability consulting to brand-new positions focused on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) metrics. Tech startups looking to reduce their carbon footprint often snap up graduates who can merge entrepreneurial grit with a solid business grounding. Meanwhile, established giants like Maersk or Novo Nordisk continue to recruit from CBS, appreciating the blend of commercial acuity and ethical perspective that the school cultivates.

Notably, about 70% of CBS MBAs remain in Denmark after graduation, helped by the country’s welcoming policy of a three-year work visa for non-EU graduates. Many cite that they’ve grown attached to Copenhagen’s lifestyle—prioritising community, quality of life, and climate-conscious living are habits hard to shake once you’ve experienced them daily.

Building a community, not just a credential

One facet that stands out is the tight-knit cohort. Each Full-Time MBA class typically enrols around 40 to 50 students, deliberately kept small to foster deeper connections. The alumni network now spans more than 80 nationalities, with many former classmates collaborating long after they’ve graduated. The atmosphere is more akin to a family you choose rather than a stepping stone on a cut-throat career ladder.

The school regularly invites alumni back for panel discussions and mentorship sessions. It’s not just about networking for better job prospects—though that certainly happens. Rather, it reflects the idea that forging a global community of like-minded, ethically grounded leaders can help shift how industries operate. In that sense, CBS acts less like a traditional educational institution and more like the epicentre of a growing movement, one that believes business can be simultaneously bold, profitable, and responsible.