In October, the Cornell Executive MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership program hosted its first Global Experience program, during which students from the class of 2025 traveled to Munich and Erlangen, Germany, for a week-long immersive trip. The program is designed to engage students with the global health care market, offer exposure to a new network, and enhance professional development.
The EMBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership program partnered with Siemens Healthineers to provide students with a learning experience centered around design thinking. Siemens Healthineers is a global leader in health care technology and aims to develop products, services, and solutions at the center of clinical decision-making and treatment pathways.
“Collaborating with Siemens Healthineers was an extraordinary opportunity that brought together their experts and our students to tackle real-life challenges,” said Stefanie Kubanek, senior lecturer at Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and faculty lead on the experience. “It fostered rich dialogue across health care systems and brought health design thinking to life in a truly impactful way.”
Silke Sasano, principal key expert in Human-Centered Design at Siemens Healthineers, said it was an honor to host students. “We sparked fresh ideas and found solutions that could shape the future of health care. Beyond the insights, we found something even more valuable: connections that transcend institutions, continents, and professional backgrounds.”
During the week, students engaged in several on-site workshops, completing short projects at the intersection of business and health care. Ashley Landay and other students joined experts and market leaders to facilitate co-creation. “It felt really good to spend an extended amount of time working on one problem,” said Ashley. "So many conversations were centered around how we can work together to make the health care system better for everyone.”
Students also participated in a factory visit and gained insight into their role in the international health care market. “One of the most rewarding aspects of the experience was being appreciated for bringing a different perspective and set of values to the table,” said Anya Knoblock. “This appreciation reinforced the importance of embracing diversity as a catalyst for problem-solving. It was inspiring to witness how deeply embedded this ethos is in their everyday operations.”
“Start-Up Day" allowed students to tour companies focused on innovative solutions to challenges across the health care landscape: Avelios, Wellster Health, deepC, and stelldirvor. These visits explored design and services, industry trends, best practices, and strategies on a global scale.
“We appreciate that the founders of these start-ups took time to share their insights with our students. The exchange of ideas, the expansion of professional networks, and the potential for future partnerships are just a few reasons we were thrilled to bring this opportunity to the program,” said Elisabeth Brodbeck, executive director of education in the Department of Population Health Sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine.
“Perhaps most affirming was the realization that the challenges we face are not isolated but are instead concerns that occupy the forefront of industry-wide conversations,” Anya shared. “It highlighted the interconnectedness of our work and underscored the importance of continuing to collaborate.”
The week-long program also featured walking tours, group dinners, and museum trips, where students could bond and participate in German culture. Having experienced the business etiquette and social norms firsthand, students reflect on the trip as transformative, both personally and professionally.
“Being outside the comfort of the school environment and engaging with health care leaders in Germany brought us all a bit closer,” Ashley explained. “We understand each other better. I would do it all over again.”
Interested in learning more about the benefits of the program? Prospective students can attend one of our upcoming events with faculty, staff, alumni, and current students.
The Cornell Executive MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership Program is a dual-degree program created by two powerhouses in graduate education—the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management and the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences— delivering both an MBA and an MS in Healthcare Leadership in an NYC-based weekend format. Learn more about the program here.
- Highlights