MBA Alumni Reunion 2026

AI for Business: Trends, Opportunities, and Challenges

As AI continues to evolve at pace, it is becoming increasingly important to understand which developments matter most and what they mean for business, strategy, work, and competitive advantage. This workshop explores key trends in the AI field, highlighting their business implications, the capabilities professionals and organizations need to develop, and the strategic and ethical challenges ahead. The session offers a forward-looking perspective for MBA alumni seeking to stay informed about the opportunities and risks of technological change in a business context, while also creating space for reflection and exchange.

Dr. Anna Priante, Assistant Professor & Academic Director MSc Business Information Management, Rotterdam School of Management (RSM)

Dr. Anna Priante is Assistant Professor and Academic Director of the MSc Business Information Management at Rotterdam School of Management (RSM). Her research and teaching focus on the business and societal implications of digital technologies. Working at the intersection of sociology and information systems, she studies how AI and other digital technologies shape people, organizations, and society. 

Her work focuses in particular on the digitalization of education, including AI, technology-mediated learning, and inclusive digital learning, as well as on AI-generated content such as deepfakes in social media. She teaches at both the BSc and MSc level on AI for business and the societal implications of AI.

Leading Through Coaching: A New MBA Perspective

This interactive session introduces coaching skills now embedded in the current MBA curriculum, offering a fresh perspective many alumni did not experience during their studies.
You will discover how effective coaching conversations, grounded in strong listening and questioning techniques, empower individuals, stimulate independent thinking, and enhance performance. A coaching approach helps raise passion and engagement at work, encourage ownership, build new capabilities, and support career growth.
Through practical examples, you will explore how these skills can be applied to real workplace situations, such as navigating change or developing talent, ultimately strengthening leadership impact and driving organisational success.

Hetty Brand-Boswijk, Director of Coaching & Lead Coach for Personal Leadership Development, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University

Hetty holds an Associate Degree in International Management, the Certified Co-Active Coach (CPCC) designation from the Coaches Training Institute (CTI) and the Certified NeuroTransformational Coach (CNTC) designation from BEabove Leadership. She is also an accredited Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coach Federation (ICF).

As Director of Coaching her expertise is called upon to advise RSM faculty and programme teams – from Bachelors/Masters and (Executive) MBA programmes to Executive Education – on the development of Leadership and (Team) Coaching programmes. She is also a member of the Board of the International Coach Federation in the Netherlands.

As well as individual and team coaching, she teaches in leadership development programmes and speaks at conferences, focussing on emotional intelligence/agility as well as (team) leadership from a coaching perspective and incorporates neuroscience in her coaching and teaching portfolio.

Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition: Building Success by Buying Established Businesses

Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) offers a path to entrepreneurship by acquiring and growing existing businesses. With many owners nearing retirement, succession opportunities are abundant. Search funds enable aspiring entrepreneurs to identify, acquire, and lead companies with proven product-market fit, reducing startup risk. Supported by experienced investors, board members, and academic networks, search fund CEOs gain guidance and resources. This collaborative ecosystem has produced strong financial returns and valuable leadership experience. Join us to explore how ETA can accelerate your entrepreneurial journey.

prof.dr. Erik Roelofsen, Academic Director EMBA, Professor in International Financial Reporting and Capital Market Communications, RSM

Erik Roelofsen is a professor of international financial reporting and capital market communications at Department of Accounting and Control, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM).

IX Lab Workshop - Create your own immersive environment

This workshop will introduce you to immersive experiences and what value they can bring to your everyday work. The Immersive Xperience Lab will help you discover the power of immersive technology like virtual and augmented reality in just 90 minutes. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just curious, this is your chance to innovate and connect by creating your own immersive environment.

Marie Kegeleers, Immersive Tech Engineer, Erasmus Centre for Data Analytics, Erasmus University Rotterdam | VR/XR developer

How to ReAct: An improv workshop to improve your leadership skills

This fun, creative and interractive workshop focuses on body language and the subtle signals we give and receive in our interactions with others. These subtle signals influence how we are perceived, why some people seem powerful to us and why some feel (un)approachable. By playing with our behaviours, we can change how we are perceived and what status we show to the world. We will look at your natural behaviours, and you will learn to play high-status, low-status, and everything in between. You will never look at the world in the same way again. 

Thom Roelofs, trainer, teacher, imporviser

Thom Roelofs is a director, theatre educator, and improviser. With a background and extensive training in theatre directing and education, he brings a structured yet creative approach to performance and facilitation.

Thom regularly teaches and performs with the ImproNation show group, where he is known for his dynamic stage presence and ability to engage diverse audiences. In addition, he has collaborated with several independent improvisational theatre companies across the Netherlands, including Flock Theatre, Spark Rotterdam, Improv The Hague, and Improfessioneel.

Combining practical experience with a strong foundation in theatre-making, Thom is passionate about using improvisation as a tool for creativity, collaboration, and personal development.