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Sign up for our MBA Open Day to taste what it's like to study in the Executive MBA or Global Executive MBA programme at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University!

 

Whether you’re exploring your next leadership step or comparing top-tier business schools, this event offers genuine insight into what sets the RSM (Global) Executive MBA programmes apart.

 

Experience the atmosphere of our vibrant campus and discover the distinctive learning approach that defines RSM.
 

 

 

Why should you sign up for our MBA Open Day?
  • Discover our Executive MBA (NPS: 46) and Global Executive MBA (NPS: 57) to learn about the most international, highly ranked, and senior executive MBA programmes in the Netherlands.
  • Learn to know our world-class professors and engage with them in an interactive setting to get a taste of what class experience in our (Global) Executive MBA programmes would be like.
  • Team up and engage with potential future classmates, to find out who may be sitting next to you in class for the next 18 or 21 Months.
  • Get a feel for the global, pragmatic, and business-like spirit at the RSM Erasmus University, the most highly ranked business school in the Benelux (Financial Times Business School Rankings, 2024). 

     

Welcome to the MBA Open Day at RSM - Focused on Entrepreneurship and Venturing

Join us on campus on Saturday, 13 September 2025, for a dynamic and immersive experience into the world of entrepreneurship and venturing through our Executive MBA (EMBA) and Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) programmes.

Throughout the day, you will:

  • Hear directly from our (G)EMBA Academic Directors about how our programmes foster entrepreneurial thinking and real-world impact
  • Choose from a range of interactive and engaging workshops, led by world-class professors with expertise in innovation, business creation, and scaling ventures
  • Connect with professors, alumni, and fellow prospective students who share a passion for creating and growing businesses

Whether you're aiming to launch your own venture, lead innovation within an organisation, or scale an existing business, this Open Day is your gateway to transforming bold ideas into action. 

Register now to secure your spot at a day designed to inspire, inform and connect.
We look forward to welcoming you to a day of insights, exploration, and personal growth.

Event agenda

9:30-10:00
Registration & networking

Start your day with a warm welcome over coffee and light refreshments. Meet fellow prospective students, engage with faculty, and connect with our alumni in an informal setting.

10:00-11:00
EMBA & GEMBA programme presentation + Q&A

Get an inside look at our Executive MBA and Global Executive MBA programmes.
Hear directly from our programme directors about the structure, outcomes, and global opportunities available.
Stay for an open Q&A to have your admissions and curriculum questions answered.

11:00-12:00
Workshop

Option 1: Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA): Buy Your Way into Business

Led by prof. Erik Roelofsen

Want to become an entrepreneur without starting from scratch? Discover how acquiring an existing company can be a fast and low risk path to ownership. You don’t need significant capital or a brilliant idea. What you do need is the right network and attitude.

This interactive session introduces the model behind ETA.

Option 2: Ownership and governance strategy for new ventures

Led by prof. Hans van Oosterhout

Especially when start-ups are successful in securing funding to finance their further development and growth, they are confronted with specific ownership and governance challenges that they will need to manage to secure their future flourishing. Drawing on both academic research and his experience in the Euronext IPO ready programme, Hans van Oosterhout, professor of corporate governance at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus university, will interactively explore some of these challenges as well as some foundational ingredients for developing an ownership and governance strategy for new ventures. 

12:00-12:15
Refreshment break

A moment to recharge, reflect, and continue networking.

12:15-13:00
Workshop

Option 1: Money Talks: Demystifying Entrepreneurial Finance

Led by Dr. Yu Liu

Securing funding is one of the biggest and most defining challenges for any start-up. Unlike mature firms, new ventures operate under extreme uncertainty due to the lack of track records and unproven business models. As a result, entrepreneurial finance operates under very different rules. In this interactive workshop, Dr. Yu Liu, Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at RSM, will work with you to explore what makes entrepreneurial finance unique, from the logic of angel investing and venture capital to founder equity decisions. Along the way, you’ll also discover interesting insights from research and real-world data. Whether you’re founding, funding, or leading early-stage ventures, this session will sharpen your financial lens for the entrepreneurial world.

Option 2: Riding the unicorn: corporate venturing in the age of disruption

Led by Prof. Dr. Vareska Van de Vrande

Companies are facing an increasingly turbulent and uncertain business environment. Global disruptions, political uncertainty and shifting market dynamics call for greater agility and faster responses. During this workshop, Prof. Vareska van de Vrande will introduce you to corporate venturing as a tool to navigate the increasingly complex innovation landscape, in which startups are becoming more and more important. Being able to effectively tap into the potential of startups and harness their innovative power helps firms to stay ahead in challenging times. Leveraging insights from research and practice, this workshop will discuss the why and how of successful corporate-startup collaborations.

13:00-13:30
Programme DeBrief
13:30-14:30
Networking lunch

Enjoy a relaxed, catered lunch while speaking directly with current students and alumni.
Dedicated tables for EMBA and GEMBA allow for more tailored conversations, giving you clearer insight into each path.

Speakers

Erik Roelofsen

Professor and Academic Director EMBA at RSM

Hans van Oosterhout

Professor and Academic Director GEMBA at RSM

Yu Liu

Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at RSM

Vareska Van de Vrande

Professor of Collaborative Innovation and Business Venturing at RSM

Ready to take the next step in your leadership journey?

With real insights, engaging workshops, 

 

and meaningful connections, 

 

the MBA Open Day is designed to help you make an informed and confident decision about your future. 

 

Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today!

Curious to discover more?

Request a brochure

Dive into the details of our EMBA and GEMBA programmes at your own pace.

Get personalised consultation

Receive tailored advice from our admissions manager to assess your fit and help position your profile for success.

Apply online

Start your application in just a few simple steps and take the first move toward transforming your career.

RSM is a highly respected business school, particularly in the Netherlands. Earning my MBA here strengthens my credibility and demonstrates my commitment to personal and professional development. Beyond the qualification itself, the experience is equipping me with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to grow within my company and lead more effectively.

Hannah Timmer, Executive MBA Class of 2026

The RSM Global Executive MBA programme is incredibly relevant to the challenges businesses face today. For example, we had a course on platform thinking, and although I use platforms every day, I had never really considered how they could make an impact in my job. That class opened my eyes to the possibilities and helped me think about how I can prepare my employees for technological shifts like AI. The RSM GEMBA makes you aware of global developments that can directly affect your industry. It forces you to ask: How can I use these trends to my advantage? How can I adapt? How can I think differently? This programme ensures that we don’t just react to change but actively shape the future.

Chrissy van der Valk, Global Executive MBA Class of 2026

RSM’s EMBA has reinforced my entrepreneurial dreams, and given me the motivation to take big steps, like leaving a good job to do something bigger for myself. I’m confident that my entrepreneurial journey will work out, which is why I freed up time to take advantage of RSM’s elective ‘Entrepreneurship through acquisition’ and getting to know the processes, peers and the professors in this course. I definitely like being in the Netherlands, it’s a great place to build a family and a business.

Raza Padhani, Executive MBA Class of 2025

It’s lonely at the top. If you want to keep growing, you need to expose yourself to the right people and the right programmes. Corporate environments are often driven by specific interests, particularly profit. At RSM, you get a rare opportunity to step back, collaborate, and learn from other industries. Sometimes, the best solutions to your challenges come from completely different sectors. This programme gives you a unique space where you can test ideas, challenge yourself, and evolve in ways that aren’t possible at work, with family, or even among friends. If you want to push yourself and become a better leader, this is the place to do it.

Daniel Dorobantu, Global Executive MBA Class of 2026