Nick Guldemond on AI, Healthcare & Leadership Transformation | IEDC 40 Years Insights

Professor of Healthcare and Public Health, Nick Guldemond explores how AI, digitalization, and demographic change are transforming healthcare systems around the world.

Drawing on his international experience, he reflects on the leadership challenges of balancing innovation, sustainability, and human-centered care in an increasingly complex healthcare landscape.

A forward-looking conversation on healthcare, technology, and leadership for the future.

June 1, 2026

Edina Selesković on Art, AI & Leadership for the Future | IEDC 40 Years Insights

Artist, public art creator, and guest lecturer at IEDC - Bled School of Management, Edina Selesković reflects on the transformations shaping leadership in a world defined by uncertainty, artificial intelligence, and constant disruption.

Drawing from her experience in the global art scene, she explores why future leaders must think more like artists: embracing ambiguity, questioning assumptions, fostering creativity, and building meaningful human connections. The conversation also highlights the role of IEDC in developing leaders who combine strategic thinking with imagination, ethics, courage, and purpose.

A reflective dialogue on leadership, creativity, and humanity in an increasingly complex new world.

May 22, 2026

Paul Claudel & Pierre Casse on Leadership for a New World | IEDC 40 Years Insights

Prof. Paul Claudel and Prof. Pierre Casse reflect on the profound transformations shaping today’s world and what they mean for the future of leadership. In this thought-provoking conversation, they explore geopolitical upheaval, the impact of social media and artificial intelligence, and the changing nature of authority, trust, and human values.

They discuss the role of business schools such as IEDC – Bled School of Management in preparing leaders to navigate uncertainty, unlearn outdated assumptions, lead virtual teams, and build meaningful partnerships with AI. Moving beyond performance and profit, the conversation ultimately turns to deeper philosophical questions about purpose, identity, and the “will to live” as a fundamental driver of human motivation and leadership.

A reflective dialogue on leadership, humanity, and the future of business in an exciting and challenging new world.

May 9, 2026

Carin-Isabel Knoop on Stress, Leadership & Performance Under Pressure | IEDC 40 Years Insights

Carin-Isabel Knoop highlights stress as a critical yet overlooked force shaping leadership - impacting judgment, performance, and relationships.

Reflecting on global change since the founding of IEDC – Bled School of Management, she notes that while business has evolved, leaders still operate under constant pressure with the same human limits.

Looking ahead, she calls for a shift toward more human-centred leadership, where stress is understood as a core driver of performance, and where resilience, learning, and collective well-being become essential for navigating today’s complex world.

April 24, 2026

Peter McKiernan on Strategy, Uncertainty & Future Thinking | IEDC 40 Years Insights

Prof. Peter McKiernan (University of Strathclyde) reflects on IEDC’s 40-year journey and shares insights on navigating the future through strategic thinking.

He highlights how leaders can distinguish between predictable trends and critical uncertainties, integrate them into strategy, and build more resilient and adaptable organizations. Emphasizing the need to think differently and overcome cognitive biases, he shows how embracing uncertainty is key to leading in a rapidly changing world.

April 24, 2026

Philip Stiles on Skills, AI Trust & Future Organizations | IEDC 40 Years Insights

Prof. Philip Stiles (Cambridge Judge Business School) reflects on IEDC – Bled School of Management as it celebrates 40 years, highlighting its inspiring environment, outstanding faculty, and unique integration of art into leadership development.

Looking ahead, he explores three forces shaping the future of organizations: the rapid evolution of skills in the age of AI, the critical need to build trust in AI adoption, and the shift toward more agile, networked, and boundaryless organizational structures. He emphasizes that continuous learning, strong culture, and adaptability will be essential for leaders navigating an increasingly dynamic world.

April 14, 2026

Juan Serrano on Transformative Experiences and Value Creation | IEDC 40 Years Insights

Prof. Juan Serrano, long-time IEDC faculty and expert in customer centricity, reflects on the school’s 40-year journey and its reputation for excellence, professionalism, and genuine care for people.

In this video, he explores a key shift in value creation, from commodities and products to services, experiences, and ultimately, transformative experiences. Serrano explains that in a world where both products and services are increasingly commoditized, organizations must focus on creating meaningful, lasting impact for customers and employees.

He highlights that true value today lies in designing authentic experiences that drive positive, relevant, and sustainable change, building stronger relationships, trust, and long-term success.

April 8, 2026

Bill Fischer on AI, Learning vs Knowing and Future Leadership | IEDC 40 Years Insights

Prof. Bill Fischer, Emeritus Professor of Innovation Management at IMD Business School and Senior Lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management, shares his reflections as IEDC – Bled School of Management celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Having been connected with IEDC since 1990, he reflects on the school’s remarkable journey - from a pioneering voice in management education to a globally recognized source of leadership expertise - and highlights its growing impact across Europe and beyond.

Looking ahead, Fischer explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping the role of leaders and organizations. He emphasizes a fundamental shift: in a world where knowledge is becoming a commodity, the true competitive advantage lies in continuous learning, experimentation, and the ability to act. He encourages leaders to adopt an “outside-in” perspective, build diverse networks of insight, and cultivate tacit knowledge that cannot be easily replicated. Ultimately, he underlines that future-ready leadership will depend on openness, collaboration, and the generosity to create value together.

April 1, 2026

Danny Szpiro on Leadership, AI and Decision Making | IEDC 40 Years Anniversary Insights

Prof. Danny Szpiro, Professor of Practice of Accounting at Cornell University, reflects on his nearly three-decade-long connection with IEDC – Bled School of Management as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Recalling his first encounter with Danica Purg in the late 1990s, he shares personal insights into the school’s remarkable evolution - from its early days in Brdo to the development of its iconic campus in Bled - and highlights the exceptional quality of participants and the strong learning environment that define the IEDC experience.

Looking ahead, Szpiro offers a thoughtful perspective on the role of generative AI in managerial decision-making. While AI provides powerful tools for exploration and idea generation, he emphasizes that leaders cannot delegate responsibility for financial analysis and must remain critical, informed decision-makers.

March 26, 2026

Hermann Simon on Hidden Champions and IEDC’s 40-year journey in global leadership education

Recalling his early encounter with Danica Purg in the 1980s, he highlights the extraordinary journey of the school and reflects on the concept of Hidden Champions—small and mid-sized companies that are global market leaders yet little known to the public.

According to Simon, their success is built on three pillars: the ambition to be the best, strong focus, and global reach, supported by innovation, customer closeness, and long-term leadership. These principles, he notes, are especially important for companies from emerging economies—and IEDC itself has become a Hidden Champion in leadership education.

March 13, 2026

Prof. Nenad Filipović from IEDC looks ahead to future leadership challenges

As IEDC celebrates 40 years, Nenad Filipović, Professor of General Management at IEDC – Bled School of Management, looks ahead to the leadership challenges of the future. 

In a world shaped by geopolitical instability, AI disruption, and erosion of trust, he highlights three strategic priorities: resilience, agility, and people. Leaders must rethink business models, strengthen stakeholder trust, and develop the ability to sense and respond quickly to change. 

Above all, he emphasizes empathetic leadership - creating psychological safety and unlocking people’s potential in turbulent times.

The next 40 years demand leaders who are both strategically sharp and deeply human.

March 3, 2026

The Journey of IEDC: Founder and long-time President, Prof. Danica Purg, reflects on 40 Years

The IEDC–Bled School of Management was founded in 1986 to create a place where executive education drives transformation and where leaders develop through experience and collaboration. As one of the most innovative leadership development institutions, we pioneered introducing new concepts like arts and leadership, ethics, and sustainability into our programs. Over the past four decades, we have welcomed more than 107.000 executives from over 100 countries, building a global community dedicated to responsible leadership and positive impact. What I am most proud of is how we have stayed true to our founding values: excellence in education, respect for diversity, and commitment to sustainable development. I am deeply grateful to our outstanding faculty, committed team, loyal partners, and especially our alumni, who carry IEDC's mission forward every day. As we celebrate 40 years, this milestone signifies the start of an exciting new chapter. Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey.

February 24, 2026

Prof. Mislav Ante Omazić, President of the Management Board, on leading into the Next 40 Years

Celebrating 40 years of IEDC is both an honor and a responsibility to preserve this legacy while embracing the future with courage and vision. At IEDC, we believe that true leadership means creating value for all stakeholders, building sustainable organizations, and contributing meaningfully to society. As President, I am committed to strengthening our position as a leading international management and leadership development school in the CEE and advancing excellence in executive development. This is why we continuously innovate our programs and unite diverse perspectives from our distinguished global faculty. The leaders we develop today will define the next 40 years, and IEDC will continue to be where transformation happens.

February 24, 2026