Experts shared their experience with HSE Graduate School of Business students on project implementation in the context of current market trends

A series of master classes was held at the HSE Graduate School of Business by experts from leading companies on ESG, AI technologies, and modern management practices. From September to December 2023, specialists from Sber, Kept, B1 Group of Companies, and a well-known non-alcoholic beverage company worked with students on relevant business cases.

Guest lectures by industry experts are an integral part of the educational process at the HSE Graduate School of Business. This format allows students to stay up to date with changes in the business environment and fosters the ability to recognize and implement innovative ideas in practice.

The Career Center regularly organizes guest lectures with business practitioners from HSE GSB’s partner companies. Especially valuable is the direct interaction with these experts and the opportunity to learn from their cutting-edge experience in implementing projects aligned with current market trends. The trends identified by the experts will continue to evolve and significantly influence the business environment over the next decade, when today’s students will become professionals.

Kept organized an ESG-Camp. Invited speakers included Maria Kalinovskaya, company director; deputy directors Tatyana Selivanova and Boris Gorin; and Maria Kabysheva, a manager in the operational risk and sustainability services group within the consulting department. Working on ESG-related cases helped students deepen their knowledge of sustainable development management. Meetings with business practitioners also included discussions of Russia's climate agenda and its relevance to business.

Maria Kalinovskaya

Director of the Operational Risk and Sustainability Group at Kept

“ESG Camp is a chance to engage with students in a live format, talk about current trends in ESG, and answer the questions that concern them. I especially want to highlight the case finale format, where students who completed our mini-lecture series receive a task and then present their group work (in teams of 3–5 people) in the final session. As an employer constantly looking for new talent, this is very important for us. It allows us to see potential candidates ‘in action’—to evaluate their presentation skills, ability to structure and analyze material, and teamwork.”

Arina Palatkina

3rd-year student of the “Business Administration” program

“The experts provided an in-depth dive into the topic and, most importantly, shared a lot of practical knowledge and real cases. The most useful lecture for me was the one on the ‘G’ component: the speakers demonstrated the value of corporate governance, and now I’m considering developing my career in this field. Participating in Kept’s ESG Camp gave me new knowledge and a deep understanding of the topic. I now know what I need to study to grow in this area. The final case work was exciting—it allowed us to apply what we learned in a hands-on way. Plus, I received a fast-track to an internship at the company, which is a great boost for my career.”

Another key topic of the expert sessions was management and logistics in the context of a turbulent global business environment. As part of the “Business Ethics, CSR, and Sustainability” course for the Bachelor’s programs “Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics” and “Business Administration,” master classes were conducted by Larisa Kurylyeva, Senior Manager of the Sustainability Services Practice at B1 Group of Companies. Olga Ivanova, Director of Sustainability at a well-known non-alcoholic beverage company, spoke about sustainable supply chains and the economic benefits of responsible business practices.

Business practitioners also focused on one of today’s most pressing trends: the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in business processes. Tatiana Alexandrina, Project Director of DS&AI at Sber, spoke to students of the Master's program “Strategic Management and Consulting” about the use of AI in daily practice. AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it has become a part of business operations worldwide. During the lecture, students learned how AI enables deeper innovation, increased productivity, and competitive advantage.

Thanks to intellectual partnerships with leading companies, the HSE Graduate School of Business is preparing competitive and socially responsible leaders who are changing organizations—and the world.