Driver’s License in Business Leadership: A Time-Saving MBA for Managers

Updated: June 2, 2026, 4:11 p.m.
Published: March 13, 2026, 2:39 p.m.

For many managers, pursuing an MBA can feel like a distant dream—appealing yet almost impossible to achieve amidst the demands of a busy work life. The rigorous coursework, soaring costs, and relentless job responsibilities often make the path to an MBA seem insurmountable. That’s where Dagens Industri (Di) steps in with its newly launched Executive Education Core MBA, aimed at dismantling these barriers by offering a focused approach to business leadership education.

Historically, an MBA has been a well-trodden path for those looking to enhance their leadership skills. However, traditional programs typically require significant time away from day-to-day operations, creating a disconnect between learning and application. With the introduction of its Executive Education Core MBA, Di has set out to challenge this conventional model. It seeks to provide managers with a solid grounding in business leadership without interrupting their work lives or overwhelming their schedules.

“What we noticed was a clear gap in the market,” says Niklas Grewin, the business manager at Di Close. “Many programs are lengthy, expensive, and simply too difficult to juggle alongside an ongoing role. We aimed to develop a solution that could seamlessly integrate with professional responsibilities and be affordable enough to encourage broader participation.”

Grewin likens their innovative program to a driver’s license—a foundational guide rather than an exhaustive deep dive into every facet of business leadership. The curriculum encompasses five concentrated modules, each spanning two days, distributed over approximately one year.

“We’ve condensed what might typically take a week into just a day or two. We focus on essential elements of business leadership rather than attempting to cover every detail,” Grewin explains. “The aim is to distill each theme down to its most impactful aspects.”

This approach shifts away from the expansive traditional MBA model, which often encompasses 50 to 60 days of training, to a more manageable 10 days for the Core MBA. While it acknowledges that not every topic can be included, the emphasis is firmly placed on relevance and applicability for decision-makers in real time.

Collaboratively developed by Di Close, Di Akademi, and River Jump, the program is helmed by seasoned professionals Gunnar Ekman and Jennie Brobeck, who bring substantial experience in leadership and business development from both academic and practical backgrounds.

“Our combined expertise allows us to understand the genuine challenges managers face daily,” Brobeck states, having accumulated over two decades of leadership roles in international corporations. Ekman, meanwhile, comes from a long-standing association with Executive MBA initiatives.

This program draws on Di Akademi’s educational resources while being informed by real-world managerial challenges, Grewin notes. Usability is a core principle of the curriculum—not through rigid templates, but by enabling participants to leverage and adapt their existing experiences.

“Many traditional courses can feel academically heavy. Our focus is on reflection and sharing experiences, allowing participants to personalize the frameworks to their contexts,” Ekman remarks, noting that each cohort brings a wealth of collective knowledge to the table.

Designed for flexibility, the curriculum permits participants to attend modules throughout the year, accommodating any sessions they might miss without requiring them to start over. This adaptability has attracted a more diverse group than initially anticipated, including many CEOs and CFOs from small to medium-sized enterprises who often find themselves stepping into leadership roles earlier than expected.

“We’re not seeing a wave of applications from those nearing retirement, but rather from managers in the early or middle stages of their careers,” Grewin adds.

Brobeck highlights the significance of networking within the program. “Leadership can often feel isolating. Having a network of peers to rely upon, regardless of your career stage, is invaluable,” she says.

Participants also engage in a practical project aligned with their organizations, serving as a capstone of sorts. This work not only reinforces the learning but also delivers valuable insights and consultancy to their companies.

“The organization benefits from a substantial project executed by the participant,” Grewin notes.

The timing of this initiative is deliberate; as workplaces undergo rapid transformations and the demand for skilled leadership escalates, merely amassing information is no longer enough. The real challenge lies in translating knowledge into actionable strategies and effective teamwork. As artificial intelligence increasingly shapes the landscape, the need for discernment and critical questioning is more crucial than ever.

Ultimately, the Executive Education Core MBA equips leaders to navigate the complexities that many organizations are currently facing. “Leadership has never held more significance than it does now. Our goal is to provide managers with a solid anchor as they navigate an ever-accelerating pace of change,” Brobeck concludes.

External Link: Read more about business leadership in practice

Program Overview: The Structure of the Executive Education Core MBA

Module 1: Strategy – From Idea to Execution
Explore how business models are conceived and how macro trends shape strategic decisions.

Module 2: Leadership, Culture, and Communication
Learn to lead effectively in daily operations, grasp group dynamics, and cultivate a lasting culture amidst increasing pace.

Module 3: Change Management
Discover tools for spearheading change within organizations, addressing direction, speed, and resistance simultaneously.

Module 4: Financing – From Numbers to Decisions
Gain insights into the financial acumen necessary for leaders, focusing on how data informs strategic choices.

Module 5: Customer and Growth – From Data to Loyalty
Understand how brand strategy and customer insights drive long-term growth and foster robust customer relationships.

The article is produced by Brand Studio in collaboration with Di Executive Education and does not represent a Dagens Industri article.