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Leaders Unplugged

From the classroom to the boardroom – why do IMD alumni lead differently?

June 2, 2025 • by David Bach, Felix Zeltner in Leaders Unplugged

Three alumni. Three decades. One question: What makes IMD’s leadership journey so lasting? ...

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Welcome to Leaders Unplugged, a bi-weekly podcast by IMD, hosted by IMD President David Bach with Felix Zeltner.

 

What do a former Olympic basketball player, a Japanese strategist in London, and a Swiss energy executive have in common? IMD.

In this special MBA reunion episode of Leaders Unplugged, IMD President David Bach welcomes

– John Hatch (MBA 1990)
– Kazumi Nakayama (MBA 2015)
– Aurore Amaudruz (MBA 2020)

for an honest, funny, and reflective conversation on what IMD taught them – and how it shaped the leaders they’ve become.

From pandemic pivots to circular economy lookouts, the three alumni explore how IMD’s emphasis on self-leadership, global perspective, and shared values continues to influence their careers. “I provide a secure base for the team I work with,” says Amaudruz. “That’s what IMD brought me.” Adds Nakayma: “My perspective matters. That was a discovery.”

And Hatch, now a sustainability board leader, reflects on the future leaders: “We’re going to be faced with a generational change which is just going to hold us to account much differently than what we’re currently being pressured.”

Tune in for an unusual intergenerational reunion that explores how to lead differently.

IMD Alumni

Aurore Amaudruz (MBA 2020)

Joint Head of Energy Solutions, Markets Division, Romande Energie

Kazumi Nakayama (MBA 2015)

Head of Strategy, Amplifi Global at dentsu international

John Hatch (MBA 1990)

John Hatch is a senior executive, board member and two-time Olympian who represented Canada in basketball

Authors

David Bach

David Bach

President of IMD and Nestlé Professor of Strategy and Political Economy

David Bach is President of IMD and Nestlé Professor of Strategy and Political Economy. He assumed the Presidency of IMD on 1 September 2024. He is working to broaden and deepen IMD’s global impact through learning innovation, excellence in degree- and executive programs, and applied thought leadership. Recognized globally as an innovator in management education, Bach previously served as IMD’s Dean of Innovation and Programs.

Felix Zeltner

Felix Zeltner is a journalist and entrepreneur. He is the founder of Remote Daily, a media company specialized in building live talk shows for organizations around the world. He hosts Wunderbar Together, the leading German-American podcast, and is the co-author of “Stadtnomaden” (2019) and “Hype” (2024). Zeltner holds a double-degree in journalism from Munich University LMU and German Journalism School, and has received several awards for his reporting (Arte, ARD, Der Spiegel). He lives in New York City with his family.

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