Prepare your business to venture into foreign markets and thrive.
- Learn and apply a structured process for evaluating growth opportunities
- Work on your own business expansion challenge with a coach
- Develop your strategy and action plan
Grow your business into new markets
Entering new markets is critical for growth, but going global is hard, with more than 60% of companies failing to reach 3% return on assets (ROA). The International Growth Strategies program offers a clear framework and systematic approach to assessing, planning and entering new markets so you can increase your return within a shorter timeframe.
You’ll work on your own international growth challenge throughout the program. With the help of faculty and coaches, you’ll develop a clear strategy and concrete action plan.
You'll work in small, dynamic groups and will benefit from the knowledge, experience and insights of global peers.
You'll have access to our databases throughout the program. In addition, our information specialists will work for you on up to three specific data requests related to your business expansion project.
Is this program for you?
The program is designed for CEOs, managers, executives and entrepreneures from firms that are primarily domestic but looking to expand abroad.
Program overview
The program comprises six half-day liVe virtual sessions over two weeks, and post-program support, including two individual coaching sessions and a live webinar.
Your specific international expansion challenge will serve as a red thread throughout the program, and you’ll get to work on your own strategy and roadmap with the support of faculty and business coaches. Your learning experience will be further enhanced by dynamic group discussions with peers facing similar challenges.
You will track your progress and receive personalized feedback during the program. After the program, you will have two individual coaching sessions with our faculty, enabling you to get further insights and advice on the next steps of your business expansion project.
Session 1: Tuesday 26 October, 08:00-12:00 CET
Program Opening
Understanding Context: Global Signals Exercise
Session 2: Wednesday 27 October, 08:00-12:00 CET
Assessing your Growth Challenge
Keynote Speaker
Session 3: Thursday 28 October, 08:00-12:00 CET
Developing a Growth Strategy: Economic Logic and Differentiators
Session 4: Tuesday 2 November, 08:00-12:00 CET
Where to Grow? - Arenas
Session 5: Wednesday 3 November, 08:00-12:00 CET
How to Grow? – Modes
Managing Growth
Session 6: Thursday 4 November, 08:00-12:00 CET
Aligning the Organization for Growth
Bringing it Together: Action Planning
During the program, you will benefit from one-on-one support from an experienced business coach. You will also have two individual coaching calls with our faculty post-program to receive further feedback and advice on your business expansion project.
Learn from IMD expert faculty
The International Growth Strategies program is designed and led by IMD Professors Niccolò Pisani and Omar Toulan.

Niccolò brings a unique combination of skills to IMD, bridging the worlds of business and academia.
Focusing on strategy formulation and execution, his sessions translate complex research into practitioner-oriented…

Omar Toulan is Professor of Strategy and International Management and the Dean of the MBA program at IMD. Professor Toulan's areas of expertise include strategic management, international business, growth strategies, and…
Learn how to set up your international growth for success on our International Growth Strategies program. Download the program information to learn more about:
- Program learning journey
- The IMD liVe virtual experience
- Program faculty
IMD is ranked #1 in the world for Open Programs for the ninth consecutive year in the 2020 Financial Times Executive Education Rankings.


