Opportunities to unlock and develop leadership potential, accelerate careers and build global networks – these are just some of the benefits of the globally ranked UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School MBA.
“The world is very complex, and the business landscape is more competitive and dynamic than ever,” says newly appointed MBA programme codirector Dr Luca Pistilli. “We prepare leaders for the challenges facing business today and in the future.”
Pistilli also teaches entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility (CSR) modules on the undergraduate B Comm at the UCD Quinn School of Business. His research focuses on organisational adaptation and entrepreneurial failure. In particular, he examines the dynamic capabilities that support organisations when they are facing external disruptions, and how failure affects the subsequent career of entrepreneurs.
“My work sits where disruption meets decision-making,” he explains. “I study how new trends and entrepreneurial approaches are reshaping industries. In the Smurfit MBA we translate that into practicable learning and look at how to turn that into competitive advantage.”
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Traditional playbooks won’t work in today’s world, he adds. “We help participants to navigate the inflection points where business models change. Organisations need to build resilience in the face of multiple disruptions – technological, geopolitical, cyber and so on.”
Climate change is another key challenge, and sustainability is woven through all modules and assessments. “It is about using sustainability as a responsible way to deliver results for the business, not just reports. It must be embedded at all levels in businesses. We must get rid of greenwashing and bring it into the core business model of companies. We look at how sustainability can deliver reduced costs and competitive advantage to businesses.”
Alongside the strength of its curriculum and active research faculty, the Smurfit School also benefits from its location in Dublin which, Dr Luca Pistilli believes
Artificial intelligence (AI) is another area of focus on the programmes. He points out that AI has been added to the data analytics module on the part-time Executive MBA programme and how data literacy and technology strategy are integrated into the core of the full- and part-time programmes.
“The leaders of tomorrow need to learn how to deploy these tools with confidence,” he says. “Artificial intelligence should be considered as a co-pilot, not an autopilot. It will speed up analysis and content creation but the competitive advantage it offers will come from collaboration.” It should be viewed as complementary to human effort, not as a substitute, he adds.
Alongside these new elements, participants build on their previous experience and gain practicable skills in emerging business topics including finance, strategy, marketing, accounting, economics, human resources and leadership among other disciplines. The core academic programme adapts in tandem with the most up-to-date business and organisational thinking, enabled by research and consultative collaboration between faculty and industry.
Teaching is a dynamic mix of theory, implementation, guest speakers, group discussion and analysis, and experiential learning. Case studies, simulations, international study tours and capstone projects are used to build expertise and analytical skills.
On top of this, what makes the Smurfit School MBA stand out is its long track record and international reputation for excellence, having been in operation for more than 60 years. The full-time MBA programme is ranked 73rd globally in the Financial Times 2025 MBA Rankings, an increase of 18 places from 2024, and is the only Irish MBA programme to make the top 100 listing.
The rankings are based on several criteria, including percentage salary increase three years after graduation. Smurfit MBA alumni saw an impressive average of 91 per cent increase in their salaries more than that period.
Alongside the strength of its curriculum and active research faculty, the Smurfit School also benefits from its location in Dublin which, Pistilli believes, offers particular advantages for MBA students. “It gives students access to a live lab,” he says. “The knowledge-based economy with its strengths in technology, life sciences, finance and agribusiness, along with the presence of multinationals, start-ups and strong public institutions give it a unique innovation ecosystem. Its easy access and openness and scale present opportunities to experiment and test new ideas.”
Another key strength of the Smurfit MBA is its leadership and employability advancement programme (Leap) module. The Leap programme offers MBA students the opportunity to develop their behavioural competencies to compete at the required level for senior roles; build intercultural competence; benchmark competence levels by participating in an employability centre; participate in employer mock interviews and receive industry feedback on their performance; navigate career transitions with the support of a senior Smurfit alumni mentor; engage in cross-industry employer visits through the year; and network and build professional relationships.
“The Leap programme translates learning into targeted career development,” says Pistilli.
Overall, the Smurfit MBA prepares students to deal with the complexities of a disrupted world, he says. “Our graduates are collaborative problem solvers, comfortable with data, grounded in ethics and skilled in mobilising other people. These are the skills and characteristics they need to give their organisations the resilience to withstand supply-chain, geopolitical and other shocks.”
To attend a UCD Smurfit School open evening in locations around Ireland and learn more about the MBA and Executive MBA programmes, see smurfitschool.ie.
