POLIMI Graduate School of Management recognised at the AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2026: a double win for our students and two “Highly Commended” awards for the School

The POLIMI Graduate School of Management community celebrated an extraordinary evening at the AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2026, held on 23 January at the Royal Garden Hotel in London. The event brought together over 200 international business school leaders, industry professionals and media representatives, in an annual event that rewards excellence in global management education.
This edition saw our School stand out significantly, thanks to the achievements of two of our students and the recognition given to our innovation and collaboration projects.

Esmeralda Colombo wins the AMBA Student of the Year Award 2026

 Esmeralda Colombo, our International Full-time MBA alumna, has won the AMBA Student of the Year Award 2026, one of the most prestigious awards dedicated to students who have demonstrated academic excellence, international vision, and the ability to generate impact.
A lawyer, technology entrepreneur and energy manager, Esmeralda embodies AMBA's values of innovation, responsibility and global leadership. Her career path reflects a unique interdisciplinary approach and a constant commitment to combining sustainability, technology and inclusion. Her experience at POLIMI GSoM — from the international dimension of the class to interaction with faculty and professionals — has helped to consolidate her strongly purpose-driven leadership style, focused on creating high-impact solutions for society.
 

Aurora d’Alonzo wins the BGA Student of the Year Award 2026

 Aurora d’Alonzo, our International Master in Sustainability Management & CSR alumna, has received the BGA Student of the Year Award 2026, an accolade that recognises students with outstanding growth potential, leadership skills, and a strong commitment to social impact.

Her story is marked by a bold choice: leaving a well-established career to reinvent herself in the world of sustainability. The School has played a central role in this new chapter, accompanying her in her personal and professional growth and appointing her to the Impact Committee, an advisory body tasked with guiding the School in addressing sustainability-related challenges. The award celebrates her exemplary journey and her determination to generate positive change.

Highly Commended – Best Digital Transformation: a digital ecosystem serving the user experience

 The School received the Highly Commended award in the Best Digital Transformation category, thanks to a project that has profoundly reimagined our students’ user experience and operational infrastructure.
Through the introduction of FLOW, a unified, mobile-first front-end, POLIMI GSoM has radically simplified the student user experience, integrating services, content, and functionality into a single platform. The project centralised data into a single CRM, eliminating silos of information, automating key processes and ensuring more efficient, transparent, and personalised management of the training path.
Innovative solutions such as QR code check-in, a personalised calendar, automated notifications, and integration of platforms such as FLEXA and DHUB have contributed to creating an advanced digital ecosystem that is driven by quality and user experience —  a model that stands out in the panorama of European management education.

Highly Commended – Best Business School Partnership: our collaboration with UniCredit for Skills for Transition

The Skills for Transition project, carried out in partnership with UniCredit, has been recognised with the Highly Commended award in the Best Business School Partnership category.

The initiative was created to respond to a real and increasingly important need: to develop skills linked to sustainable transition in Europe. Fully funded by UniCredit, the programme offers two innovative courses — a 14-month Master's degree and a 4-month intensive Bootcamp — accessible to students, NEETs and professionals from six European countries.
With an educational approach that combines academic rigour and practical application, participants work on real business challenges and help to generate sustainable solutions for businesses and communities. The social impact of the project, combined with its inclusive and international dimension, makes it a model of virtuous collaboration between academia and industry, capable of promoting social mobility, employability, and green skills.

Recognition for our entire Community
The results achieved at the AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2026 confirm POLIMI GSoM’s commitment to developing responsible leaders who are able to innovate and drive positive change. We celebrate not only the successes of our students, but also the work of our faculty, staff, partners and the entire community who contribute to our mission every day: educating leaders capable of transforming the future in a sustainable and inclusive way.