From Strategy to Impact: How EDHEC’s EMBA Consulting Project Empowered Alexandre Nilsvang to Lead Circular Change at Siemens

In the leadup to starting his Executive MBA journey with EDHEC in 2023, many of those in Alexandre Nilsvang’s network came to him with the same question: is an EMBA still worth it?

The answers flowed easily for Alexandre, who, since 2016, has worked in procurement for Siemens in Switzerland. In his current post, he is Global Procurement Category Manager at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, its smart-buildings and energy-management and sustainability division.

“I wanted to grow beyond the operational side of procurement and develop stronger strategic and financial analysis skills,” Alexandre explains. “I needed to have a more structured way of thinking to better understand the market.”

More than that, he also knew that an EMBA was an acknowledgement of his potential leadership impact within the global technology giant.

Alexandre didn’t need an introduction to EDHEC’s reputation in the executive education space, having grown up in Geneva, the French-speaking part of Switzerland. As he started to whittle down his potential options, it was EDHEC that stood out above the competition.

“EDHEC has this balance between business and sustainability, and that’s something that strongly aligns with not only my values, but also Siemens’ mission, which is ‘Technology with Purpose’,” he says.

The right strategic career choice

Deciding upon the EDHEC Executive MBA programme over 19 months in Paris, he settled into a routine of travelling to the French capital for four consecutive days every month for the in-person study programme, a schedule that allowed him to completely focus on the modules being taught at the time.

Immediately on his return to the office in Geneva, Alexandre was able to integrate the lessons into his job. “The EMBA was really practical and actionable from day one,” he says.

Alexandre also played a key role in transferring his new knowledge internally, organising global workshops to introduce updated supplier evaluation methods to procurement managers across Siemens.

As he had hoped, the leadership skills learnt during the EMBA were becoming apparent right from day one.

From the classroom to immediate boardroom impact: the EMBA Consulting Project

If there was one aspect of the EMBA that cemented this leadership slant above all others, however, it was the individual consulting project. A compulsory component that runs concurrently to the final months of the programme, students are asked to compile a strategic recommendation in answer to a real issue presented by a partner company — in Alexandre’s case, his own employer, Siemens.

After discussing potential topics, from AI to digitalisation and HR, with a trio of managers above him, including his CPO, Alexandre settled upon sustainability; specifically circular business models across Siemens Smart Infrastructure’s commodity categories.

“In our smart building business, we purchase different types of goods which are classified into different commodity categories. My role is to manage all the commodities linked to our sustainability business, such as lighting, solar panels, batteries and mechanical equipment,” he explains.

The idea for his consulting project was to understand and identify which circular business model could be applied for each of these commodity categories, then rank them by critical importance and plan out their implementation. Circularity has become a major strategic pillar at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, driven by regulatory pressure, customer expectations and Siemens’ own DEGREE sustainability goals. This made Alexandre’s project particularly timely and relevant for the business.

“I saw the potential to shift from linear purchasing models toward circular solutions — extending product life, enabling reuse, repair, refurbishment and recycling, and reducing our dependence on raw materials.,” he explains of the core concept.

Six months before the EMBA programme concluded, Alexandre began working on his consulting project under the supervision of his thesis director, EDHEC’s Director of Executive Education/Executive PHD, Stéphane Canonne.

“The most critical part of the consulting project is choosing the right thesis director and I was very fortunate in having Stéphane as he has both academic and professional experience, including in procurement, and is very well connected in the smart building industry” he explains.

“His input challenged me to deliver really concrete solutions for Siemens, with real impact.”

In May 2025, Alexandre defended his thesis in front of Stéphane, as well as a trio from Siemens: his manager, the Head of Global Commodity Management, and Siemens' VP of Procurement for SI Buildings. “The project provided a clear and practical roadmap on how to implement our solutions,” he says.

His final roadmap included a maturity assessment of each commodity, a prioritisation model, and concrete recommendations ranging from take-back programmes and refurbishment pathways to new supplier engagement frameworks, providing Siemens with a structured approach to implement circularity across its third party portfolio.

 As parts of his recommendations begin to be implemented across the company, especially in lighting solutions, Alexandre says the work has made him a key internal figure on circularity and supplier sustainability overall.

“It’s positioned me as a voice on this topic and people are even reaching out from Siemens' headquarters,” he says.

Growing as an individual

Not only has it made Alexandre more visible to Siemens' leadership, but the EMBA has impacted how Alexandre views his own leadership qualities.

“The EMBA has given me the right set of tools to understand and speak the language of the business with the senior leadership team. It has also helped me strengthen my leadership confidence in high stake environments, for example when I am speaking with CEO’s of different business units or with CEO’s of our suppliers,” he says.

Coaching sessions during the programme also helped him define what sort of leadership styles he wanted to adopt for himself.

What’s more, he has been given new responsibilities, including co-leading another major strategic sustainability initiative within the business. The EMBA accelerated Alexandre’s exposure to senior executives, reinforcing his credibility and opening new strategic responsibilities. “As a result of doing the EMBA, I’ve got more visibility, more influence and readiness for any future leadership roles.

“It’s really prepared me for the next steps,” he says.

Now that Alexandre has finished the EMBA, he has slightly adjusted his answer to those who question the value of the programme.

“It’s about growing more in the company, for sure, but if you also want to grow more as an individual and learn more about yourself, that’s definitely the value of the EMBA.”

Unbreakable bonds

Alexandre’s biggest highlight of the EMBA programme? “Definitely the people,” he says.

“The discussion, the debate, the module support, all that creates this unique atmosphere. My classmates came from a range of backgrounds, a range of industry, a range of company sizes and levels of seniority. Some were entrepreneurs, others had just been laid off. The diversity was the enriching part and I’ve made some great friends out of this,” he explains.

The bonds became stronger on learning expeditions to Boston and Tokyo, where the cohort met with local companies and entrepreneurs and learned about their unique challenges. “Those trips really helped me understand cultural dynamics and how it influences leadership, decision making and innovation,” he says.

For those taking their first steps in their EMBA journey, Alexandre recommends making a start on defining their consulting project as soon as they can. “Speak with leaders in different departments as early as possible to understand what truly matters for the company, what challenges exist today and where value can be created,” he says.

He also encourages candidates to take advantage of the “exceptional” network of teachers and lecturers on EDHEC’s programme who bring both strong academic and practical experience. “This is the opportunity to challenge your ideas, receive some feedback and refine your thinking,” he says.

Finally? “Talk to your classmates. They’re another incredible benefit of the EMBA programme, too.”