The XXII International MBA Congress, organised by the Krakow School of Business KUE, is now behind us. This year’s event was held under the theme “Redefining Performance” and brought together representatives of business, public administration, academia, non-governmental organisations, and the MBA community.
The 2026 edition was exceptional in many respects. The Congress programme included keynote speeches, discussion panels, expert debates, and networking events focused on a new understanding of performance — not only as a financial result, but also as an organisation’s ability to adapt, demonstrate responsible leadership, build resilience, manage change, use technology effectively, and create lasting social impact.
This year, the Congress significantly expanded its scale. The event featured 64 speakers — three times more than in previous editions. The programme covered topics related to management, finance, artificial intelligence, healthcare, geopolitics, organisational culture, employee experience, leadership resilience, cooperation between business and NGOs, and the role of competencies in building the competitive advantage of cities and organisations.
The speeches and panels addressed, among others, the redefinition of performance in finance, healthcare, and supply chains; management in the world of AI and VUCA; organisational culture; strategic resilience; leadership; and cooperation between business and social organisations. A special part of the programme was the KSB KUE Alumni Zone: Human Capital in Motion – Beyond 2026, dedicated to alumni and the MBA community, where topics related to leadership, resilience, sport, business, and the development of future competencies were discussed.
This year’s edition of the Congress was supported by seven business partners:
- Euroclear
- Wodociągi Miasta Krakowa
- BMW M CARS
- Carlsberg
- Wisła Biznes
- HSBC
The event was also supported by nine honorary partners. The XXII International MBA Congress was held under the honorary patronage of:
- Krzysztof JanKlęczar,Ph.D. –Governorof the Małopolskie Voivodeship
- Łukasz Smółka – Marshal of theMałopolskieVoivodeship
- The Mayor of the City of Kraków
- Assoc. Prof. Bernard Ziębicki, Ph.D. – Rector of Krakow University of Economics
- Cédric Peltier – Consul General of France in Kraków
- Dr. Philippe J. S. De Brouwer – Honorary Consul of Belgium in Kraków
- Krakow Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- International Project Management Association Polska
- Employers of Poland
The Congress was also supported by ten media partners:
- Kraków.pl
- Radio Kraków
- Perspektywy
- Dziennik Polski
- BANK –MiesięcznikFinansowy
- BANK.pl
- Manager Report
- Warsaw Business Journal
- Res Publica
- Business Growth Review
An important element of this year’s edition also included two evening events. The first was the Evening Networking event at Unity Eye, organised on the 26th floor of Unity Centre. The meeting created a space for conversations, exchange of experiences, and relationship-building in a less formal atmosphere, with the participation of business representatives, alumni, partners, and invited guests.
The second special event was the KSB KUE Charity Gala, held at Hotel Saski. During the evening, guests took part in a dinner, special speeches, and a charity auction. This year’s gala ended with a record-breaking result – as much as PLN 100,000 was raised for St. Lazarus Hospice in Kraków. This is a meaningful proof that the community gathered around the Krakow School of Business KUE not only talks about responsible leadership and social impact, but also translates these values into real action.
The XXII International MBA Congress concluded on Sunday, 31 May, with an event at the Royal Kraków Golf & Country Club in Ochmanów. It was an opportunity for further networking, conversations, and a symbolic closing of this year’s edition of the Congress.
This year’s Congress showed that redefining performance today means much more than achieving results. It also means the ability to manage responsibly, create value, build organisational resilience, and support people in a dynamically changing world. The XXII International MBA Congress became a space where these topics resonated with exceptional strength – thanks to the involvement of speakers, partners, guests, alumni, and the entire community of the Krakow School of Business KUE.
