The XXII International MBA Congress, organized by the Krakow School of Business KUE, has concluded. This year’s event was held under the theme “Redefining Performance” and brought together representatives of business, public administration, academia, NGOs, and the MBA community.

The 2026 edition was exceptional in many respects. The Congress program included keynote speeches, panel discussions, expert debates, and networking events focused on a new understanding of performance: not only as a financial result, but also as an organization’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 program covered topics related to management, finance, artificial intelligence, healthcare, geopolitics, organizational culture, employee experience, leadership resilience, cooperation between business and NGOs, and the role of competencies in building the competitive advantage of cities and organizations.

The speeches and panels addressed topics including the redefinition of performance in finance, healthcare, and supply chains; management in the world of AI and VUCA; organizational culture; strategic resilience; leadership; and cooperation between business and social organizations. A special part of the program was the KSB KUE Alumni Zone: Human Capital in Motion - Beyond 2026, dedicated to alumni and the MBA community. It explored issues related to leadership, resilience, sports, business, and the development of future competencies.

This year’s edition of the Congress was supported by six business partners:

• Euroclear

• Wodociągi Miasta Krakowa

• BMW M CARS

• Carlsberg

• Wisła Biznes

• HSBC

The event was also supported by nine honorary patrons. The XXII International MBA Congress was held under the honorary patronage of:

• Krzysztof Jan Klęczar, Ph.D. - Governor of the Małopolskie Voivodeship

• Łukasz Smółka - Marshal of the Małopolskie Voivodeship

• The Mayor of the City of Krakow

• Assoc. Prof. Bernard Ziębicki, Ph.D. - Rector of Krakow University of Economics

• Cédric Peltier - Consul General of France in Krakow

• Dr. Philippe J. S. De Brouwer - Honorary Consul of Belgium in Krakow

• Krakow Chamber of Commerce and Industry

• International Project Management Association Polska

• Employers of Poland

The Congress was also supported by ten media patrons:

• Kraków.pl

• Radio Kraków

• Perspektywy

• Dziennik Polski

• BANK - Miesięcznik Finansowy

• BANK.pl

• Manager Report

• Warsaw Business Journal

• Res Publica

• Business Growth Review

Two evening events were also an important part of this year’s edition. The first was the Evening Networking event at Unity Eye, organized on the 26th floor of Unity Centre. The meeting created a space for conversations, the 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: PLN 100,000 was raised for St. Lazarus Hospice in Krakow. This is 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, May 31, 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 organizational 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.

(WBJ)