Munich / Berlin. Now in its fourth year, the
successful partnership between BMW Group and ESMT Berlin continues to
evolve. The BMW Group Change Maker Fellowships, launched in 2022, are
being extended in 2025 to include ESMT’s full-time MBA and MSc
programs alongside the Global Online MBA and
will focus on shaping leadership for a digital future.
For the upcoming academic year, eight fellowships will be offered:

two fellowships for the Full-time MBA program (January 2026 intake)
two fellowships for the MSc programs (October 2025 intake) and
four fellowships for the Global Online MBA program (October 2025 intake).
This expansion marks an important shift in the collaboration between
the BMW Group and ESMT. By investing in students across the business
school’s degree programs, the BMW Group will support a broader and
more diverse group of future leaders with strong backgrounds in
mathematics and technology. These individuals will be uniquely
positioned to drive positive change in business and society by
bringing innovative thinking to real-world challenges in a rapidly
evolving digital landscape.

Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG,
responsible for People and Real Estate, and Labor Relations
Director emphasized the importance of this commitment. She
said, “We are delighted to partner with ESMT to foster the next
generation of Change Makers. Bold innovations require bold
individuals. Through our commitment to additional ESMT programs, we
are investing in future leaders.”
Applicants must have an academic or professional background in
mathematics or technology-related fields and be citizens or permanent
residents of Germany, India, Portugal, Romania, China, USA or South
Africa or hold refugee status in Germany. MSc and full-time MBA
applicants must also be aged 30 or younger on September 1, 2025.
When applying for the BMW Group Change Maker Fellowships, candidates
will be asked to answer the following question: the BMW Group seeks to
actively shape the future of mobility; what aspect of a digital future
fascinates you the most and why?
In total, the BMW Group currently employs around 10,000 people
worldwide in IT & software development. It has been pooling the
company’s IT expertise in IT and software hubs worldwide since 2008.
In addition to the locations in Germany, South Africa, the USA,
Portugal and China, there are now two more in Romania and India. The
hubs have their own distinctive tech culture and a high degree of
autonomy, making them attractive places to work for regional talent
pools. For this reason, BMW Group is offering the 2025 Change Maker
Fellowships with a focus on digitalization to select countries of its
BMW Group IT-Hub network.

ESMT President Jörg Rocholl commented, “The Change
Maker Fellowships continue to deepen our shared mission with BMW
Group: to foster tech-savvy leaders capable of driving meaningful,
global change.”
Since their inception, the Change Maker Fellowships have emerged as a
strategic initiative positioned at the crossroads of societal
responsibility and global talent development. They reflect BMW Group
and ESMT’s shared commitment to unlocking potential and guiding
individuals toward meaningful, high-impact careers.
More information on the fellowship and the application process may be
found here
 
If you have any questions, please contact:

Press Contact BMW Group Corporate Communications
Milena PighiCommunications HR, Real Estate, Culture, Corporate
CitizenshipSpokesperson Corporate CitizenshipEmail: milena.pa.pighi@bmwgroup.comTelephone: +49-160-978-24316
Media website: www.press.bmwgroup.comEmail:
presse@bmwgroup.com

Press Contact ESMT BerlinLennart
RichterPress SpokespersonEmail: lennart.richter@esmt.orgTelephone: +49-160-5521-393

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