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Liverpool MBA and Football Industries MBA students experience Lisbon Study Trip

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Students and MBA team at Unicorn Factory in Lisbon
MBA students and team enjoy a visit to the Unicorn Factory in Lisbon

Students from the Liverpool MBA and Football Industries MBA (FIMBA) programmes have recently taken part in an immersive international study trip to Lisbon, Portugal, gaining first-hand insight into international business strategy, innovation, leadership and the global football industry.

The study trip was designed to complement core programme modules and provide students with real-world exposure to:

  • Strategic and operational decision-making in an international context
  • Innovation, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies
  • Leadership, governance and sustainability across industries
  • The business of professional football, including commercial strategy and development
  • Cross-cultural perspectives through direct engagement with industry professionals

Over the course of five days, students visited a wide range of organisations across business, technology, innovation, professional services and sport, engaging directly with senior leaders and practitioners. The trip strengthened professional networks and offered students a deeper appreciation of the cultural and operational differences within global business and football environments.

Students explored Lisbon’s growing innovation ecosystem through sessions at the British Chamber of Commerce in Portugal, the Beato Innovation District and Unicorn Factory Lisboa, where discussions focused on international trade, entrepreneurship, start-up growth and leadership decision-making. A fireside chat with a local entrepreneur allowed students to connect strategic theory with real-world experience.

Further sessions examined doing business in Lisbon, with visits to the AI Hub and Nãm Mushroom Urban Farm.  As well as take part in some cooking, our MBAs also gaining insights into digital transformation, artificial intelligence, sustainability and innovative circular business models, including how coffee waste can be repurposed to grow mushrooms for local restaurants and stores.

MBA students cooking at a urban farm in Lisbon

The programme also included visits to The Navigator Company and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, where students gained valuable insight into operations management, sustainability, supply chains and leadership within large multinational businesses.

Alongside this broader business learning, FIMBA students also engaged with leading football organisations including:

  • Sport Clube União Torreense
  • Estoril Praia – Futebol, SAD
  • Sport Lisboa e Benfica
  • Sporting Clube de Portugal

Students also enjoyed an evening of Portuguese football as they attended the Estrela da Amadora vs Estoril Praia match.

FIMBA students enjoying their experience at SL Benfica

These visits provided practical insights into how football clubs operate as complex businesses, balancing sporting performance with governance, commercial growth and long-term strategic sustainability, with a chance to experience local sporting culture alongside their studies, linking sport, business and community in a real-world setting.

Throughout the week, students worked collaboratively on applied projects at IdeaSpaces Saldanha, applying academic frameworks to real organisational challenges. Sessions on Cybersecurity, Women in STEM and professional services, delivered by organisations including Siemens Portugal and PwC, further enhanced understanding of leadership, risk management and professional practice.

Reflecting on the experience, Maysa Abdelazim, Liverpool MBA student, said:

“This was genuinely insightful from start to finish. From engaging in Lisbon’s innovation and business ecosystem to meeting professionals from around the world, the trip strengthened our learning and networks in a really meaningful way.”

Leszek Makowski, Online FIMBA student added:

“We had the opportunity to learn from professionals across a wide range of disciplines, including operations, innovation, marketing, governance and leadership. The breadth of perspectives and openness of discussion made for a truly valuable experience.”

Liverpool MBAs at the Navigator Company

The Lisbon study trip represents another example of the University of Liverpool Management School’s commitment to experiential learning, providing students with opportunities that enhance employability, global awareness, and leadership development.

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