In today’s unpredictable business world, senior leaders know that experience alone won’t keep them ahead of the curve. For many, an Executive MBA (EMBA) becomes the inflection point - the moment they choose to expand what they know and transform how they think. For Alar Jost, founder of beyondBIM, the EMBA at the University of St.Gallen was exactly that catalyst.
Long before beyondBIM existed, the idea of pursuing an EMBA had lingered in Alar’s mind. “About fifteen years ago, I thought an MBA could help me manage complex international projects better,” he says, recalling his early career leading major design and technology initiatives in Dubai, Shanghai, and beyond. But the right opportunity never quite materialised.
Years later, after moving back to Switzerland and stepping into more senior roles, the idea resurfaced . and this time, it stuck. A key moment came in a conversation with Prof. Dr. Karoline Frankenberger from University St.Gallen. “She told me, ‘You don’t need to deepen your technical expertise — you need a 360-degree perspective that connects everything.’ That clicked for me.”
For Alar, the St.Gallen EMBA gave exactly that: not just business knowledge, but a broader lens on strategy, people, and how to generate real impact in an increasingly complex world.
From EMBA Classroom to Entrepreneur
When Alar enrolled, launching his own company wasn’t even on the horizon. “I never intended to be an entrepreneur,” he admits. “I wanted to understand how to bring my strengths into bigger organisations. But the EMBA opened my eyes to what was possible if we carved our own path.”
It didn’t take long for that mindset to translate into action. During the early months of the programme, the idea for beyondBIM emerged – a consultancy dedicated to guiding organisations through digital transformation in the built environment. “It was a Thursday afternoon call with my partner: ‘Why don’t we just do this?’ The next morning, we bought two laptops. Six weeks later, we were on the market.”
This leap wasn’t reckless – it was informed by what Alar was absorbing in real time. Early strategy modules introduced him to the concept of differentiation as a competitive advantage. “We realised that our knowledge made us the niche of the niche of the niche – and that’s exactly what made us strong.”
Other lessons were refreshingly practical. A finance course drilled in the importance of understanding cash flow – a lesson that has shaped beyondBIM’s resilience. “We decided to grow organically, without venture capital,” he says. “Staying disciplined about cash flow means we can build tech on our own terms, without losing sight of what matters.”
The EMBA’s impact didn’t stop with lectures and conversations – it was deeply rooted in Alar’s master’s thesis, which focused on organic growth and digital innovation in the real estate sector. Drawing inspiration from Edith Penrose’s classic ideas about the role of a company’s resources, Alar reimagined how beyondBIM could use its collective expertise as its most valuable asset.
“It’s not just what you have today — it’s how you develop your resources to deliver value tomorrow,” he explains. “Some of our clients don’t fully understand what we do at first — but they feel the results. That confidence to work ahead of the curve comes straight from what I learned during my thesis.”
It’s a perspective that now underpins beyondBIM’s approach: combining deep expertise with an ability to anticipate market needs that aren’t yet fully visible.
One of the biggest shifts Alar credits to the EMBA is what he calls “the mindset of trust.” For him, St.Gallen provided more than frameworks – it offered a setting where openness, questioning, and peer-to-peer challenge became normal.
“You learn to trust yourself – and just as importantly, trust others,” he says. This mindset now flows directly into beyondBIM’s culture. “We focus a lot on helping our people understand their own strengths and how they generate value for our clients, our team, and themselves. It’s not just talk – it shapes how we work every day.”
A memorable moment came during a group workshop in the EMBA, where Alar and his peers mapped out what a company’s core values could look like, from vision through to strategy and execution. “Having people question you, push you, and support you while you develop an idea that isn’t even out in the world yet – that was hugely formative.”
If there’s one thread that runs through Alar’s reflections, it’s the importance of the people. “The St.Gallen cohort experience is incredible.” he says. “You’re surrounded by people who want to push you – who aren’t afraid to dismantle your ideas and help you rebuild them stronger.”
These relationships continue to pay dividends, personally and professionally. “The conversations you have with people from different industries – that diversity of thought is priceless. And those connections don’t just end when you graduate. They become part of your lifelong network.”
When asked how the EMBA has changed him as a leader, Alar doesn’t hesitate. “It made me realise that leadership is a journey you never finish,” he says. “It also taught me that empathy and even vulnerability are not weaknesses – they’re strengths that help you build the trust you need to navigate complexity.”
This approach has been key as beyondBIM has grown from a fledgling spin-off into a recognised force in its field. The company now proudly carries the official St.Gallen spin-off label, a point of pride for Alar and his team. “It’s a reminder that this is bigger than just a business. It’s about impact – for our clients, for the industry, and for each other.”
His advice for anyone considering the EMBA is simple but sincere: “Accept the challenge. Don’t expect your ideas to be validated. Expect them to be taken apart and rebuilt better. That’s where the magic happens.”
Looking back, Alar sees his EMBA journey not just as an educational milestone, but as a springboard. “It gave me a new perspective on what’s possible – and the confidence to act on it. For me, that’s what leadership is about: stepping into uncertainty, bringing others with you, and seeing how far you can go together.”
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