Lisbon, 13th of October 2025 – The Lisbon MBA Católica/Nova consolidates its leadership position in Portugal, standing out internally by being ranked, for the fourth consecutive year, among the world’s top 100 Executive MBAs according to the prestigious Financial Times Executive MBA 2025. The Executive MBA at The Lisbon MBA ranks 61st globally based on the three-year average and is on the top 40 in Europe, confirming its position as the best Executive MBA in Portugal and the most international in the country.
This recognition reflects the outstanding career progression of its graduates. Three years after completing the program, alumni report an average salary increase of 63%, reaching an average annual gross income of USD 208,000. These figures confirm the transformative impact that The Lisbon MBA has on its students and the significant advancement in their professional trajectories.
The Executive MBA at The Lisbon MBA is the most international program in the Portuguese market, attracting an increasing number of international candidates who choose Portugal to pursue their MBA. With 35% international students representing 14 different nationalities, the 2025–2027 Executive MBA cohort, which began last week with 60 students, is the most diverse class ever. This cohort also sees an increase in the percentage of women (31%) and a wide representation of students from different academic backgrounds and professional paths. This heterogeneity brings new perspectives and insights, experiences and horizons that enrich discussion, teamwork, and stimulate innovation and creativity in problem-solving.
Commitment to sustainability is another pillar of the program: The Lisbon MBA ranks 7th among European Executive MBAs for carbon footprint and is in the top 30 for ESG (Environment, Social and Governance), a component embedded throughout its curriculum.
Maria José Amich, Executive Director of The Lisbon MBA, states: “To continue being recognized as the best Executive MBA in Portugal, and to consistently remain among the best in the world year after year, is a great source of pride that motivates us to keep improving. Our mission to develop principled leaders drives us to continue investing in a holistic education that fosters development from both a professional and human perspective, with a global vision and a clear purpose of supporting our students in their aspiration to become agents of positive and sustainable change not only within organizations but also in society.”
Filipe Santos, Dean of CATÓLICA-LISBON, and Pedro Oliveira, Dean of Nova SBE, emphasize: “The recognition of The Lisbon MBA Católica|Nova in executive education, both nationally and internationally, is once again confirmed by the Financial Times ranking. This ranking reflects the program’s growing appeal among international students and its tangible impact on the professional advancement of its graduates. CATÓLICA-LISBON and Nova SBE, together with MIT Sloan, reaffirm their commitment to this strategic partnership, continuing to develop an Executive MBA of excellence that enhances the talent of its students and strengthens The Lisbon MBA’s positioning as a global reference.”
About The Lisbon MBA Católica|Nova
The Lisbon MBA Católica|Nova is a joint venture between CATÓLICA-LISBON and Nova SBE, in collaboration with the renowned MIT Sloan School of Management in the United States. It offers two MBA programs: the 12-month full-time International MBA and the 20-month part-time Executive MBA, both including an immersion at MIT Sloan in Boston focused on entrepreneurship and technological innovation in business. Additionally, the Executive MBA offers students the opportunity to attend courses in Switzerland, Spain, Brazil, South Africa, and Singapore, through partnerships with top MBAs in those countries. The Lisbon MBA’s value proposition focuses on developing management and leadership skills through its “learning by doing” methodology. The Lisbon MBA Católica|Nova ranks among the top 25 in Europe for its International MBA and 3rd worldwide in “international course experience,” according to the Financial Times 2025 rankings. It also holds the “Triple Crown Accreditation” (AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS), belonging to the exclusive group of fewer than 1% of MBAs worldwide with this distinction.
About the Financial Times
The Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking 2025 is the global benchmark for business schools. Each year it distinguishes the world’s top 100 Executive MBAs according to several criteria, including salary increases, career progression, diversity, and the social responsibility component of the programs. Results are based on surveys of alumni and data collected from business schools, evaluated by the newspaper.
More information: https://rankings.ft.com/