Collbató is EADA Business School’s residential training campus, designed to develop leadership skills through experiential learning, self-reflection, and team-based challenges. Early in the International MBA (and other programs at EADA), students spend several days there working closely with classmates and professors in an immersive environment focused on personal and leadership development.
My First Leadership Experience at Collbató
For me, the experience came just one week into my International MBA at EADA., I was travelling to Collbato for three days of leadership training. I was surrounded by classmates I barely knew, and honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect. It turned out to be one of the most impactful experiences of the program.
The Leadership Development Program at Collbató mixed classroom sessions with outdoor activities and self-reflection. Our professors didn't just lecture us about leadership, they created situations where we had to figure it out ourselves through actual experience.
Learning Leadership through Discomfort
What made it transformative was how it pushed us out of our comfort zones. The outdoor activities weren't just fun and games. They were designed to expose how we communicate, how we lead, and how we handle pressure. At first, it was chaotic. Everyone had their own way of doing things, their own ideas about what should happen. But somewhere in that mess, something clicked. We stopped just hearing each other and started actually listening, understanding what people meant, not just what they said.
One moment that really stuck with me was an activity where we had to strap into safety gear and rely completely on our teammates. A few people were genuinely afraid of heights, but nobody backed out. Watching them push through their fear because they trusted us to have their back, that was a leadership lesson you can't get from a textbook.
Beyond the activities themselves, the biggest change was in how we related to each other. We showed up as individual MBA students. We left as an actual team. The three days created bonds that felt surprisingly deep for such a short time, but I guess that's what happens when you face challenges together and see each other when you're most vulnerable.
Leadership Lessons That Stay With You
Collbaó taught me that good leadership isn't about being the loudest person in the room or having all the answers. It's about really listening, building trust through your actions, and making space for others to grow. It's about adapting when your usual approach doesn't work and showing up for your team, especially when it's uncomfortable.
Looking back, Collbató shaped how I think about teamwork, communication, and what kind of leader I want to be. The lessons from those three days still influence how I work on group projects and collaborate with my classmates from all over the world, and they shape how I want to lead in my future professional career. These experiences stay with you when the theories start to blur together. They teach you about leadership, sure, but more importantly, they teach you about yourself and the people around you.
As for me, I'm already counting down to my next Collbató visit. I'm curious to see how much more I'll grow and how we'll continue to evolve as a team, carrying these early leadership lessons forward into the rest of the MBA and beyond.
Author
Richa Martin
Participant - International MBA 2025-2026