MAD Academy

The MAD Academy offers an executive program for rising leaders in the hospitality and food industry to gain practical tools, expertise, and inspiration to support their professional lives. Over five-day sessions, students are engaged in a curriculum focused on environmental sustainability, leadership practices, and business management. Through small classes and seminars MAD Academy faculty and guest lecturers address topics such as sustainability through the lens of ecology, fermentation, and food waste; as well as leadership with an eye towards talent development, communication, and inclusivity. Read about our Fall 2020 Programs below.

MAD Academy Programs

In Fall 2020, MAD will hold four five-day sessions in Copenhagen focused on Environment & Sustainability or Leadership & Business. Each session will be a mix of inspiring lectures by leading experts, workshops, and field trips in and around Copenhagen. 

Once accepted to join the Academy, participants will be required to organize their own flights and accommodations while in Copenhagen. 

Applications for the 2020 programs are now closed, but check back for future applications or sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of this page to learn when applications will open for Spring 2021. We look forward to welcoming all accepted participants to Copenhagen!

Fall 2020 Programs

Environment and Sustainability
September 7–11 or September 21–25
This program will focus on understanding our place as parts of the food system. You will leave this week with useful knowledge and tools to make better and more responsible choices in your professional life. We also hope that we can inspire you to make more of those difficult but important choices by demonstrating that what we do as individuals and as professionals actually does make a difference.

Leadership and Business
October 5–9 or October 19–23
This program focuses on the need for functioning leadership in hospitality and understanding restaurants as businesses. You will leave with knowledge and tools that you can use in your everyday life, running or working in a restaurant. We also want to show you that there are many ways of doing business that suit different people and hope for you to feel inspired to understand your own style as a leader and how best to work with colleagues and employees.

Thank you to the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark (Miljø- og Fødevareministeriet) and other private donors for providing funding to support the development of the MAD Academy.

MAD is currently seeking donations to support student scholarships. Please reach out to Cait LaMorte, Development Director, at cl@madfeed.co to learn more or support.

​The New York Times ran an exclusive feature on this pivotal moment for MAD. Read Julia Moskin’s piece in the Times here.