theemba work - topmba.com · 54. hult international business school 55. télécom ecole de...

TOPEXECUTIVEGuide

T

FALL / WINTER 2016

THE LEADING INTERNATIONAL GUIDE TO EXECUTIVE MBAS & MANAGEMENT EDUCATION

MAKING

TH

EEMBA WORKFOR YOU

Career coaching & leadership developmentSecuring employer support

Prioritizing programs

Work-life balance

Transferable

skills

QS TopExecutive Fall 2016 1

Editor’s DeskMany prospective executive MBA students will see the degree as a hugely att ractive means of breathing new life into their careers, but one whose benefi ts can seem tantalisingly out of reach when they already have a lot on their plates - both professionally and personally.

If you know you want the degree, perhaps you’ve found yourself hesitating when trying to fi gure out how you will fi nd suffi cient time to research program options, send out a strong application and maintain a work-life balance while studying – all while ensuring you have the backing of your employer and loved ones.

Th at’s why this edition of the TopExecutive Guide centers around the importance of making the EMBA work for you.

We start by looking at how to select the right program by measuring your options against your set of personal priorities. We then consider how you can win the backing of your employer and the ways in which you can start repaying the faith shown in you long before graduating. Finally, we assess how you can ensure you’ve explored all potential sources of fi nance if you need to fund the qualifi cation – either partially or wholly – yourself.

Even so, few managers of a truly strategic disposition will have their focus purely on the here and now, so we’ve also made room for a look at life aft er the EMBA. Th ere’s advice from schools and the options for those who are weighing up whether to change the course of their professional life and explore new opportunities. We also take a look at career coaching’s growing prominence among EMBA students and graduates alike.

An executive MBA will never be a walk in the park for its participants – it wouldn’t be of much value to senior professionals if it was. Aft er all, one of its primary aims is to challenge your thinking and introduce you to new techniques and approaches that will help broaden your managerial capabilities and potential. What you can do, however, is ensure that you don’t just work for an EMBA, but make an EMBA work for you!

Th e very best of luck,

Tim DhoulEditorTopExecutive Guide

FINAL_EMBA FALL 16.indd 1 22/08/2016 13:50

2 QS TopExecutive Fall 2016

EMBA School Profiles

50. BI Norwegian Business School

51. CELSA University Paris – Sorbonne

53. HEC Lausanne Executive MBA

54. Hult International Business School

55. Télécom Ecole de Management

56. IE Business School - Madrid, The IE Brown Executive MBA

57. IE Business School - Madrid, The Global Executive MBA

ContentsQS TopExecutive Guide

EditorTim Dhoul

Production ManagerNicola Chambers

Editorial, School Profile Layout and Front CoverEd Winder

Design ConsultantJake Costain

Feature WritersSophie MathiautNicole WillsonDawn BournandAnn GrahamHelen Vaudrey

Managing DirectorNunzio Quacquarelli

Sales EnquiriesKamran [email protected]

UK Sales Office1 Tranley MewsFleet RoadLondon NW3 2DGTel. +44 207 284 7200email: [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]



Choosing EMBA

4. MBA or EMBA: What’s the Difference?The first step towards an EMBA should always be to ensure that it’s the right degree for you and the level of your existing experience.

6. Shortlisting EMBA Programs to Fit Your PrioritiesWhat’s most important to you in an executive MBA program? Seven things to think about as you explore your options.

9. Finalizing Your Choice of EMBA ProgramA step-by-step guide to how you can go about narrowing down your initial shortlist and making a final decision.

11. 5 Benefits of an EMBA to Your EmployerCompanies often have just as much to gain when an employee embarks on an executive MBA degree.

12. Can Business Ethics Courses Change the Corporate Landscape?Can courses on business ethics and corporate social responsibility positively influence the business world?

14. Securing Support from Your Employer for an EMBAYour employer’s support is essential if you are to successfully balance your professional workload with an EMBA program.

EMBA Admissions

15 Financing Your Executive MBAIf you need to drum up some funding before you can enroll in the degree, it might be useful to check whether you’ve considered all of the options outlined in this feature.

18. The Executive Assessment: A New Standard for EMBA Admissions?Three business schools tell us about their plans for a new admissions test from GMAC that has been designed specifically for EMBA candidates.

The EMBA Experience

20. Transferable Skills and the EMBAOne of the best things about an EMBA is that you can apply what you learn in the classroom to the workplace as you go along.

22. Maintaining a Healthy Work-Life Balance During Your EMBAIf you enter the program prepared, there’s no reason why an EMBA should disrupt your work-life balance.

24. Leadership Development and the EMBA ExperienceA Kellogg-WHU EMBA alumna discusses the degree’s benefits and the value of career coaching services alongside a program’s leadership development component.

27. Career Coaching During and After the EMBAHow career coaching after the EMBA, as well during, can help graduates take their careers to the next level.

EMBA Outcomes

28. Life After EMBA: Career Advice for Graduates10 of our favorite pieces of career advice for EMBA graduates, gleaned from conversations with program directors and school representatives.

30. Should I Stay or Should I Go? Career Progression After Your EMBAIf you’re curious as to whether your current organization is the best place for you after your EMBA, read this feature!

EMBA City GuidesA look at where you can study an EMBA in the following five cities…

32. London34. New York36. Paris38. Berlin40. San Francisco

EMBA Class Profiles in Europe

42. A visual analysis of the latest class info available for seven EMBA programs on offer from business schools in Europe.



Choosing EMBA

MBA or EMBA:What’s the Difference?

process, EMBA admissions teams look for a varied professional background with diverse experience. It is assumed that applicants will already have picked up extensive business knowledge over their career. Thus they are not usually required to sit an admissions exam, such as the GMAT – although some schools will suggest, or even insist, that applicants do.

Either way, for full-time MBA study, there is more emphasis placed on GMAT scores and essays. A minimum GMAT score of 600 is required by many schools, with top institutions often known to prefer scores of

There are hundreds of accredited MBA and EMBA programs offered by business schools around the world, but aspiring students may not always understand the difference between the two. ‘EMBA’ simply stands for ‘Executive Master of Business Administration’, which is commonly misconstrued to be a superior form of MBA study. In actual fact, the two are pretty much equal in terms of cachet and value on graduation – but they target different audiences and are delivered in entirely different ways.

Whether students opt for an MBA or an EMBA depends largely on their current

circumstances. EMBA applicants are usually older and possess greater experience. Full-time MBA applicants are often looking for an immediate career change or are seeking broader skills and experience for career advancement - but the differences between them stretch much further than the age and work experience of applicants.

Application requirements

EMBAs are catered towards working professionals with extensive work experience – generally somewhere in the region of 10-15 years. During the selection

It’s a huge investment of your time (and money) so prospective students must ensure they

know whether an EMBA will suit their circumstances more than an MBA, by understanding

the differences between the two.

by Helen Vaudrey



700 and above. Although more management experience is an advantage for MBA study, students are generally only required to have around three years’ prior experience.

Duration and pace

The length of degree programs vary by school, however the traditional duration of an MBA is two years in North America and one year in Europe. EMBAs tend to fall into the same sort of range. The difference is, though, that EMBA study is part time, on evenings, weekends and intensive weeks which can take place at different places around the world. EMBA students, by and large, stay in their current positions on a full-time basis (and with a full-time salary) while they learn. Much of the learning will be by distance and/or online. EMBA students tend to undertake on-campus classwork at a more intense pace than their MBA counterparts to minimize distraction from work or family.

However, full-time MBA students also have intensive schedules and this makes it pretty much impossible to maintain a job outside the program. Although the classes are completed at a faster rate, the EMBA curriculum covers the same material as MBAs. However, EMBA programs offer fewer electives and students are required

to take the majority of classes together. MBA students, meanwhile, have the freedom to specialize in a range of topics, with a wide variety of options available to them. However, there are targeted EMBAs out there for those who want to specialize!

Fees and sponsorship

Traditionally, the majority or entirety of EMBA students’ tuition costs were covered by employers, who benefit from the new skills their managers are learning. However, recent years have seen a trend towards self-funded candidates – which has meant that more schools are offering EMBA scholarships. Either way, students will most often be earning a full-time salary while studying, making the financial implications of EMBAs somewhat less daunting in comparison to full-time MBAs. Company-funded students are generally required to commit to remaining at their current company upon completion of their degree – so they must be sure of their careers before embarking on a course.

In stark contrast, the majority of MBAs are self-funded (you will also find a small proportion of sponsored students in most cohorts), although there a wide variety of scholarships available to students through different organizations and

schools. The prices associated with MBAs tend to be slightly lower than EMBAs but full-time MBA students have to factor in other fees such as permanent board and accommodation as well as foregone salary (but don’t forget to consider the degree’s return on investment, or ROI, here).

Lifestyle

This is very important to consider when choosing between the two degrees. If students want a more immersive student experience they should most definitely apply for an MBA. Living permanently on or near campus opens the doors to extracurricular activities – including clubs, sport, conferences and student-run events as well as social experiences and obviously, a tight-knit social group formed from working with your classmates every day.

For EMBA students, emphasis is very much placed on networking within a smaller cohort and there will be a bit less interaction with the wider student body. Students interact with their group on a weekly basis – usually at the weekend. Though the relationships may not be quite as intense, informal and formal networking is a key part of the EMBA experience (as it is to full-time programs) and is extremely beneficial to your future career.



Choosing EMBA

Shortlisting EMBA Programs to Fit Your Priorities

1. Location of campus

Is a program close to your home important to you?

Many executive MBA candidates choose to pursue their studies in a neighboring country while others will even opt for a completely different part of the world. In most places, transportation systems are now well-developed and it is possible to

In order to shortlist executive MBA programs that will match up with your needs and expectations, it’s important to ascertain your priorities. To do this, consider writing down the factors that you feel are most important to you.

Here is a list of seven of the most important factors that candidates will commonly consider when shortlisting EMBA programs:

1. Location (geographic setting) of campus

2. Reputation of school

3. Global content

4. Quality of faculty

5. Admissions process

6. Strength of alumni network

7. Rankings

To work out which business school’s executive MBA will suit you best, measure the options

against your priorities from our selection of seven critical program aspects.

By Sophie Mathiaut



get from one point to another easily and within a few hours.

As an EMBA will only require you to be physically present in the classroom during modules (which occur, on average, once every six weeks), you have the flexibility to choose a remote program that fits you best. Many EMBA participants also recognize that traveling to a business school campus and boarding there for a week actually provides the perfect ‘retreat feeling’ busy executives need.

2. Reputation of school

Is the business school’s reputation a major factor for you?

First thing to look for is accreditation: You need to make sure that the EMBA programs you have picked are all accredited by a reputable MBA authority, such as the AACSB and EQUIS.

After that, a school’s reputation in terms of subject matter – let’s say entrepreneurship, for instance – might be important to you if

you intend to start your own business after the EMBA. Alternatively, you might be looking to gain a specialism in marketing, in which case attending a business school with the most reputable marketing experts will be a strong proposition.

Reputation, in terms of a business school’s brand, might also be attractive from a networking perspective as many famous business schools, such as the US’s Ivy League members, will have an extensive and extremely influential alumni network globally. But you shouldn’t underestimate the power of the networks applicable to the so-called second-tier business schools – the strength of alumni networks are very much the product of a business school’s culture. (See consideration #7 for more on alumni networks).

3. Global content

Are you looking to internationalize your profile?

Most executive MBA programs offer some sort of internationalization in the form

of global electives or residential units. Discovering and studying in other regions of the world not only provides you with different perspectives and expands your reach, but it can also be very attractive for an employer with ambitions of expansion into new markets. A global component could be the extra ‘plus’ that will turn your already accomplished profile into a winning one.

4. Quality of faculty

Do you want to learn from the best business experts in the world?

Faculty members play an important role throughout your EMBA journey. They provide potential solutions to complex business cases, access to other business experts and global influencers as well as mentoring opportunities. Many EMBA programs have professors who possess extensive practical experience across various business fields and who are able to share their knowhow in the EMBA classroom. Don’t underestimate the faculty quality factor when shortlisting programs as the



Choosing EMBA

likely be able to help you post-graduation, particularly when it comes to your career aspirations. Some alumni networks have a better sense of legacy than others. Other networks are more local/regional than others. So, it is important that you understand the dynamics of the alumni networks in order to make sure it will serve you well.

7. Rankings

Do you need quality assurance before making a decision? Are you number-driven?

If you have even the slightest business acumen you are probably number-driven in one way or another! Rankings are a great way to start your search as they provide important data about career progress and program diversity. However, as is the case with any data, there is room for interpretation and creativity. The qualitative aspect of statistics can only really be figured out by visiting a business school’s campus and talking to former alumni in order to really understand the school or program’s culture.

superstar faculty members you meet during your EMBA will accompany you throughout your EMBA journey and way beyond.

5. Admissions process

How much time and effort can you dedicate to the admissions process?

Everyone is aware that executives are busy, so it is important for you to make sure that the admissions process of your EMBA shortlist fits your limitations. Evaluate what is required of you from your chosen school(s). Is the GMAT needed? Most EMBA programs actually do not require the GMAT (plus, there is now a GMAC test specifically designed for EMBA applicants on trial at six leading business schools; see our separate feature on this subject). The GMAT can be very time-consuming and if you need a decent score to get into an EMBA program, you will need to dedicate at least two to three months to test preparation.

Aside from entrance exams, find out if you are required to do any or all of the

following: Write a statement of purpose; fill out an application; supply letters of recommendation. In addition, some EMBA programs will require that your employer consents to time spent away from the office to participate in its modules. Lastly, you should work out whether you will have to apply for financing to fund the program.

All these potential requirements take time and as a rule of thumb the decision-making process for an executive is, on average, 18 months. This is because you need to make sure that you thoroughly understand the admissions process and that it fits your current schedule.

6. Strength of alumni network

How important are professional connections to you?

Your current classmates are important but an EMBA program’s alumni network is even more crucial. Alumni, especially those who graduated from the same program three or more years ago will most



Choosing EMBA

Finalizing Your Choice of EMBA Program

opportunity to meet the EMBA admissions staff once more, connect with alumni and faculty members, and bond with other EMBA candidates whose career goals and interests may even match your own.

D. Connect with the alumni of your top three

EMBA alumni are some of the best ‘insiders’ you can talk to and most of them will be open to connect with someone looking for the best EMBA fit. We highly recommend that you first ask admissions directors of your preferred programs to introduce you to a few alumni so that you can get an objective perspective. An introduction is always the most successful way to go but if you’re short on time and feel adventurous, then you can also start searching for good alumni prospects on professional networking sites, such as LinkedIn. In most cases, they will be more than happy to guide you through the EMBA maze and share their invaluable experiences with you.

Once you’ve shortlisted, say, five to eight executive MBA programs you feel might suit your individual circumstances, it’s on to the next phase – identifying and finalizing your top choices! Here are four steps you can follow to narrow down your initial selection and make a final decision.

A. Attend an admissions event and meet school representatives and alumni

In-person meetings with a business school’s admissions decision makers can be a hugely beneficial next step and if you’re holding a copy of the QS TopExecutive Guide in your hands, then the chances are that you have recognized this and are in attendance at a QS event, or have recently attended one!

If not, aside from gathering representatives from a host of reputable global EMBA programs in one city, admissions fairs such as QS Executive Connect events also allow you to take part in school presentations, workshops, panels and networking sessions in which you have the opportunity to connect and interact with the entire EMBA community; from alumni and current students to executive coaches and school faculty members.

B. Refine your list and formulate a ‘top three’

Once you’ve met with the admissions directors of the EMBA programs you were most interested in, you will need to do some further refining and pick your top three EMBA programs. Three is a good number and it is much more manageable for those with a busy schedule. Plus, there is no need for you to overwhelm yourself with more than three choices at this stage, since in the end you can only join one EMBA program!

C. Get a taste for a business school’s culture

Your next step should be to attend a business school’s open house/on-campus info session, or to participate in its assessment or interview day. This is because the executive MBA requires you to spend a few days every six weeks (on average) on campus and, thus, it is extremely important that you get a feel for your prospective new environment.

Also, while on campus, you will be able to meet faculty members and EMBA cohorts preceding you. Many EMBA programs nowadays even offer the opportunity to join a current EMBA class for an hour or two. This allows you to network with current students and faculty members and also to get an idea of the curriculum content.

Most EMBA programs will also run some form of interview or assessment day during which you will have the

Shortlisting programs of interest is one thing, but whittling down your selection and finding

the best fit for you requires a different approach…

By Sophie Mathiaut


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By Sophie Mathiaut

Choosing EMBA

5 Benefits of an EMBAto Your Employer

to internationalize their profiles, build global connections and learn about global opportunities that are potentially attractive for their organizations.

Getting your employer on board is not always an easy task but it is a necessary step. Even though most executive MBA programs will not require formal support from your employer, it is important to get your employer’s approval particularly when it comes to time away from work. An executive MBA provides endless benefits for employers who very often do not realize that they are getting as much out of developing your management and leadership skills as you are. You are already a brilliant executive, so it’s time to use your powers of persuasion to your and your company’s advantage!

When the time comes for you to discuss the value of an executive MBA (EMBA) with your employer, the most pressing question you will hear is, “why should we support your participation in this program?” Due to the time and potential travel commitments an EMBA will ask of its participants, this is a legitimate question whether your employer is considering sponsoring your course of study financially, or not.

Fortunately, an executive MBA not only advances you professionally, but also provides numerous benefits to your company. Here are five ways in which professionals taking an EMBA will benefit their employers:

1. Introducing fresh ideas to the workplace

An EMBA allows you to bring newly acquired classroom concepts, knowledge and tools learned from peers and expert faculty to your workplace and apply them.

2. Becoming a better leader

Most executive MBA programs provide business coaching and leadership training throughout the program, helping participants learn more about themselves and their managerial styles. Such development makes them more effective leaders on the job and in real time.

3. Applying team/consultancy projects to your company

Students can apply an EMBA program’s team/consultancy projects to their own companies, solving major issues and challenges for their employers. As a ‘homegrown’ consultant with an intimate understanding of their employers’ internal culture and dynamics, EMBA students

can add real value while saving employers costly external consulting fees.

4. Connecting your employer to a broader, deeper network of talent

EMBA students can expect to expand their business networks through global electives, experienced faculty as well as through an institution’s international student and alumni community, allowing them to make connections that can immediately help them in their current professional roles.

5. Opening your company to the world

Through global electives, EMBA participants become experts in international business, allowing them

From fresh ideas to broader connections and networks, companies often have just as much to

gain when an employee embarks on an executive MBA degree.



Choosing EMBA

Can Business Ethics Courses Change the Corporate Landscape?

much more deeply. “The courses address topical issues of modern managerial practice in the field of governance and compliance, and link these to leadership and ethics. Within this track, the course ‘business ethics’ is a reflection that business ethics and corporate social responsibility are major leadership topics, which need to be present in every manager’s skillset,” Martha Ihlbrock, head of communications at the Berlin-based school, explains.

Chris Saunders, EMBA program director at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) says business schools, and perhaps their students, can sometimes make the way business operates seem very competitive: “The reality is that most businesses gain more from collaboration and a fine-grained understanding of their stakeholder’s wants and needs, than they do from exclusively pursuing a competitive agenda. Having a strong ethics, CSR and sustainability component on any MBA program is essential for getting this message across to future senior managers.”

Changing the ethical mold

Business school candidates who have built up significant business experience, as is the case for the vast majority of executive MBA students, have usually developed a sense of business ethics during their careers to date, based on their own encounters with ethical dilemmas in business. It might therefore be difficult to adjust to a different set of ethical values.

LUMS’s Saunders says his school doesn’t expect to change the moral perspectives

Since it earliest days in the 1940s, the executive MBA degree has sought to prepare executives for the realities of the business world. Key among this has been a process of assessing and adapting to developing trends and opportunities, as new contexts call for new business skillsets.

The need to adapt has been particularly pronounced since the Great Recession threw the notion of business ethics into the spotlight once again. During this global financial crisis it became apparent that, for business education to remain sustainable, we would need more than core business modules like finance, accounting, marketing and strategic management. Rather, issues concerning society at large needed to be taken into account. As a result, business schools have come to realize that their curricula have to pay more than lip service to topics that center on ethics and corporate social responsibility.

Demand for business ethics in the classroom

Rankings exercises have also been introduced to give candidates an insight into responsible and ethical business schools. Until 2011, the Aspen Institute created an annual ranking, ‘Beyond Grey Pinstripes’, offering an alternative business school ranking based on how well a business school has integrated aspects of ethics, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental awareness into its curriculum. Something similar is now provided in the Better World MBA Ranking produced by media and research company, Corporate Knights1.

The beginning of corporate social responsibility

Business ethics as a discipline began to emerge in the 1970s; a decade later, offshoots such as corporate social responsibility (CSR), became integral to business degree modules. In light of recurring business scandals, such as the savings and loan crisis in the 1980s, the Enron scandal of 2001 and, more recently, the financial crisis of 2007-9, there has been an increasing emphasis on how to do business ethically.

Delphine Wharmby, who spent over a decade at HEC Paris (most recently as its communications director before taking up a similar position at IFM (Institut Français de la Mode) last year) told TopMBA that HEC Paris’ integrated approach to teaching sustainability and corporate social responsibility comes with the goal of raising social awareness: “Initiatives like introducing courses covering sustainable business practices, a wide range of relevant electives, on-campus conferences, and the integration of mission and action projects reflect an ongoing commitment to forecasting and meeting the changing needs of global business. The objective is not necessarily for all participants to work in social business, but for them to acquire an awareness of the importance of these issues in their field of work, and to develop inquisitive skills about the role of business in society.”

ESMT‘s EMBA program also offers a track dedicated to ‘business integrity management’, in which students explore the topics of compliance, ethics and fraud

Will addressing the topics of business ethics and corporate social responsibility in the EMBA

classroom positively influence the business world?

By Dawn Bournand



of its students on a business ethics course, but rather give them an opportunity to express these perspectives. “We fully understand that the experienced managers on our program will already have an established set of morals and ethics, but they may never have taken the time to articulate these,” he says. “What we aim to do is introduce the difficult ethical issues senior managers regularly face, and make the students aware of the complexity involved in stakeholder management.”

Elsewhere in the UK, at Surrey Business School, the challenges of teaching ethics to EMBA candidates arise from getting them to understand the importance of ethics in their decision making. Before his departure from the role of MBA president of Surrey Business School at the end of 2015, Bill Payne told TopMBA that, “the decisions of senior managers will have implications and effects that go beyond the workplace and so they need to understand that. It

adds additional layers of complexity to decision making, which some see as just slowing down the process but, in the main, EMBA students are happy to engage with the discussions and reflections.”

The value of business ethics

Student demand for business school programs that offer an ethical dimension is high. Some of the more recently established and accredited business schools now found across the globe, such as Ecuador’s ESPAE and the School of Business and Economics at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, have chosen to place a core emphasis on corporate social responsibility, sustainability or other ethical dimensions.

Saunders, meanwhile, believes the benefit to students of incorporating business ethics into an MBA-level education comes mostly in their day-to-day interactions

with the business world. “Knowing what they stand for, what they will and will not do, understanding that ethical, social and sustainability issues are complex and need careful attention, will help graduates to have an idea of how they can make a difference.”

Whether we will be able to look back in 20 years and say that ethics and CSR courses for both EMBA and MBA students had a profound impact on the business landscape is, of course, impossible to predict. But, a growing awareness of ethics as an integral part of business practice and the global demand for businesses to adhere to such principles is already reflected in the interest being shown in these subject areas by both students and business schools.

1. http://www.topmba.com/mba-programs/sustainability-focus-new-mba-ranking-release


http://www.topmba.com/mba-programs/sustainability-focus-new-mba-ranking-release




Choosing EMBA

Securing Support from Your Employer for an EMBA

Provide your employer with a detailed schedule of your chosen EMBA program. You may also want to offer to use additional vacation or unpaid leave to complete your studies.

How can I pay it forward to my employer?

EMBA participants can repay the support of their employers – financial or otherwise - in many ways, two of which are:

1. Provide consulting work through a program project: In this, you will have access to some of the best faculty in the world to help you resolve business issues that are crucial to your organization.

2. Show your commitment to the organization through an official contract stating that you commit to remain with the company for a certain number of years.

Most EMBA programs have been designed with the schedule of busy managers in mind. The structure of the degree aims to maximize learning and personal development, while minimizing time away from work and home. Plus, EMBA programs tend to utilize modular structures which allow students to remain in their current positions. Even so, support from your employer is essential if you are to successfully balance your professional workload and your EMBA program. You may also be keen to explore the possibility of their being able to provide you with financial support.

Financial support

To explore the possibility of financial support from your employer, make sure you have gathered all updated information about tuition fees (what is and isn’t included), payment plans, fee waivers, early-bird discounts and scholarships.

Prepare a strong case which encompasses the benefits for the business, and discuss with your employer the ROI (return on investment) of your company investing in you.

If your employer is not prepared to fund you 100%, then consider how your company could still provide you with financial support through matching funding obtained elsewhere, percentage splits, reduced hours, salary sacrifice, bonus payments and tuition reimbursement at key milestones or after successful completion of the program.

Scheduling support

You will also need to demonstrate to your employer that you will be able to manage your time in the classroom and at the office effectively, without affecting your work, your team and/or your clients.

The support of your current employer will be essential if you are to balance work and EMBA

study. Plus, there is the question of financial support…

By Sophie Mathiaut



EMBA Admissions

Financing YourExecutive MBA

become more common for executive MBAs as well. You can find a list of MBA scholarships on almost every school’s website. Though scholarships are often given to those with the most financial need, there are also a number of scholarships that are given based on past academic performance, work activities, community contribution or diversity.

Susanne Hauber, program director for the executive MBA at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, explains, “[The] Frankfurt School awards attractive partial scholarships with the aim of enhancing the diversity of our

There is no denying that an executive MBA requires a substantial investment. This is especially the case if you’re looking to top business schools, the prices of which are some of the highest in the world for continued education. The need to find at least some form of funding for the degree is there for all but those who have full sponsorship from their current employers and, even then, company sponsorship may not always cover expenses accrued outside of program fees (travel and accommodation costs etc.) It’s therefore more than likely that you’ll need to use a little creativity, a bit of sleuthing around and some good old-fashioned research

to ensure you have sufficient financial resources at your disposal.

We decided to take some of the work out of your money hunt and asked representatives from top business schools to help us find some of the known and not-so-known forms of financing your EMBA when your employer is not fully footing the bill.

Top business schools giving away money

Once reserved only for the full-time MBA segment, scholarships have now

Chances are you’ll need to investigate potential sources of finance before you can enroll in

an executive MBA program. Here’s a look at some of your options in this regard, including a

few you may not have previously considered.

By Dawn Bournand



EMBA. We provide financial support to high-performing candidates who we believe can enrich our program.”

If MBA scholarships sound like a good idea to you, keep in mind that they are not always easily won. “We run a range of scholarships every year. Candidates apply for either a full or half scholarship,” says Andy Adcroft, acting head of Surrey Business School and a former program director at the school. Then the fun begins: “Those we decide to sponsor are chosen through an intensive assessment where they are interviewed, have to pitch themselves to a panel of faculty, business people and alumni, carry out group tasks with people they have never met before and show how they can crunch data and reach robust decisions under pressure.” All of which is great preparation for the executive MBA program ahead.

MBA scholarships vs. grants

Much like MBA scholarships, grants allow students to get MBA funding to pay for their tuition without having to pay the money back. Often given by government entities or large companies, grants aim to support program participants that fit certain criteria. Ashley Arnold, formerly the director of MBA recruitment for EMBA programs at Henley Business School, points applicants to The Grants Register,

published by Palgrave Macmillan: “[It is] the most authoritative and comprehensive guide available about postgraduate grants and professional funding worldwide. Each entry has been verified by the awarding bodies concerned ensuring that every piece of information is accurate. As an annual publication, each edition also provides the most current details available today. Copies are available in the reference section of most public libraries.”

MBA scholarships and grants are not the only sources of funding out there, though; there are a number of foundations and organizations looking for candidates that might just fit the cause or population segment you align with. Dan-Thi Nguyen, communication and recruitment manager at HEC Lausanne says, “as we are part of a public institution, HEC Lausanne does not offer any scholarships. However, we serve as a link to the MBA for Women Foundation that provides financial support to ambitious women from Germany, Switzerland and Austria who want to do an MBA at a leading business school.” Many such foundations exist, based around a variety of issues, so be sure to ask the financial aid office at the school to which you are applying if they know of any that might be a perfect match for you. A quick Google search will always get your research started nicely and help you narrow down where

you can seek out further information on sources of EMBA finance.

Education tax credit

When most people hear the word ‘taxes’ they want to run the other way, but when it comes to higher education, the taxman may actually be on your side for once. As Christo Nel, program director of the international and executive MBA programs at Nyenrode Business Universiteit explains: “Professionals working in the Netherlands can make use of the tax deduction advantages of the Dutch tax law for study costs. Depending on your salary and personal circumstances, you can deduct a maximum of €15,000 per year.”

Education tax credits don’t just arise from the country in which you’re studying, as Nick Barniville, associate dean for degree programs at ESMT Berlin, reveals: “Many participants take advantage of tax deductions, which are often specific to their home country.”

“Participants can enter the total cost of the EMBA program in the expenses section of their tax returns. This amount is then deducted from their annual taxable income thereby reducing income tax payments during the training period,” adds Marjo Jarvinen, global marketing director at HEC Paris Executive Education.

EMBA Admissions



to take the time to dig a bit to uncover all the sources of money that may be available to help fund your degree.

If you feel like getting extremely creative with your financing, you could also consider crowdfunding. The options are nearly unlimited with this increasingly popular approach to financing. By taking a look at platforms such as Indiegogo.com or Kickstarter.com, you can see what others are doing to gather money for their projects. Why not make your higher education a community venture? Offer to give mini-MBA classes each month on what you have learned, create a blog about your educational journey or interview fellow classmates to share with your crowdfunding investors. The only limit is your imagination when it comes to this particular financial resource.

With a number of tools and tips in hand, you should now be ready to take charge of your finances and leave the ‘no money’ excuse behind. Make your bank officer, accountant and school financial aid officer your friends and help them to help you make your EMBA journey a reality.

“Students enrolled in the McGill–HEC Montréal EMBA may also be eligible for the Canadian Education tax credit of C$400 per month. In all cases, candidates should contact their tax advisor to clarify the specifics of their situation,” says Marianne Vandenbosch, director of the McGill-HEC Montréal EMBA.

Salary sacrifice and employee benefits

Even if your employer is not willing to help with your MBA funding by paying for all or part of your pursuits at business school, you may still be able to work with them to gain a number of benefits, such as salary sacrifice or training leave. In France for example, as Jarvinen of HEC Paris, explains: “Employees have a variety of mandatory training entitlements. Participants may therefore be able to use the Fongecif (Individual Training Leave Management Fund) and DIF (Individual Right to Training) to fund their EMBA degree, if they meet the necessary prerequisites.”

Crowdfunding and other creative finance

When you have knocked on all of these doors, you may decide that creative

financing – be it bank loans, government learning plans or crowdfunding - is going to be your best option, or at least a nice cherry to put on top of these other options. A great place to turn to first is your chosen school’s financial aid office. If you’re a strong applicant, these schools are likely to want you in their program so it’s in their interests to help you find ways that you may not have yet thought of to fund your studies. For example, Chantal Poty, program director at EMLYON, points out: “We have one staff member dedicated to counseling candidates in order to optimize their financing plan.”

There are of course bank loans but what you may not know is that a number of business schools negotiate very enticing interest rates for participants, thereby making this a much more attractive option.

In Canada, “there is also the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP),” says Vandenbosch. “You may be eligible for the LLP which permits you to make tax-free withdrawals from your RRSPs (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) of up to C$20,000 over several years, to help with MBA funding.” You just have



EMBA Admissions

The Executive Assessment: A New Standard for EMBA Admissions?

also cites less preparation as a reason for offering the executive assessment, pointing out that the EA is, “designed to require minimal preparation and is significantly shorter in length, at 90 minutes.”

How is the EA being used for admission to EMBA programs?

EMBA applicants can currently take the Executive Assessment at 600 test centers and pilot schools are already receiving EA scores. For example, over half of this year’s applicants to the EMBA program at CEIBS took the Executive Assessment instead of the GMAT. The University of Hong Kong also reports that some applicants to its EMBA’s most recent intake (May 2016) had sat the test. Meanwhile, over in the US, Columbia Business School says that it has already accepted EA-takers into EMBA programs across its roster of offerings.

While the pilot program has only been in place for a few months, CEIBS is already advising EMBA applicants to take the EA in lieu of the GMAT: “CEIBS is recommending that candidates make the EA their first choice (of admissions test) and ultimately, it is hoped that all applicants will take this test,” states Tsikriktsis.

At the same time, however, CEIBS will be closely monitoring results from the first years of admission in order to ensure that there is a strong correlation between EA results and academic performance in its EMBA program. Data gathered by CEIBS will then be used to assess whether the

In March of this year, GMAC launched the Executive Assessment (EA), a business school admissions test designed for experienced professionals who are applying to EMBA programs. The test is currently being piloted at six business schools based across the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Why are these schools using the EA? How are the scores being used? We spoke with three schools piloting the EA – Columbia Business School, CEIBS and HKU’s Faculty of Business and Economics – to find out.

What is the Executive Assessment?

The Executive Assessment (EA) was created by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) in order, “to evaluate the business school readiness of seasoned professionals1.” Specifically, the test focuses on assessing skills deemed necessary for applicants to be successful both at work and within EMBA programs – higher-order reasoning, critical thinking, analysis and problem solving.

Designed with busy professionals in mind, the EA is shorter than the GMAT. The entire test lasts 90 minutes, is made up of 40 questions and has three different sections: Integrated reasoning, verbal and quantitative2.

As mentioned above, the test is currently being piloted at six different business schools: Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, HKU, INSEAD, London Business School and China Europe

International Business School (CEIBS). All of these schools are currently accepting the executive assessment as an alternative to the GMAT.

Why are schools piloting the Executive Assessment?

There are two main reasons why business schools are interested in offering the Executive Assessment. Firstly, the questions are tailored for EMBA applicants: “The new test was developed to more accurately measure the professional knowledge our EMBA applicants can bring to the classroom,” states Columbia Business School’s assistant dean of admissions, Amanda Carlson.

Nikos Tsikriktsis, associate dean and director of the global EMBA program at CEIBS, has a similar viewpoint: “The types of questions used by the GMAT are primarily designed for MBA-level applicants. The Executive Assessment uses questions that are more appropriate for the skills required of an executive-level MBA applicant.”

The second reason is that the GMAT’s time-consuming preparation process doesn’t always sit well with EMBA applicants. At CEIBS, “the level of preparation required for the GMAT was putting off some applicants, especially busy executives,” reports Tsikriktsis.

Associate dean (postgraduate) and marketing professor at HKU’s Faculty of Business and Economics, Bennett Yim,

Six business schools across the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific are trialing an admissions test

designed specifically for EMBA applicants. We asked three of these schools what they thought

of GMAC’s Executive Assessment and whether it’s catching on among their applicants.

By Nicole Willson



GMAT or the EA is the better predictor of success for a challenging program.

Applicants advised to “select the test best suited to their needs”

At Columbia, the EA joins the GMAT and GRE as one of three test options open to EMBA applicants. Prospective students, “should select the test best suited to their needs,” advises Carlson. HKU is taking a similar approach, according to Yim: “The Executive Assessment is an acceptable alternative to either the GMAT or GRE. One of the three tests is required.”

When it comes to how the scores are used, CEIBS and HKU say that they are being used to assess an applicant’s overall candidacy for their EMBA programs. At Columbia, Carlson states the EA scores are used to determine “readiness” for their executive MBA offerings as well as to identify, “skills that may need to be sharpened in order to be successful in an EMBA program.”

Clearly, it’s still early days for the EA - there is, as of yet, no proven method of comparing EA scores with GMAT scores, for one. “As it is the first year of operation,

finding a suitable benchmark is somewhat difficult, but GMAC has provided an approximate comparison with what an EA result would be on the GMAT scale,” states Tsikriktsis. Time will tell whether the EA will become a standard in executive MBA admissions, but at these schools the option of a shorter and more tailored test is already there and looks set to be an attractive one for their prospective executive MBA students.

1. http://www.gmac.com/executive-assessment/about-ea.aspx2. http://www.gmac.com/executive-assessment/about-ea/assessment-structure.aspx


http://www.gmac.com/executive-assessment/about-ea.aspx

http://www.gmac.com/executive-assessment/about-ea/


The EMBA Experience

Transferable Skillsand the EMBA

Executive MBA programs are traditionally taught in tightknit groups of 30 to 40 students who attend all classes together. The way in which you interact with your peers will determine the professional contacts you form outside of the classroom. Fellow students will come from a variety of different backgrounds with hiring authority or inner-circle contacts that could be hugely beneficial after graduation. Yet, wherever your career takes you, forming strong bonds with your cohort and

Enrolling in an EMBA program has advantages that extend far beyond the classroom. Programs come with a central purpose of honing and developing your skillset and, ultimately, boosting your employability. The EMBA student will likely find a focus on hands-on experience and applied business reasoning from the very beginning of their chosen course. Plus, it is a primary benefit of the executive MBA degree format that knowledge acquired on the course can be applied to your current role instantaneously.

Teamwork

An integral part of almost any senior leadership role is the ability to work well in teams. Whether this relates to group projects, managing staff or delivering presentations to a variety of people, a strong capacity for teamwork and consummate social skills are a necessity. For this reason, personal interaction in the classroom and in study groups is considered an essential part of the EMBA program experience.

In what ways can the knowledge acquired during an EMBA program be applied

instantaneously to your current working life?

By Helen Vaudrey



learning to work effectively as a team will stand you in good stead in any role you undertake.

Indeed, most programs will place their emphasis on working together and creating cooperative relationships, rather than inciting a sense of competition between classmates. Working on your teambuilding skills will teach you how to rely on others in order to succeed – something that should be directly transferable to your current work.

Increased confidence

The rigors of an executive program should also result in your displaying increased confidence in the workplace and this promises to benefit those around you as much as you. In addition, elements of the course that are designed to help you become accustomed to analyzing different business areas from the perspective of a CEO will provide you with a strategic perspective that, again, you should find yourself applying in your current role almost automatically.

The finer detail

Unless you have a background in finance or accountancy, tasks such as reading a financial statement can be somewhat daunting. Understanding balance sheets, cash flow statements and income statements are essential in senior management roles, especially when you have to determine the strengths and weakness of a business plan or analyze a company’s operating environment. While an executive MBA program will not turn you into an accountant, it will equip you with sufficient skills to know what you’re doing.

The more theoretical elements of the course can also make you more aware of the larger-scale business challenges, such as crisis management, by encouraging you to think critically while applying the practical skills acquired on other modules simultaneously.

Broader work opportunities

Honing your skills on an EMBA program can open up a variety of opportunities at

work. Students can dramatically increase their employability on graduation due to the highly sought-after skillsets they acquire. This is a particularly important consideration for those candidates who are self-funding their studies – though those who are sponsored or who choose to stay with their current employer more often than not enjoy a promotion.

Indeed, during the EMBA program, some students may find that they are offered new opportunities or bonuses from their respective companies as they build up their business acumen and knowledge. Employees who have acquired an EMBA are highly sought after in the job market. Plus, skills generated through an EMBA program benefit employers just as significantly (for more on the employer benefits of the degree, see our separate feature).



The EMBA Experience

Maintaining a Healthy Work-Life Balance During Your EMBA

If you’re out of the office for any period of time then it could be advisable to compile a short presentation or report for your managers about what you covered in your latest EMBA classes. Opening these lines of communication will ensure that your managers are aware of the skills you are acquiring – and how they can benefit the company – while you’re out of the office, and you should feel satisfied in the knowledge that your superiors are aware of these improvements.

In some cases, you may essentially be acting as a mediator between your lecturers and your company. If you feel like your workload is too demanding one week due to an incredibly busy period on your course, then allowances may have to be made. Allowances to cut back on coursework might be more difficult to obtain, however. EMBA degrees rely on intense bursts of study which can prove extremely difficult to catch up on if you’re not in attendance – and perhaps even more importantly, if you are not engaging regularly with your cohort.

If sacrifices must be made on time commitments, then it is generally advisable for these sacrifices to be made on the side of your company. Taking time off from an EMBA degree for work is counterproductive. In many cases, your company will be footing some, or all, of the bill for your executive education, so cutting back on your professional workload in order to maximize your potential on an EMBA is advisable.

Personal life; professional life - EMBA students often have plenty to juggle while studying. So is it any wonder that some students struggle to cope with achieving a harmonious work-life balance?

For many of us, waking up in the morning and trudging to work for the usual nine-to-five (or whenever you finish…) grind is an arduous prospect. We come home aching and tired and look forward to some relaxation in the evening – yet this is not the case for your average EMBA student.

An EMBA student is expected to complete program assignments, keep up with colleagues in the boardroom and spend quality time with their loved ones on a day-to-day basis. These expectations can be difficult to meet – unless you’re a superhero – so it’s important to plan how you can maintain a work-life balance while enrolled in an executive MBA program.

To take away the added pressure of compiling your own list of de-stress tips around your busy schedule (trust us – we get it), we’ve compiled a list of work-life balance tips to assist you in your journey.

Maintaining the ‘life’ half of a work-life balance…

It is fundamental to have the support of your family and loved ones before applying to an EMBA program. If your partner is not on board with you taking

on such a demanding workload, then this could cause ruptures in your domestic life.

Family and friends can also help you deal with stress relating to professional life. Taking days away from work and study with your loved ones, for example, offers some much-needed distance from the pressures of day-to-day life. Your EMBA cohort may seem like a new family as you delve deeper and deeper into your advanced business education, but don’t forget about your family back home! You will need support from both your cohort and your loved ones once enrolled.

Some business schools will host ‘family days’ so that friends and loved ones can experience what life is like for its EMBA students. Encouraging family members to engage with the program, even in a very small way, can open lines of communication about the demands of your course and how your family can deal with these demands as a unit. Showing that your business school is committed to helping you achieve a work-life balance is very helpful too, so be sure to research your chosen school’s stance in this respect before enrollment.

Maintaining the ‘work’ half of a work-life balance…

It’s not just your family that you will need to work harder at communicating with while studying. If you’re enrolled in business school, you will be required to leave the office intermittently for your program. Students and employers should be prepared for this in advance.

Are you concerned about the impact of an EMBA on your work-life balance? Here are a few

things to think about in advance of enrolling in a program to help you avoid unwanted stress

and disruption.

By Helen Vaudrey



Dealing with stress though lifestyle choices

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is paramount to achieving a sustainable work-life balance. If your body is not receiving a balance of nutrients then you will not perform to your highest standard at work, and if your body is not energized sufficiently then you will not have the drive to commit to family time at home. A healthy lifestyle is proven to be a fruitful way of dealing with stress, (sorry, we couldn’t resist!)

However, being healthy is not only achieved through the food you eat. Getting the right amount of sleep and exercising regularly is also crucial to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Sleep and exercise consistently appear in any consideration of work-life balance. It is generally recommended, for instance, that adults get around eight hours of sleep a night so that they can function at their best. Failure to do this can result in fatigue and a grumpy disposition. Nobody wants to deal with an irritable and disengaged person in

the boardroom, and even less so in a tight-knit cohort!

The prospect of cramming exercise into an already busy schedule can seem like a daunting prospect if you are worried about how your work-life balance can be maintained during an EMBA. Surely, taking an hour out to exercise will deflect either from your family time or studies? Well, actually this is not the case. Exercise is a great way to wind down and release any tension you may be feeling in relation to your work or personal life. If your workload is heavy and you’re feeling a little out of control of the factors around you, then exercising can help you to regain a feeling of control in your life. It offers the chance to boost your adrenalin and leave you with a positive mood for the ensuing hours of your day or evening. Recognizing the importance of your general health while enrolled in an EMBA degree is essential in achieving a good work-life balance.

Find the right EMBA format

Would you suit an evening EMBA or a weekend EMBA? Would you prefer one

year of intensive study or to have your course spread out over two years? These factors are all the more important if you have a family to think about.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that EMBA programs encompassing international travel will often require a bigger investment of your time, as well as money. Students who jet from country to country to attend weekend lectures will spend a large chunk of time living out of a suitcase. While this might sound like the more glamorous and adventurous option for some people, for others it would be entirely unsuitable and impractical.

Consult your company and the people close to you when researching EMBA programs. A work-life balance depends on you making the correct decision for your family, your company and yourself. As stated earlier, some business schools cater towards students with family commitments or an unusually heavy workload to consider, while other programs actively encourage a fully immersive globetrotting executive lifestyle.



The EMBA Experience

Leadership Development and the EMBA Experience

was mobile and working for an international company. It was also necessary to make the program as convenient as possible because I had a family and was often traveling for work. Having pre-selected my three programs, I ended up choosing Kellogg-WHU and it was one of the best choices I have ever made!

How can EMBA students maximize their time and experience during the program?

During the EMBA program, I really encourage students to: Take the time to develop a strong network and nurture it; formulate a career development plan; be open-minded; participate in discussions as much as possible and to not be too shy to share your point of view; lastly, bring fresh ideas to your workplace.

What challenges can EMBA students expect and what is the best way to deal with them?

An EMBA program is an investment, both a personal and financial one. It is also a commitment to your employer, your family and to yourself. Finally, it is an adventure - a physical, emotional and mental one! These are the challenges. You will enjoy the program and succeed if you build strong relationships with your classmates and encourage each other, as well as by being curious, staying focused and, most importantly, finding a balance.

What are the rewards of an EMBA?

You will be part of a strong network for life – Kellogg-WHU is my second family - and the EMBA degree will give you access

Aude Slama graduated from the executive MBA program offered between the US’s Kellogg School of Management and Germany’s WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management (Kellogg-WHU) in 2011. Having previously worked as a human resources manager at Goodyear in Luxembourg, the EMBA degree enabled Slama to pursue new career opportunities in the field of human resources in the US, first with Eaton Aerospace and then with ClubMed, where she served as the vice president for human resources, North America.

Yet, three years on from business school, the mother of two decided to go it alone and founded international executive search firm, Slama Global Search, in Florida. Now, in addition to her work with clients and executives across the globe, the EMBA

alumna is also able to provide career coaching services to current students of the qualification.

Why did you decide to enrol in an executive MBA degree?

I decided to do an EMBA for the following reasons:

• To become a leader in my field. The EMBA program helps you develop yourself as a leader.

• To interact with a diverse group of professionals who had, like myself, managerial experience.

• To broaden my scope. I wanted to own a P&L (profit and loss) and support a business unit. In order to get there, I needed to develop myself in certain areas (for example, in finance).

• To access a quality network. Sharing best practices and developing partnerships is very important to me. Being able to reach out to fellow alumni or students all around the globe, and at any time, is a real added value.

What advice can you give to those who are thinking of embarking on the EMBA journey?

To take my decision, I followed the following steps: I started the process early (at least six months prior to the application submission deadline). I asked myself, “what is important to you?” based on where I was at with my career. From there, I pre-selected three programs. Then, I met with alumni and faculty members of my chosen programs and made my final choice.

Regarding my own experience, it was important to me to join a global program as I

A graduate of the Kellogg-WHU program, Aude Slama, tells us how the executive MBA has

benefited her career and discusses the importance of career coaching services alongside a

program’s leadership development component.

By Sophie Mathiaut



to leadership opportunities. In my case, I became wiser and a better listener. I also became more confident - confident in my development as a leader and member of the executive committee at work, and confident outside of work.

Aside from your work in executive search, you also provide EMBA coaching services; how did you get into coaching?

In executive search, we develop relationships with clients, but also with candidates. When a candidate reaches out to me, I like to spend some time with him/her - to understand where they stand in their career and to see how I can help. Assisting EMBA students therefore came

naturally and, indeed, both services are closely linked.

What difference does coaching/leadership development within an EMBA program make?

Today, most business schools offer a leadership program in the EMBA. These programs help students figure out where they stand in terms of leadership skills development, define their developmental plan and understand what they should focus on next.

In my opinion, the real added value, I would even say ‘competitive advantage’ to a business school’s leadership program is its career coaching services. Indeed, it acts

as a bridge between the business school and the student’s professional status/job.

Once this service is in place, the student can discuss their performance in the school’s leadership component with his career coach and determine the best way to bring this information to their boss or HR representative at work and start a constructive career discussion in the workplace. Alternatively, if a student is in a time of career transition, the coach can provide customized services that help with the following: Writing an executive résumé; branding the candidate’s profile; creating the candidate’s story or elevator pitch; determining sectors/positions of interest; and preparing for interviews.


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The EMBA Experience

Career Coaching During and After the EMBA

Most EMBA programs have a leadership development component within their curriculum, how effective are those workshops in your opinion?

It is interesting to listen to my EMBA clients relay their perspective on leadership development as their program unfolds. Each business school teaches this subject differently, confidently and professionally. Every graduate completes the program with a grounding in the attributes required to advance their leadership development and career. However, there have been incidents in which some of my EMBA clients have had difficulty in strategizing and applying the lessons learned in the EMBA’s leadership development programs into a workplace environment.

You’ve been coaching a lot of EMBA participants and graduates, what are their biggest challenges/concerns and how do you help them overcome these hurdles?

As I mentioned earlier, the root of their challenges/concerns stems from not knowing how to market themselves in their résumé, on social media sites, and in-person. This is why I decided to expand my EMBA coaching and launch EMBA Career Coach. My service offerings have been strategically crafted to help EMBA clients overcome these hurdles. Clients learn to leverage what they have with what they want, share lessons learned with colleagues, and build a network of influencers to help manage their career.

After close to 20 years of distinguished service in law enforcement, Martin Buckland started Elite Resumes to provide people with résumé help and successful job-search strategies. Since then, he has come to specialize in career management for senior executives, becoming a career management expert for the EMBA program at Ivey Business School in 2008 and establishing a site dedicated to the coaching needs of EMBA graduates, EMBA Career Coach, in 2015. In this interview, Buckland offers some insights into the importance of career coaching both within the confines of an EMBA program and after participants graduate.

You provide résumé critiques and coach executive MBA graduates; how did you get into career coaching?

I got into career coaching to solve gaps in the market. In working with clients, I

repeatedly heard complaints regarding the lack of quality coaching, particularly at the senior and EMBA levels. I have learned, no matter what country your career resides in, there remains a lack of knowledge on how to manage your career from this day forward, and my goal is to help as many people as possible discover their strengths, assets and attributes to land their ideal job.

You provide coaching services during as well as after the EMBA; how important is executive coaching for an EMBA participant? What is the value-add of executive coaching in your opinion?

Committing to an arduous EMBA program, from both an academic perspective as well as the commitment away from family and friends, is a massive undertaking. As an individual goes through the program, there are peaks and valleys in energy levels and focus, and this is where I play a role in turning negativity and self-doubt into positivity with an emphasis on the end goal.

However, in my years of working with EMBA clients, there seems to be a greater need post-graduation as clients hit a roadblock concerning next steps. Questions I repeatedly hear are: How do I market myself after getting my EMBA? What are the new tools and job-search strategies I should be using to align my freshly acquired leadership skills with executive appointments? I think this is where the maximum ROI on executive coaching really lies, in educating graduates on how to take their career to the next level, climb that ladder of success, and ultimately, reap the rewards of an EMBA designation.

A look at the value of career coaching for EMBA students and graduates with executive

career management professional, Martin Buckland.

By Sophie Mathiaut

2/9/16 12:44 PM FINAL_EMBA FALL 16.indd 27 22/08/2016 13:51


EMBA Outcomes

Life After EMBA: Career Advice for Graduates

students often want to demonstrate their abilities as quickly as possible. But, it’s important to listen, learn and understand situations, before putting the outstanding EMBA skills developed from the program to use.”

Michael Schmidt, formerly the director of marketing for the OneMBA and EMBA programs at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School (now associate director with the school’s MBA Career Management Center).

3. Share your knowledge

“Share what you have learned with your colleagues and different stakeholders in your company so as to contribute to the

Although you may still be at the stage of considering an EMBA and have not yet even filled in your first application, it is never a bad idea to keep the end in sight while moving forward! So, with that in mind, TopMBA.com often asks top business schools around the world for the career advice they would offer to new EMBA graduates that can help them take full advantage of their degree. Here are 10 of our favorite areas of advice from our conversations over the past year:

1. List your priorities

“The workload often piles up towards the end of the course so take time to sit down and make lists of your professional and

personal priorities in the six months after you graduate, to keep you focused on your goals in the months after the course finishes.”

Kathy Harvey, associate dean for the MBA and executive programs at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

2. Act humble

“Continue to act humble. Having an EMBA degree is an excellent differentiator; however, within organizations, individuals with MBAs may be viewed differently – for better or worse – than those who don’t have the degree. An EMBA will provide individuals with a tremendous skillset and

How can you make best use of your executive MBA degree after you graduate? Here are 10

of our favorite pieces of career advice picked up in conversation with program directors and

school representatives.

By Dawn Bournand



organization’s learning as a whole.”

Chantal Poty, executive MBA program director at EMLYON.

4. Take charge of your career

“Take proactive charge of thinking about and developing your career – the days of relying on so-called ‘career planning and progression’ that is managed by the organization are long gone. Instead, organizations that are serious about talent management create an environment that stimulates thinking and provides growth opportunities for talented people. In that sense, an organization is a ‘supermarket of learning and career growth,’ but the individual must do their own shopping!”

Christo Nel, international and executive MBA program director at Nyenrode Business Universiteit.

5. Make an impact

“In short, we’d say have an impact. Whether it’s at work, in private projects, or in the community, use your knowhow and your networks to have a positive impact. The design of our program certainly helps in this, providing lots of opportunities for the participants to take their learning back into their organizations. It’s a great way to ensure that the tuition doesn’t just benefit one person, but many within the company as

well, and you don’t have to wait until you graduate to do so.”

Marianne Vandenbosch, director of the EMBA program, McGill-HEC Montreal

6. Use your skills and knowledge

“Keep your skills and knowledge fresh by using them and building on them every day! An [E]MBA is not just a collection of tools, but an active mindset.”

Dr Marian Iszatt-White, formerly the director of the executive MBA at Lancaster University Management School (now director of the school’s doctoral research training program).

7. Network, network, network

“Before you complete your course, create a network map of all the contacts you have made in the two years you studied and make sure you keep in touch with your peers. You should never underestimate the power of your EMBA network.”

Kathy Harvey, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

8. Seize the opportunities

“Dare to apply everything you have learned during the program and seize all the opportunities that an EMBA opens up – increased responsibility, promotion,

implementing innovation, changing career, networking, launching a business venture…”

Marjo Jarvinen, global marketing director at HEC Paris Executive Education.

9. Follow your dreams

“Follow your dreams, stay true to yourself, and be brave enough to explore and take new opportunities to become who you always wanted to be.”

Dan-Thi Nguyen, communication and recruitment manager at HEC Lausanne.

10. Integrate your employer

“One sure way to manage success after an EMBA program is to integrate your employer in the program experience from the first day. Certainly, this means including them in your decision and hopefully having their full support during the program, both financially and from the perspective of time management. It is also important to work with your company and school to find ways to integrate as many aspects as possible, including career advice and hiring, networking, EMBA projects and milestones, or having your company CEOs and vice presidents active as speakers or even guests in the classroom.”

Nick Barniville, associate dean for degree programs at ESMT Berlin.



EMBA Outcomes

Should I Stay or Should I Go? Career Progression After Your EMBA

considered satisfactory career outcomes at the outset may later seem not to be making best use of the experience.”

Finally, Witt believes the shelf life of study should be considered. “The EMBA is one stage in someone’s career or personal progress. Within a couple of years the student will want to capitalize on it. If they cannot do so within their

It is well known that an executive MBA degree offers unparalleled career progression opportunities to ambitious professionals who make the commitment to step into the business school classroom. But, like many EMBA graduates, you may be faced with an important decision upon graduation: what is your next move? Equipped with your new knowledge and EMBA skillset, should you continue working with your current employer or is quitting your job, or even your industry, a better option?

Assessing your career progression

Cana Witt, an MBA careers advisor at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS), says there are several key elements that, as an executive MBA candidate, you should weigh up when deciding between quitting your job and staying with you current employer.

“A candidate should look at the extent to which the employer is supporting their EMBA study and their reasons for doing so,” Witt says. “Will opportunities to test and implement learning be offered during study? Will the employer value the employee’s enhanced skills and have an open-minded view about career advancement, or was study leave offered as an appeasement or retention tactic of some kind with no real option of career progression?”

Witt also suggests candidates consider their reason for studying. “Is it to achieve promotion or a change of direction within

an organization, or to increase skills with a view to leaving in the future?”

Even if quitting your job was not initially your plan, it may become so, Witt explains: “The effect of newly gained knowledge is also a factor. To study an EMBA can be transformative and students return to work invigorated with new and different perspectives. What may have been

It’s not always easy to know where your best career options lie as an EMBA graduate, but

weighing up the pros and cons of staying put in your current organization versus seeking

opportunities elsewhere is a good place to start.

by Ann Graham



organization they will most likely begin to look elsewhere.”

Pros and cons of quitting your job

The financial benefits might sway a graduate’s decision. It seems that many of the highest post-graduation salary increases reported by EMBA graduates come from those who switch employers after completing the program. But aside from financial considerations, what are the benefits both for staying with an employer and for moving on to pastures new?

Three benefits of leaving

1. Salary increase: The probability of a salary increase upon graduation from an EMBA degree is higher for those who switch companies. The executive MBA gives a candidate greater negotiating power in any salary discussion and that is most easily achieved for new roles in new companies.

2. Greater advancement: EMBA candidates all have one thing in common: ambition. They’re not just satisfied with a promotion – they want it to happen quickly and to be challenged in their roles. Actively seeking out new job opportunities will allow for more targeted career

progression. Staying in the same company could stifle creativity and may not offer the same exciting and dynamic opportunities a new company – or industry – would.

3. Fresh start: “Instigating a move is a positive career step and gives you the opportunity to find the role that fits your new aspirations and knowledge, maintain upward trajectory and take control,” says Witt. “That said, it’s the devil you don’t know, so due diligence is crucial.”

Three benefits of staying

1. Familiarity: “The organization knows you, supports you, has invested in you, and may invest in you further,” says Witt of sponsored students. “You are working in a familiar situation in which you can immediately grow and apply your new knowledge and skills. The company will want to see a return on its investment, so you should be offered more complex and demanding assignments.”

2. Loyalty pays off: Staying with a company can offer career advancement opportunities in the long term. Career progression is often reliant on networks and relationships. Staying on in a company means people you have worked with

know what you are capable of. Building strong relationships with colleagues and managers can have a real impact on your ascent up the career ladder.

3. Increased value: The more you know about the culture, workings, processes and products of a company, the more capable you become in managing these business aspects. This makes you an extremely valuable asset in your overall company environment which can also lead to more than one future salary increase.

However, on the flip slide, Witt says one of the cons of staying is the risk of stagnation if the organization cannot move on with you. “It may not have the capacity or internal agreement to advance or change, which can lead to frustration and the desire to look elsewhere for a new role. A lot can happen in the two years it usually takes to complete an EMBA, so the candidate should mentally prepare to be flexible.”

All of these benefits need to be considered in the context of a candidate’s career plan, but whether you opt for quitting your job and pursuing a new challenge, or growing with your company, after completing your EMBA you are likely to face a win-win situation.



EMBA City Guides

EMBA Study Options: London

The annual Global Business Assignment gives the LBS EMBA its global element. Students engage in week-long residential trips to countries such as Russia and South Africa to learn how to conduct business in different cultural and economic environments. Students in international business-centric concentrations can also opt to take the assignment a second time for an additional cost.

At the central London campus, lessons are taught twice a month, though students are also expected to commit up to 20 hours to private study a week during individual study time. Most class-based work is conducted in study groups of six that are determined at the start of the program. The small groups are designed to assist students with the demands of their study and family life while also building on teamwork and leadership skills.

Tuition for the 20-month program is £72,795 (c. US$94k) which includes the cost of all course materials and some accommodation expenditure during international assignments and two residential modules in London.

Cass Business School

Cass Business School offers another highly-regarded EMBA in London. Programs are delivered on evenings and weekends so that students have the flexibility to work full time while acquiring new business skills and expertise.

The school seeks to prepare students for global management roles and offers Emerging Markets Consultancy Weeks with small and medium-sized enterprises

The metropolis of London has a booming private business sector, and is a leading center of scientific and technological activities. In addition to the financial hub that is the City of London, the city is also home to Canary Wharf and the global and European headquarters of some of the world’s largest banks – making it a hub of opportunity and commerce for EMBA students studying in London.

Here is a selection of some of the best schools at which to study an EMBA in London.

Imperial College Business School

Imperial College Business School is one of the most prestigious schools at which one could study an EMBA in London.

The school offers a two-year executive MBA program that combines theoretical learning and hands-on practice. Lectures are conducted in South Kensington, a royal borough of London, awash with quality restaurants, designer boutiques and cultural attractions. Students attend lectures for two days every three to four weeks in their first year to engage with core modules. In the second year, attention is focused on electives and a Global Immersion Week.

The Global Immersion Week is an international study abroad program that allows students to explore a country’s business culture and practices, paid for through course tuition fees. In 2014, for example, executive MBA students visited China to focus on the country’s booming economy and population, and the impact this growth will have on global business. The immersion week is designed to

assist students with their practical case studies through site visits and talks by top executives in countries across the globe.

The school also offers a unique option for students to take part in an Entrepreneurial Journey instead of an elective in their second year of study. This is an experience that challenges students to investigate the commercial potential of their own individual ideas or work on a project being developed by one of the school’s partners. Emphasis is very much placed on students forming strong client-consultant relationships.

The school requires applicants to have at least 10 years’ prior work experience. The average student age is 37 - with 38% of those being female. Total fees for February 2017 entry are £55,000 (c. US$71k) – however this does not cover accommodation for the time spent studying in London.

London Business School

London Business School (LBS), offers a 20-month executive MBA in London, or the same program in Dubai. One of the more diverse business schools in London, the school actively encourages international students to apply to the program with 28 nationalities represented in the EMBA class of 2017.

Leadership is at the core of the LBS skillset on which there is a focus from day one. Students are given a 360° assessment that examines their leadership behavior and establishes a framework to improve on that behavior through continuous personal development throughout the program.

Studying in London has many advantages for EMBA students. London is one of the world’s

international financial capitals and business schools in London consistently rank highly

among their European counterparts.

by Helen Vaudrey



in Argentina, Brazil or Vietnam. An international study abroad consultancy week, meanwhile, was first offered in 2003 and has since become a core element to EMBA study at Cass.

In this, teams aim to investigate and solve challenges facing their case companies throughout the travel week and have a further four weeks after departure to provide a concise list of recommendations to the company for analysis and assessment.

The Cass EMBA is also assessed through the Business Mastery Project in the second year. This is a self-managed business consultancy exercise that involves designing, conducting and managing every aspect of a project, addressing real business problems at chosen companies or industry areas. Many of these projects are conducted on summer internships in conjunction with the school’s career services. Past projects have included problem-solving in diverse areas such as travel and tourism, advertising and marketing, law, and stock exchanges.

The weekend and evening formats of the EMBA program both cost £44,000 (c. US$57k). Fees cover all textbooks, flights and accommodation for international consultancy projects, and professional development coaching sessions.

London School of Economics and Political Science

LSE offers the TRIUM Global Executive MBA program jointly with the NYU Stern School of Business and HEC Paris. This course provides a global curriculum for senior executives across five international business locations over 17 months.

Modules are designed and delivered by all three schools, to allow them to complement each other’s strengths, on learning retreats of one or two weeks over the 17 months, drastically reducing the amount of time that students are required to take away from their professional work – no student will be away from work for longer than 10 weeks in total.

Students on the TRIUM EMBA enjoy the

unique advantage of being offered a degree by all three schools, while also benefitting from accessing each school’s extensive network of alumni students.

The curriculum covers traditional areas such as finance, accounting, marketing and executive leadership but also offers a variety of contemporary topics such as social media, negotiation, global political economy and the TRIUM Capstone Project.

The Capstone Project allows students to bring their coursework to life by transforming business ideas into potentially life-changing startups. Students work in teams to develop a business idea from beginning to launch by taking advantage of the various skills acquired over the EMBA course and the alumni connections available at HEC Paris, NYU Stern and LSE.

The program requires students to have a minimum of 10 years’ work experience and costs a total of US$169,500 – which includes tuition, lodging in Silicon Valley and Shanghai, lunch and group dinners, an iPad, required books and materials.



EMBA City Guides

EMBA Study Options: New York City

program, while electives can be taken in the second year.

Another popular option is the executive MBA Saturday program. It is a 24-month graduate degree and is similar to the Friday/Saturday program, with the exception that classes only meet on Saturdays, meaning the course runs for longer. The school has also introduced the modular EMBA-Americas. The curriculum is, again, the same, but it is delivered in one-week modules that take place once a month over the course of 20 months.

Those interested in a more immersive global experience can also apply to the EMBA-Global program which is offered in partnership with London Business School and the University of Hong Kong.

Cornell Johnson School of Management

Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management is located in Ithaca in upstate New York. However, its EMBA program is delivered just outside New York City. The course is taught on weekends and lasts 22 months. Alternatively, the Cornell Executive MBA Americas (run in conjunction with Queens University in Kingston, Canada) lasts 17 months, and is delivered by video conference to selected boardrooms across the US and Canada, with three residential weeks on campus.

Cornell is the largest Ivy League university in the US; however the EMBA intake at Johnson is small and selective, so students

An EMBA in New York is inextricably tied to the city; an environment where students can enjoy nearly unparalleled access to masterclasses, speaking engagements and conferences in addition to proximity to the global corridors of power.

Here’s a selection of the some of the best EMBA programs in the city.

New York University Stern School of Business

The Stern School of Business is located on NYU’s Greenwich Village campus, often referred to by locals as ‘the Village’, a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan. The Village may not be as bohemian as it was in its 1960s heyday, but it’s still home to some of the city’s best old-time jazz clubs, bars, restaurants and delis.

NYU Stern states that its vision is to, “develop people and ideas that transform 21st century problems into opportunities” and to, “create value for business and society”. It is one of the oldest business schools in the world, founded in 1900, and it remains a leading research institution for anyone wanting to pursue an EMBA in New York.

The EMBA program is designed to have a strong global focus and students are required to undertake two ‘Global Study Tours’ to expand their multinational connections and immerse themselves in dynamic contemporary markets. Stern EMBA students can customize their curriculum to include a broad range of

electives and specialisms – not always common to EMBA programs.

The school requires students to have a minimum of six years’ work experience and the price of the program is a relatively high US$184,600. There is a maximum of 60 students per class with the percentage of international students being 40%, and women being 30%, on average.

Stern also works with LSE and HEC Paris to deliver the TRIUM Global Executive MBA – considered to be one of the world’s best EMBA programs.

Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School is one of six Ivy League business schools, and among the most selective business schools in the US. International community is at the heart of Columbia’s EMBA in New York, with admitted students assigned to clusters of students made up from all around the world in order to share their diverse expertise. All EMBA students also participate in an international seminar.

Columbia EMBA students come from a variety of backgrounds which include everything from banking and healthcare to law, media, and nonprofit work.

The school offers a variety of executive MBA programs with the most popular being the 20-month Friday/Saturday program, taught on campus at Columbia University by full-time MBA faculty. The first year of classes consists of the same core curriculum as the full-time MBA

New York City, home to the New York Stock Exchange, the United Nations, the Federal

Reserve and top media and financial companies, has been dubbed the ‘capital of the world’. It

is a center for global finance, fashion, communications, law and business – making it a hub of

activity and opportunity for EMBA programs and students.

by Helen Vaudrey



and faculty can work closely together; by design an intense, collaborative community.

Lubin School of Business

The Lubin School of Business has close ties with music industry employers such as MTV, Universal and Sony Music. It is one of the largest private AACSB-accredited schools in the US.

The school’s EMBA program is designed for professionals who require more flexibility in their study, combining online instruction with weekend residencies held in New York City every 10 weeks, over the course of 20 months. In total, an EMBA student’s time on campus will only equate to a maximum of 34 days – ideal for candidates who are managing a busy schedule.

Zicklin School of Business

Zicklin is the business school of Baruch College which was the first institution of free public higher education education in

the United States when it was founded in 1847. It is located in the center of New York and offers a 22-month EMBA program.

The school houses the Wasserman Trading Floor, the only full-featured simulated trading environment in New York and one of only a few in the United States. As part of the school’s finance center, it introduces students to professional market data systems and analytic software.

Classes meet one day per week and a typical academic year will have 42 class days. Lessons are taught in Manhattan on Fridays or Saturdays giving students exposure to the nearby Wall Street and New York’s company headquarters.

The school places emphasis on global study and students are required to participate on an international trip to business and finance capitals of the world during their second year of study to broaden their international business experience. Recent trips have included China, Hong Kong and the Czech Republic.



EMBA City Guides

EMBA Study Options: Paris

University (the school’s MBA provision is also run in a strategic alliance with

Those who choose to study in Paris, known as an (if not the) international capital of style, as well as the ‘City of Light’ and the ‘City of Love’, will find no shortage of things to do and see between their executive MBA commitments. Whether you prefer to fill your time between lectures strolling around the Louvre or simply sampling some fine food with your cohort in the famous Latin Quarter, your friends on social media are going to be very jealous.

Paris is ideally situated in Europe and has close geographic links to some of Europe’s financial superpowers – chiefly the UK and Germany. La Défense is Europe’s largest purpose-built business district. Significant corporations whose headquarters are located at La Défense include Total S.A. – one of the world’s biggest oil and gas companies – and the multinational banking and finance service, Société Générale.

Interested? Here is a selection of some of the best institutions at which you can study an EMBA in Paris.

HEC Paris

HEC Paris’s motto is, “The more you know, the more you dare.” Lecturers encourage students to adopt this value while enrolled at the school. The EMBA program at HEC Paris runs for 13 to 16 months and covers developments in management science in great detail. Students can choose to major in a variety of areas including: Aerospace & aviation, luxury brand management, entrepreneurship & innovation, and innovation & social business, to name but a few.

The executive MBA at HEC Paris also enables students to choose tracks that will see them major in classes delivered worldwide. These destinations include Bangalore, Boston, Cape Town, Doha, Milan, Montréal, Paris, São Paulo, Singapore and Toulouse.

ESSEC Business School

ESSEC Business School in Paris has partnered with Mannheim Business School in Germany to offer an immersive executive MBA with a truly global outlook. This partnership is intended to reflect Germany and France’s status as the driving forces behind Europe’s economic development.

The international element is delivered through tracks – students can study in both Paris and Mannheim by taking a week-long module every six weeks, to a total of four modules on each campus. Students also benefit from partaking in two international residencies in the US and Asia if they choose this modular track.

Alternatively, students can choose ESSEC’s weekend option – meaning that classes are every other weekend, Fridays and Saturdays, over 18 months. This option also allows participants to study at ESSEC’s campus in Singapore.

École des Ponts Business School

The École des Ponts Business School is located just 25 minutes from the center of Paris. The school runs an executive MBA program in partnership with the Fox School of Business at Temple

Paris has plenty to offer EMBA students. Aside from its famed cuisine and romance, it is also

one of the main financial centers of Europe. As such, Parisian business schools can be a great

option for those seeking a prestigious executive MBA.

by Helen Vaudrey



Solvay Brussels School of Economics & Management). The course runs for 18 months and is taught across one three-day weekend each month. Although students are required to study predominantly in Paris, they will also have the opportunity to study in Brussels, Philadelphia, Shanghai and Silicon Valley.

However, the international scope of École des Ponts Business School does not stop there. Thanks to the school’s partnership with Fox, students can also opt to take partner programs in destinations including Vietnam, China, Morocco and Poland.

The Solvay Ponts Global Executive MBA requires students to tackle a crucial business issue they face in their own company, something that allows them to showcase new skills acquired. Students

also develop a business plan, giving them the chance to design a business they would really like to start. For some participants, this dream can become a reality by utilizing the school’s facilities.

Sabi University

Sabi’s EMBA degree is a one-year program. Lessons comprise of prerecorded videos, residential and online workshops, and residential weekend/weekday classes.

ISM - International School of Management

ISM’s international executive MBA allows students to specialize in three different areas – general management, finance, or entrepreneurship and innovation.

The school believes that international

experience is essential in creating effective managers in the 21st century. As such, students are offered the opportunity to fulfill their degree requirements through study in Paris, New York, Shanghai, New Delhi, São Paulo, or Cape Town via seminars or e-learning.

Seminars are packaged as two-week programs so that participants can experience a country’s business policies and culture alongside their compulsory learning.

The e-learning element to the program allows students to be flexible with their study times – particularly useful for busy executives. E-learning modules remain open for a one-year period, during which time students can enroll onto a course at any time, after which they have up to three months to complete their required work.



EMBA City Guides

EMBA Study Options: Berlin

The city ranks among the top innovative regions in the EU according to the European Commission, and is known for its burgeoning tech sector – it even has its own ‘Silicon Allee’ to rival Silicon Valley. There is also a strong media presence in Berlin – media giants such as MTV Germany and public service broadcaster, RBB, have

Germany is seen as the powerhouse of the European Union (EU). It has the largest national economy in Europe, and recorded the highest trade surplus in the world, worth US$250 billion, in 2014. Accordingly, the German economy is one of the main engines of MBA & EMBA demand in Western Europe.

Berlin’s business districts are home to multinational organizations, such as Siemens and Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, and have significant MBA and executive recruitment programs. Berlin is now very much driven by the service sector rather than manufacturing, although Daimler and BMW continue to manufacture cars and motorcycles in the city.

Berlin offers a good selection of credible EMBA programs. The program fees are also

famously good value for money, particularly when compared to some of the EMBA program

fees applicable to institutions in North America. Those looking to study in Berlin will also,

no doubt, be very interested in the city’s many charms.

by Helen Vaudrey



offices in the thriving financial district, for instance.

Here is a selection of some business schools in Berlin that offer executive MBAs…

ESMT Berlin

Although only established in 2002, ESMT has fast grown in popularity with business students around the world. ESMT’s executive MBA in Berlin runs for 18 months and is taught in one-week modules that take place every two months.

The school has a global perspective, so two of the EMBA modules are delivered abroad with ESMT partner schools in Russia and Turkey. The school also runs a two-week module that takes students to an overseas country of current significance, depending on the year in which the intake enrolls.

ESMT also holds International Field Seminars where EMBA participants can try their hands at leading international projects inside global companies from all over the world. Recent seminars took place as far afield as China, Brazil, Vietnam, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Argentina.

Berlin School of Creative Leadership

The Berlin School of Creative Leadership is a nonprofit school offering an executive MBA qualification that can be completed in 18-24 months. The school is unique in that it does not seek to enroll traditional EMBA students from the finance sector, but instead targets people who work in creative industries such as film and music production, games, fashion, design, advertising and television.

The scope for MBA jobs upon completing study in Berlin is vast and this is clearly an attractive incentive for EMBA students wishing to hone their skills for management work in the media sector.

The program consists of five two-week modules. Three of the modules take place in Berlin while the other two are taught in Asia and North America. Students are taught by creative industry specialists in each international location where they will learn about everything from accounting and finance to media and entertainment branding. The school works with educational institutions

in each country to help students gain an understanding of different styles of leadership in creative industries.

ESCP Europe Business School

ESCP Europe Business School offers an executive MBA in Berlin that is also taught in London (there are also tracks available in Paris, Turin, Madrid and Beirut).

Classes are taught across two cities in order to maximize the networking potential of what is a close-knit group of participants. Students will also benefit from taking part in five week-long international seminars designed to explore a specific theme related to the business environment. In the past, seminars have taken place in New York, São Paulo and Brussels.

Aside from asking for a minimum of five years’ work experience and a graduate degree (though in lieu of this, they will accept those in high positions), the program’s only other listed requirement is to have high levels of motivation!



EMBA City Guides

EMBA Study Options: San Francisco

The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Wharton runs residency EMBA classes at its San Francisco campus that take place over long weekends. Students stay at the hotel, Le Méridien San Francisco, and study, eat and attend lectures as part of a team. All weekend residencies and the food costs incurred on these residencies are covered by the tuition fee lump sum,

Silicon Valley lies in the southern San Francisco Bay Area and is a hub of opportunity for EMBAs – though the city itself has also established itself as a technology hub in recent years. Google, Apple, Facebook and IBM are just some of the companies with headquarters, or a significant presence, in the area. Recent findings suggest that many business students are now seeking careers in tech rather than finance. If that sounds like

you, an EMBA in San Francisco might just be a good fit.

San Francisco is number eight, as of March 2016, on the Global Financial Centres Index, compiled by Z/Yen. Fortune 500 employers operating in the city include McKesson, Wells Fargo, PG&E Corporation, Gap, URS Corporation (acquired by AECOM in 2014), and the Charles Schwab Corporation.

San Francisco is a city famed for its hilly landscape, excellent restaurants, bohemian locals

and its cool, foggy climate, as well as its high quality of life and laidback atmosphere.

Although it is a major US city, it does not have the expensive living costs associated with

New York or Los Angeles – one of the many reasons that students flock to the coastal city to

attend colleges in San Francisco.

by Helen Vaudrey



and the school takes care of all logistics related to hotel reservation – so there’s nothing left for you to do but to get stuck into your EMBA studies.

The school’s San Francisco campus is located in the historic Hills Brothers Plaza. The facilities are modern and technologically advanced, featuring Cisco TelePresence classrooms which allow for a connected college experience between Wharton’s main campus in Philadelphia and San Francisco.

The Wharton executive program offers an MBA-equivalent degree but in an executive format, with both sets of students following the same curriculum.

University of San Francisco

University of San Francisco EMBA classes are taught on a consecutive Thursday, Friday and Saturday one weekend every month over a total of 20 months. Lectures take place at the University of San Francisco’s downtown campus, at the heart of San Francisco’s business district.

The EMBA program is designed for professionals who have at least eight years of working experience and two to three years’ experience in a management position. The program structure is theoretical and knowledge-based. Business

acumen plays an integral part of the learning experience in an environment where a global outlook and academic mindset is encouraged in the classroom.

Anybody interested in this course is encouraged to attend one of the popular experience days run regularly by the faculty. These see prospective applicants attend a day of lectures, eat lunch with current students enrolled on the course and pose their own questions to staff and students in an informal and relaxed setting.

UC Berkeley-Haas

The Berkeley-Haas EMBA is a 19-month campus-based program. Students will gain the same MBA degree as full-time MBA participants but will learn in an environment that is specifically tailored to fit in with an EMBA candidate’s professional needs. Students stay at the same hotel during class blocks so that they can form strong bonds.

25% of the executive MBA program at Berkeley-Haas is experiential, with immersion trips taking place once a term, allowing students to gain authentic leadership experience and on-the-ground insights. Past immersion weeks have taken place in Silicon Valley, with students meeting with founders, CEOs and VPs that have influenced the world of business over the years.

EMBA participants are encouraged to question the status quo and think outside the box while they study. The school’s Lester Center for Entrepreneurship is an internationally-recognized research and innovation hub for those of an entrepreneurial bent.

San Francisco State University

The College of Business at San Francisco State University accepts people onto the course even if they are from nontraditional EMBA backgrounds, and applicants are encouraged to apply to the program regardless of their undergraduate degree.

All classes are taught in the heart of San Francisco’s business district at the university’s downtown campus. Cohorts are encouraged to form a tight, supportive network that represents a broad cross section of the business world. Participants complete the program part time over the course of 22 months.

The curriculum balances theoretical and applied learning through class visits, case studies, monthly thought leadership speakers and group work. Because of the university’s strong ties with tech companies in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, past alumni have gone on to work for Apple, Genetech and Microsoft.


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Class Profiles

EMBA Class Profiles in Europe

Getting to know the other members of members in an executive MBA program is often facilitated, and even insisted on, by the business school at which you study through pre-program meet-ups and networking events, for example. If you can get to know your cohort early on, you will find it easier to enjoy the benefits of a cohesive EMBA community spirit that develops throughout the program and beyond its conclusion – something that many graduates cite as one of the most valuable aspects of their executive MBA study.

Participants in EMBA programs available from business schools in Europe come from across the globe and from a variety of backgrounds, adding value to the cohorts they join.

The class profile information displayed over the following pages are intended to illustrate this point by showcasing the wide range of industries from which students enrol–from financial services and manufacturing to healthcare and law. Diversity is of the utmost importance to these programs, as it informs the depth and breadth of knowledge within the class as a whole.

It is this community from which EMBA students gain access to a range of different perspectives, creating a dynamic learning environment during classes. Each person brings their own individual outlook and skills to these classes, whether they are from traditional business backgrounds or not–it is a myth that only financial-minded students are capable of achieving an executive MBA!

The group-study components or team assignments in an EMBA degree ensure that individuals bring the benefits of their distinct expertise to the table. These individuals are the essential building blocks of your community, just as you inform the strength of theirs.

An overview of why diversity in the EMBA classroom is considered to be so important,

ahead of a visual analysis of class profile data for seven programs available in Europe.

By Tim Dhoul



ESCP Europe Executive MBA

37 yearsAverage Age

13 yearsAverage Professional Experience

Geographic Representation

Top Industry Sectors %

WesternEurope73.8%

SouthAmerica

2.9%

NorthAmerica

2.9%

EasternEurope5.8%

MiddleEast

73.8%

Africa7.8%

Asia1.9%

Australia1.9%

Manufacturing 25.2

IT/Telecommunications 19.4

Finance/Accountancy/Insurance 13.6

Transportation/Utilities 11.7

Healthcare/Medicine 5.8

Media/Communications 4.9

Oil & Gas/Energy 4.9

Government 3.9

FMCG/Package Goods 2.9

Travel/Tourism 2.9

Consulting 2.9

Law 1.9

24%Female

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ESMT Executive MBA

36 yearsAverage Age




Energy/Engineering 27

Financial Services 21

Healthcare/Pharma/Bio-Tech 12

Consulting 10

Manufactuing/FMCG 10

Other 8

Government/Non-Profit 6

IT/Telecommunications 6

24%Female

Germany47%

Americas7%

Rest ofEurope

31%Africa/

Middle East9%

Asia6%



Oxford Executive MBA

38 yearsAverage Age





Petroleum/Energy 13

Manufacturing 13

Consulting 10

Consumer Products 8

IT/Telecomes 6

Non-Profit 5

Construction/Real Estate 5

Media Publishing 4

Education/Public Administration 3

Other 3

Professional Services 2

37%Female

UK24%South

America1%

NorthAmerica

20%

Europe(excl. UK)

16% CentralAsia9%

MiddleEast1%

Africa10%

Asia4%

Australasia3%

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20105_200x297_ALL.indd 5

IESE Global Executive MBA

38 yearsAverage Age




Aerospace Industry 7

Automobile Industry 2

Banking 10

Building/ Facility Management 3

Consulting 10

Chemical Industry 2

Education 2

Energy Industry/ Utilities 2


Food & Consumer Goods 7

Health Care Industry 5

International Technology 7

Logistics 5

Manufactuting 12

Marketing 2

NGO/ Logistics 5

Retail 2

Telecomunications/ Defence 10

EuropeanUnion38%

LatinAmerica

9%

NorthAmerica

16%

MiddleEast

73.8%

Africa9% Asia/

Pacific15%



London Business School Executive MBA




Finance 33

Consultancy 11

Energy 6

IT 6

FMCG 4

Leisure/Retail 4

Manufacture 4

Public/Not-for-profit 3

Legal 2

Entertainment 1

Healthcare 1

HR/Recruitment 1

Other 24

24%Female

UK32%South

America1%

NorthAmerica

10%

Europe(excl. UK)

26% CentralAsia9%

Africa/Middle East

10% ASIA20%

Australa/New Zealand

3%



20105_200x297_ALL.indd 7

Cass Business School Executive MBA

34 yearsAverage Age




Finance 32%Banking 7%IT 9%Law 7%Transport 5%Healthcare 2%Constrution 2%Consultancy 2%Education 2%Energy 2%Insurance 2%Manufacturing 2%Non-profit 2%PR 2%Real Estate 4%Leisure and Retail 4%Professional Services 2%Technology 3%Trading 2%

23%Female

UK61%

NorthAmerica

5%

Rest ofEurope

25%Africa/

Middle East7%

Asia2%



Kellogg-WHUExecutiveMBA

37 yearsAverage Age



Germany24%

NorthAmerica

4%

Rest ofEurope (EU)

30%

Asia4%

LatinAmerica

4%


Finance/Banking/Insurance 18

IT/Media/Communication 13

Consulting 12

Production 10

Retail 6

Automotive 6

Chemicals/Pharmaceuticals 6

Energy 4

Raw and Building Materials 4

Logistics/Trainsportation 4

Construction/Real Estate 4

Other 18


Student Profile

“BI’s approach to teaching strategy has provided me a great set of practical tools that I can apply to my business today and in the future. Having access to the BI Alumni has really helped with our EMBA consultancy project and has

broadened my personal business network. In addition, the ability to study energy in the heart of Europe, at the prestigious

IFP School in Paris, was fantastic. Th e very high quality of lecturers/guest speakers enabled a depth of learning that was really eye opening. Simply put, both professionally and personally, the EMBA at BI has made a bett er me. I feel bett er equipped to take on the future.”Graeme Cooper, Executive Director at Fred. Olsen Renewables Ltd, EMBA Energy student 2015-2016

“Th e learning-methodology of cases and assignments practiced at BI really engages you, as it combines theory and praxis relevant to our own work situations. Moreover, the three modules abroad were rewarding. I

particularly enjoyed our experience at UC Berkeley. Being immersed in the Bay Area’s way of thinking about innovation

and entrepreneurship and learning from such a broad range of experts was truly inspiring. Learning from each other is such a big part of the EMBA at BI. Th e discussions, the late night studying and the fun outings have created strong bonds between us.”Unni Silkoset, Regional Director South Asia at Laerdal Medical and Laerdal Global Health, EMBA Global student 2015-2016

Th e Executive MBA programme at BI is nothing less than the crown jewel of one of Europe’s leading business schools. Th e programme is tailored for experienced professionals who want to develop their career in an international sett ing. Over the course of 18 months, you will receive advanced training in the fi elds of economics, fi nance and strategic leadership, taught by our senior faculty, as well as other leading international business schools.

Th e programme is divided into six intense two-week modules, which take place at some of the most prestigious educational institutions around the world, for example our entrepreneurship module at Berkeley, close to Silicon valley. At BI, we have developed some innovative learning techniques, inspired by how you work in real life. Case-based learning is extensively used, exposing you to a broad set of real life business problems that will give you an active role in the learning process. It is a hands-on approach to learning, and it gives you the opportunity to put theory to practise and develop your decision-making skills.

Th e Global track will give you an integrated view of all business areas in diff erent cultures and prepare you to take on more challenging leadership positions. You will learn about European regulations and South America, and the business link between the continents. You will also be exposed to Asian business culture, with a focus on China and India. Th is track will take you to IE Business School, located in the heart of the fi nancial district in Madrid. Another module takes place at Nanyang Business School in Singapore.

Th e Energy track will give you a greater understanding of an industry in massive change, focusing on development of existing as well as renewable resources. With this unique programme, you will get an in-depth understanding of the synergy between the energy industry, policies and markets. During the programme you will learn from experts in a cross departmental collaboration. In addition to Oslo, classes will be taught in Stavanger,

Norway’s oil capital and at the highly respected IFP School in Paris. Th e programme also includes visits to major national and international energy companies, authorities and organisations.

Th e Ocean Industries track will provide you with skills and knowledge to prepare your companies to benefi t from the growing multi-use of ocean and coastal sea space. Th rough solving real life cases, you will learn how companies develop unique competitive advantages through knowledge, technology and customer relations, delivering value in new and more effi cient ways. Th e Ocean Industries track is aimed at managers and specialists with high ambitions working in established marine activities including shipping and shipbuilding, maritime supply and services, ocean and coastal tourism, port facilities and handling. Emerging ocean-based industries include marine aquaculture, marine biotechnology, deep-sea mining, and ocean monitoring, control and surveillance.

Class of 2016-17 overviewPercentage women: 24 %Nationalities represented:15Average years work experience: 12 yearsAverage age: 37 years

Tuition FeesTh e tuition fee is NOK 390 000 (divided into three instalments). Study materials are included. Th e tuition fee does not include travel expenses (fl ights and accommodation).

Admission requirementsUniversity degree (minimum bachelor) or an equivalent professional experience. Two lett ers of recommendation.Minimum 6 years work experience.GMAT test may be required.

Application deadline10 January 2017

Start date2 March 2017

Contactbi.edu/embaPhone: +47 46 41 00 04E-mail: [email protected]

BI Norwegian Business School

“Th e learning-methodology of cases and assignments practiced at BI really engages you, as it combines

particularly enjoyed our experience at UC Berkeley. Being immersed in the Bay Area’s way of thinking about innovation

“BI’s approach to teaching strategy has provided me a great set of practical tools that I can apply to my business today

broadened my personal business network. In addition, the ability to study energy in the heart of Europe, at the prestigious

Executive Sch ool Profi le




Véronique DELVIGNE-PHILIPPE Scientifi c director Lancôme InternationalE-MBA8

“Th e outstanding quality of the Sorbonne Paris Executive MBA CELSA gives you the tools you need for an in-depth,

international and 360° insight into the challenges facing companies today. Not only does it teach you new skills, know-how and ways of thinking, whatever your discipline, it is an incredible and unforgett able personal experience. Today I am International Scientifi c Director at Lancôme and my position involves a mixture of Communications, Strategy, Marketing and, of course, my core competency, Science.”

Dorin CARCEANUBusiness Process Analyst.E-MBA8

“Reborn. Th is is the fi rst word coming to my mind when I think to this unforgett able adventure which was CELSA

Executive MBA. I was looking for a program fi tt ing to my personality by valuing a human management, a collaborative approach and a multicultural environment. Beside all these, I discovered as well very competent teachers and amazing colleagues. I learned through practical cases and I discovered that everything is possible by sett ing up the right priorities in the professional and in the personal life. Now I am taking with me the whole strength given by this Executive MBA.”

Th e University of Paris-Sorbonne reputed for the excellence of its teaching and the CELSA, a reference in communications, human resources and marketing off er an innovative MBA programme with teaching about societies, cultures and markets, plus a comprehensive vision of all organisational activity.

Objective of the programmeTo consolidate the skills of executives and extend their knowledge and know-how to all areas of the conduct of business activity, so that they bett er decide and guide their organisation within complex multicultural environments.

Content of the programme• Fundamentals of management and

conduct of businessYou develop your competencies in the key areas of corporate management : strategy and organisation, fi nance, marketing, human resources, communication, auditing and management.

• Societies, cultures and marketsYou build on your knowledge of international societies, cultures and markets. You understand how they interact and learn how to integrate them into a development strategy and your decision-making.

• Social and human sciences, communicationYou benefi t from an innovative approach to the conduct of business thanks to a multidisciplinary approach to the teaching of the social and human sciences and communications, to grasp the social mechanisms and stakes involved in all intelligent business action. You also benefi t from CELSA knowhow as regards the integration of communications into all fi elds of management.

OrganisationPart-time EMBA for working executivesTwo end-of-week sessions per month• Two one-week intensive sessions• Study abroad tourLength : 18 monthsLanguage of instruction : French & EnglishStarting dates: March 3rd 2017Application deadlines: January 30th 2017

Class 2013-2014 overview:Size: 15-25Average age: 39Local students: 75%International: 25%Men: 40% Women: 60 %Degree backgroundBusiness: 50 %Engineering: 20%Communications: 20%Others: 10%Length of work experience: 15 years

AdmissionsDiploma from a French “Grande Ecole”University degree (second cycle)Minimum years of experience: 5

Selection:1/ writt en application form2/ interview in French and English

Costs:Annual application fees: 70 eurosAnnual tuition fees: 18,500 euros

Contact:Evelyne Durel+33 (0)1 46 43 76 [email protected]

CELSA Paris-Sorbonne

Véronique DELVIGNE-PHILIPPE Scientifi c director Lancôme International

“Th e outstanding quality of the Sorbonne Paris Executive

Dorin CARCEANU

E-MBA8

“Reborn. Th is is the fi rst word coming to my mind when I

Student Profile

© Olivier Jacquet. University of Paris-Sorbonne





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Alumna Profile

Justyna Rudnick aFinance Project Director - Tech DataEMBA 2014

“I have learnt a lot and greatly expanded my professional skills. But beyond this, I developed my interpersonal and leadership abilities, and this led me to feel more confi dent when speaking in public. Th e high

point of my experience was the rapport with classmates: we were very diff erent in terms of backgrounds and cultures, but rapidly became a tight-knit group off ering mutual assistance when the pace picked up! Without a doubt, the programme allowed me to meet exceptional people. Professionally, I was able to really boost my career opportunities and, just before the end of the programme, I joined another company.

Th e HEC Lausanne Executive MBA requires an intensive commitment but this is also what makes completing it so rewarding and the programme, itself, of inestimable value!”

Th e HEC Lausanne Executive MBA enables motivated managers and dynamic entrepreneurs to generate and implement new ideas that impact society. Th e programme is designed for ambitious professionals who are seeking change: taking on new responsibilities, moving up the ladder or switching career.

Why ch oose the HEC Lausanne Executive MBA?• Ours is a valuable and recognised programme:

you will benefi t from a curriculum informed by over 35 years of teaching experience. Th e course is accredited by EQUIS & AMBA and, for the past four years, has been ranked among the world’s top 100 Executive MBA programmes by the Financial Times.

• We off er evidence-based teaching: our professors, who are tenured to the faculty, leverage the latest research and specifi c methodologies to deliver courses developed to match the realities of operating in demanding, dynamic work environments. You will be challenged with new perspectives that require consideration of how your actions impact both your organisation and society at large.

• Immersed in a highly international

environment: situated at the heart of a key European business cluster, HEC Lausanne lies at the centre of important industry hubs such as fi nance, technology, sports and healthcare. Th e programme draws inspiration from all these industries to provide a unique teaching curriculum based on quality and innovation.

• Suitability to your life: without a doubt, the HEC Lausanne Executive MBA is enriching but intense. Preparing for classes and completing assignments requires time and eff ort, but the scope and style of the programme help you to maintain a balance in your working, family and personal life.

Curriculum HighlightTh e programme lasts 15 months and courses are taught in English. Classes take place on the Lausanne campus on Fridays and Saturdays every second week, with the exception of three block weeks. Th e HEC Lausanne Executive MBA is a hands-on programme in which you will work on real-life projects in order to apply new acquired knowledge and strategies.

You will pursue a chosen focus, either in

Healthcare Management or Corporate Finance & Management, to deepen your knowledge in areas of particular interest and relevance to your career.

Soft -skills & Career ManagementKnowledge of business concepts alone is hardly enough to make you a successful manager. At HEC Lausanne, you can enrich your learning with a suite of personal development modules, coaching sessions and a career management service throughout the entire programme.

Our Participants Make the Diff erenceLearning, especially in the context of the Executive MBA, is a social process where your classmates play a crucial role. We believe that it is our responsibility to create diversity, and select participants based on their professional experience, academic achievements, and personal qualities.

In our community, you will be surrounded by highly motivated people who hail from a wide variety of organisations and have worked around the world. Together, you will make the HEC Lausanne learning experience unique.

Program Type:Executive MBA – Focus in Healthcare Management or in Corporate Finance & Management

Class Profile:Size: 45-55 participantsAverage age: 39Female ratio: 27% - 40%Average years of experience: 13More than 20 diff erent nationalities

Start Date:September

Program Duration:15 months

Course Language:English

Tuition Fees:CHF34,500

Entry Requirements: • University degree or equivalent; • Min. 5 to 7 years of professional

experience; • Fluency in English.

Contact: [email protected]: +41 (0)21 692 33 91

Website:www.hec.unil.ch/emba

HEC Lausanne Executive MBA

Justyna Rudnick a

EMBA 2014“I have learnt a lot and greatly

19/02/2016 17:09





http://www.hec.unil.ch/emba

in a classroom. Th at’s why Hult’s unique curriculum teaches you theory and gives you opportunities to practice new business thinking by tackling issues facing some of the world’s most innovative companies through the Hult Business Challenge. Students choose either the Corporate Track, where they’ll solve a current problem facing a leading corporation, or the Entrepreneurial Track, where they’ll develop a startup idea of their own.

Maximum fl exibilitySeamlessly integrate your education into a busy work and home life by customizing where, how, and what you study. Hult’s Global Campus Rotation program enables you to study at any or all of our locations during your program according to your needs. Plus, tailor your EMBA with elective courses. We off er specializations in marketing, fi nance, project management, entrepreneurship, and family business. Finally, because traveling to campus may sometimes prove diffi cult, you can opt to take select courses online.

Hult’s part-time Executive MBA is for experienced professionals who want to expand their global careers without taking time out from work. Only Hult allows you to complete your degree over long weekends while immersing yourself in several of the world’s most infl uential cities, including Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai, New York, and Shanghai. Graduate with a global network in place by studying alongside students from over 130 nationalities, and networking with leading employers from around the world. Plus, with fl exibility to customize your program, you can seamlessly integrate education into a busy life.

Uniquely globalTh e new way to learn about the world is to experience it. Only Hult allows you to complete your MBA while immersing yourself in up to three of the world’s most infl uential cities. Plus, grow a global network by studying alongside students from over 130 nationalities—you never know where your next contact, investor, or business venture will come from.

Earn your EMBA in as little as 18 months with only 21 days out of the offi ceTo make the most of your time, you’ll study over three- and four-day weekends and can study throughout the summer to accelerate your learning. Th at means you can earn your degree in as litt le as 18 months with only 21 days out of the offi ce. Th e result is less disruption from work and fewer vacation days used for education.

Connect with international companies and headhuntersOur Corporate Development team works closely with Fortune 500 companies as well as high-growth midmarket companies worldwide to provide networking and career development opportunities. If you’re in the market for a new job, we can connect you with infl uential headhunters. If you’re not, use our alumni network to recruit and hire Hult graduates.

Put theory into practiceYou can’t learn business by just sitt ing

was able to move my activities to the other side of the world without any interruption. Hult is focused on study and learning, but at the same time friendly and uncomplicated. Forming relationships and sharing experiences with people from all over the world has enhanced my capabilities of dealing with intercultural diff erences in the workplace, and has given me a fresh perspective on business.”

Mario Almondo, President and CEO, Brembo China,

Class of 2015

Mario went from being COO of Ferrari to CEO of Brembo China during his Executive MBA. Th e fl exibility of the program meant he could

move seamlessly from our London campus to Shanghai without interrupting his activities.

“ I had more than 22 years of professional experience and was COO at Ferrari when I decided to embark upon my Executive MBA at Hult. I started the program at the London campus then shift ed to Shanghai to bett er suit my new position as CEO of Brembo China. I

Programs: Global One-Year MBA Global Executive MBA

6 Locations: Boston San Francisco London Dubai Shanghai New York (Global One-Year MBA only)

Employment statistics: $110,000 – Average MBA salary three years aft er graduation. 49% average salary increase one year aft er graduation for Executive MBA graduates99% of Hult graduates change either country, industry, or function.

RanKings and Awards:• Winner of the MBA Innovation Award–

Association of MBAs (AMBA) (2014) • Hult is ranked in the top 1% of business

schools worldwide by Th e Economist and Bloomberg Business

• 62nd Best Business School in the U.S. (Bloomberg Business, Best Business Schools 2015)

• 65th Best MBA Worldwide (Th e Economist, MBA rankings 2015)

• 19th Best Executive Education, Customized Programs, Ashridge Executive Education at Hult (Financial Times, 2016)

Global Executive MBA (Part-time):

Start Date:September 2017

Program Duration:As litt le as 18 months (part-time, studied over long weekends)

Total Program Fee:USD 85,000 (Boston)GBP 52,800 (London)AED 282,000 (Dubai)USD 75,000 (Shanghai)

Scholarships:Range of scholarships and fi nancial assistance available.

Application Fee:USD 150

Application Deadlines:Rolling deadlines from September to August.

Admission requirements:• Th ree or more years of relevant work

experience (Average work experience : MBA = 6 years, EMBA = 11 years)

• Bachelor degree or equivalent • GMAT or GRE (contact us to see if you

qualify for a waiver) • Evidence of English profi ciency, if it is not

your native language

Global student body and alumni networK: Students from over 130 nationalities and over 16,000 alumni worldwide

Europe: London +44 207 341 8555 Lucerne + 41 41 417 4575 [email protected]

Middle East: Dubai +971 4 427 5800 [email protected]

South Asia: Mumbai +91 22 4266 4322 [email protected]

Asia: Hong Kong +852 2111 2399 Shanghai +86 21 6133 6588 [email protected]

North America: Boston + 1 617 746 1990 San Francisco +1 415 869 2900 [email protected]

Latin America: Miami +1 305 648 9746 [email protected]

To learn more: hult.edu To apply: hult.edu/apply

Hult International Business School

Student Profile

Mario Almondo,

Brembo China,Class of 2015











Student Profile

Laurence Fornari

I am the CEO and founder of Ikon Associates, a digital video

strategic consulting company. I serve as Sales director at Labgency, a

VOD premium platform provider.

Aft er my Master of Science, my career foundation started at Th omson Th ales research lab, I joined Cadence in 1999, the leading provider of EDA and semi-conductor IP in San Jose, San Francisco Bay Area, in the early days of color screen and video-enabled embedded architecture. I then joined Packet Video, a San Diego based company in the

heyday of multi-millions start-ups (120Mi$ total founding’s). I pioneered the streaming video.

Aft er 10 years pushing innovation technology from US to Europe, I opened the European headquarter of a Canadian freshly fi nanced company Bluestreak, a rich media engine and platform provider. In 2010 I co-founded Ikon and Labgency.

Whithin the EMBA, I am involved in a team project looking for fi nancing with the goal to bring an emerging company to the viable commercial stage and expand internationally. Th is project aim is to emerge and seek fi nancing in 2016.

Th is EMBA program is well targeted to: Take a step back, get some fresh air and look at the overall picture, Network and meet people and expertise outside of one’s specifi c sector / function, Go back to basics, strong theory and new skill set such as fi nance and marketing, Meet entrepreneurs, start-upers and intra-preneurs in large corporations, Learn again and again the value of team building and networking

Th e fundamental reason for my choice to enroll in this Executive MBA was the desire to diversify my horizon and skill set, open up. My short term goal is to develop the new start-up I’m now involved in: Skylights and its 2D/3D Skytheater glasses.

“Th e Executive MBA “Leading Innovation in a Digital World” will develop your managerial and strategic skills and your leadership while giving you the ability to catch the opportunities of the digital economy.Taught part time in Paris, the program will take you to the heart of the major technology clusters in the United States, Europe and Asia.”Dr. Olivier Epinette, Academic Dean

Our Executive MBA is an intensive 18-month program that allows you to obtain an MBA without interrupting your career:• 1 one-week intensive kick-off seminar• 12 one-week classroom periods, every month

(except in August), in Paris (from Monday to Saturday included)

• 3 international study tours (Asia, Europe, USA)

Th e Business Sch ool of Institut Mines-Telecom(www.mines-telecom.fr/en/) Telecom Ecole de Management is the Business School of Institut Mines-Telecom. Th is group of the best French “Grandes Ecoles” in information and communication technologies is one of the leading higher education and research forces in

this area in France and Europe. With the joint expertise of Telecom Schools and Mines Schools, the full scope of high-tech sciences is covered. Under the aegis of the Ministry for the Economy, Institut Mines-Telecom is also a key player in supporting the creation of new activities and innovative business start-ups.

From its creation, Telecom Ecole de Management has integrated new technologies and information systems in all its programs. Our school has built its reputation on this unique learning experience, an expertise which its corporate partners readily recognize.

Being a TEM graduate will give you access to a very wide and international alumni network of 60000+ graduates.

Corporate partnersTh e following companies have a long tradition of close relationships with our school: Accenture, Orange, Societe Generale, TF1, ERDF, Canon, PWC…You will also have access to our business incubator. Founded in 2000, the Incubator has accompanied 150 companies that have produced more than 1,300 jobs. Our mission: To participate

in the creation of the best IT start-ups through excellence in entrepreneurship coaching and assistance.

Career ProspectsAft er participating in our 18 month program, you will be able to pursue your own business venture or work in positions of responsibility in innovation such as • Vice-President for Entrepreneurship,

Intrapreneurship and New Markets• Chief Digital Offi cer• Vice-President for Innovation• Chief Knowledge Offi cer• Vice-President for Research and Development• Chief Networking Offi cer• Chief Technology Offi cer

“Th e fi rst open & holacratic MBA to learn how to work across silos and survive in a rapidly-changing world!”Dr Albert Meige, MBA Director

Programme Type:Executive MBA (Part-Time)

Start Dates:April and October(Next intakes: 3rd November 2016 & 18th April 2017)

Programme Duration:18 months

Format:One week every 5 weeks

Entry Requirements:

Min. Years of WorK Experience:5 years

Min. Academic BacKground: Undergraduate degree

Online Application Form (+ CV, transcripts, 2 references…)Interview for Preselected Candidates

AMBA & AACSB accredited

Tuition Fee:€40000

Contact: [email protected] tel: 01.60.76.41.51www.telecom-em.eu/en/emba

TÉlÉcom Ecole de Management




http://www.mines-telecom.fr/en/


http://www.telecom-em.eu/en/emba

Student Profile

Suleman TejaniUnited States, IE BrownExecutive MBA“Th e blended model of

combining online and face-to-face is brilliant. Th e online methodology and online campus are phenomenal. Th e icing on the cake is IE and Brown coming together to add a humanistic element to business life”

Suleman TejaniUnited States, IE Brown

“Th e blended model of combining online and face-to-

IE Business School, founded in 1973 by a group of entrepreneurs, has quickly risen to the top of the international business school rankings, earning itself a reputation for innovation and quality, and is accredited by AMBA, AACSB international and EQUIS.

IE’s unique approach focuses on the entrepreneurial spirit and is dedicated to the business world at large. With over 80 nationalities on campus, and more than 100 nationalities represented in its global network of alumni, the IE experience is a truly global one.

Th e IE Brown Executive MBATh e IE Brown Executive MBA is a unique joint degree integrating a world-class management education from IE Business School with the breadth of Brown University’s liberal arts curriculum. Th is highly innovative program is designed to shape and equip refl ective leaders who inspire teams and organizations towards sustainable growth and innovation. By going

beyond traditional business frameworks, the curriculum challenges senior managers to examine alternative sources of information, consider multiple approaches to defi ning strategy, and hone the skills necessary to innovate across industries. Th e program brings together faculty from two leading academic institutions, integrating leading management thinking with wider perspectives from the humanities, social sciences, engineering, and life sciences. Th e program is based on a unique interdisciplinary approach, and was specifi cally developed by leading faculty members from IE Business School and Brown University to help participants excel in an ever more complex and challenging global economy.

Th e IE Brown Executive MBA program aims to develop leaders with a holistic view of business, who are more eff ective global citizens.

Part-time Blended MethodologyTh e IE Brown Executive MBA is a fi fteen month,

blended program for senior managers with notable experience, combining face-to-face interaction with interactive, online learning.

Th e program has been specifi cally designed for senior managers and entrepreneurs who wish to undertake a rigorous, intensive, and transformational MBA program without taking a break from their current job or responsibilities. Th e program’s blended methodology permits continuous, applied learning, fostering rapid assimilation and deeper learning.

Th e program’s face-to-face periods take place at the campuses of IE Business School in Madrid, Spain, Brown University in Providence, USA, and on location for one week in Cape Town, South Africa. Between each of the face-to-face periods participants stay connected online via IE’s interactive Virtual Campus. Th is enables participants to follow the program regardless of their geographic location.

Student Profile:Average class size: 30Average age: 37Average years work experience: 14

Previous studies :- Sciences: 10%- Law: 15%- Engineering: 15%- Humanities: 20%- Business: 40%

Nationalities :Angola, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, England, France, Germany, India, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, UK, USA

Regional breaKdown :Americas: 38%Europe: 27%Asia: 23%Africa: 12%

Start dates:IE Brown Executive MBA – March

Cost:IE Brown Executive MBA: $130,000 (total)(the tuition fee does not includeaccommodation during residential periodsor travel expenses)

ContactAdmissions DepartmentIE Business SchoolCalle María de Molina 1128006Madrid Spain

Phone: (+34) 91 568 96 10Fax: (+34) 91 568 97 10Web: www.iebrown.comEmail: [email protected]

IE Business School - MadridThe IE Brown Executive MBA




http://www.iebrown.com



The IE campus is located in the center of Madrid and allows students the opportunity to experience everything this great city has to offer. Madrid boasts a long list of museums, parks and gardens, palaces, modern and historic architecture, as well as having a great nightlife and being a very modern and friendly city. In addition, with more than 90 nationalities represented on campus at any given time, the IE Experience is a truly international one.

Visit us on the web at:www.ie.edu/business-school

Europe’s IE Business School is one of the world’s leading higher education institutions. A pioneer in business education, IE educates tomorrow’s business leaders with an entrepreneurial spirit which is inherent throughout our institution. As we were founded by entrepreneurs in 1973, we value the importance of creating and promoting new business ideas.

Although IE’s MBAs, offered in full-time and part-time formats, differ according to class profile, they are united in IE’s commitment to entrepreneurship, diversity and innovation. The MBA programs, including the International MBA, Global MBA, Executive MBA, Global

Executive MBA and IE Brown Executive MBA, have been met with worldwide acclaim, and have been featured highly in the Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Forbes, FT and Economist business school rankings.

Complementing IE’s extensive portfolio of Master degree programs, the Executive Education division offers training courses for executives through its seminars, conferences, forums, corporate training programs and consulting, building on IE’s commitment to providing outstanding education and training across the various phases of your career.

Program Avg. Age

Avg. Work Exp.

% Women % International Sectors

International MBA (Full-time) 29 5 29 90 Industry, Energy & Construction, Financial services, Consulting, Consumer goods, Telecommunications among others.

Global MBA* 30 6 30 96 Pharmaceutical and Healthcare, Energy & Mining, Consulting, Banking & Financial Services, Consumer Products, International Organizations among others.

Executive MBA* 35 10 24 97 Pharmaceutical and Healthcare, Energy, Mining & Natural Resources, Banking & Financial Services, Consumer Products, Telecomm, Consulting among others.

Global Executive MBA* 37 15 30 96 Manufacturing, Consumer products, Energy, Telecommunications, Public Administration, Real Estate, Technology, Financial Services, Nonprofits & Social enterprises among others.

IE Brown Executive MBA* 37 14 30 96 Telecomms & High tech, Energy, Consumer Goods, Legal, Consulting, Pharma & Biotechnology, Financial Services, Communications among others.

*Blended programs combine face-to-face periods and interactive online learning

IE Business School’s students are characterized by their diversity and commitment to entrepreneurship. Every year, we welcome students from more than 90 countries around the

world, each bringing their own experience and opinions, enabling stimulating debates in our classrooms. In addition, as IE was founded by entrepreneurs, we look for students who want

to drive change either within their organizations or through their own ventures.

Program Type:International MBA (Full-time)Global MBA (Part-Time)Executive MBA (Part-Time)Global Executive MBA (Part-Time)IE Brown Executive MBA (Part-Time)

International MBA (Full-time) Information

Start Dates:September 2016January 2017September 2017

Program Duration:1 year

Tuition Fee:EURO (€) 65,000 / Total ProgramCost

Application Fee:EURO (€) 125

Global MBA Information

Start dates:AprilSeptember

Program duration:15 months


MBA Entry Requirements:Min. TOEFL Computer Based Score: 100Min. Years of Work Experience: 3ieGAT, GMAT

Executive MBA Information

Start dates:AprilSeptember


Tuition Fee:EURO (€)55,200 / Total ProgramCost

MBA Entry Requirements:ieGAT or GMATMin. TOEFL Computer Based Score: n/aMin. Years of Work Experience: 10

Global Executive MBA (Blended) Information

Start dates:MayOctober



IE Brown Executive MBA (Blended) Information

Start date:March


Tuition Fee:130,000 USD / Total Program Cost

Executive MBAs Entry Requirements:Min. Years of Work Experience: 10Min. Years of Managerial Experience: 3No GMAT required

IE Business School - MadridThe Global Executive MBA

Executive School Profile

Student Profile


Executive School Profile


http://www.ie.edu/business-school

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