An EMBA can help you move into job positions you wouldn't be able to otherwise, and give you the the skills you need to start your own business.

Yvonne Winkelmann, 2006 alum of Kellogg School of Management, was able to move into the international arena within her job as a direct result of her EMBA -- something she wouldn't have been able to do without the qualification.

Daniel Burns, an Executive MBA student at TUM/HHL is using his EMBA thesis as an opportunity to devise a business plan, which he hopes to develop once he graduates. His EMBA has given him the skills he needs go off on his own and create a business.

Studying for this executive program will not only provide you with an insight into different managerial and leadership approaches, but also into different business practices.

Health professionals, public sector executives, as well as participants from NGOs, SMEs, family-run businesses, women and entrepreneurs are adding to the diversity of today's EMBA classrooms, enriching the cohort experience. The mix of professors and classmates allows you to gain a different view on the world, which will help you succeed in today's global business arena.

Ana Paula Reis is an alumna of IESE Business School and General Manger at Selplus. Her expereinces are common among many EMBA student: "I am amazed at how much I learned in the first week alone. It has changed my view on business and the way I look at the world. I'm making some changes to my company as a result. It is one of the best experiences I've ever had – seriously."

The key difference between a full-time MBA and an Executive MBA is the immediate return for you and your employer. As a student, you will walk away from each class with applicable skills and knowledge, as well as a holistic approach to understanding and solving business problems. The following week you can put it all into practice at your job.

For the majority of EMBA participants, the intense schedule is just part of the trade-off that sees them able to earn more and move ahead without interrupting their careers. The nature of the EMBA, which enables you to work and study at the same time, is incredibly relevant particularly in tough economic times. What's taught in the EMBA classroom relates to the current economic climate, ensuring that the skills and knowledge you acquire is not redundant. Professionals and experts from other industry sectors also gain from the general management skills they have reaped from the EMBA experience.

The international network you develop is one of the most valuable outcomes of your Executive MBA qualification. There are very few other places where such a unique group of people converge with the potential to form life-long friendships and, in some cases, business partnerships.

Kellogg-WHU alumni Peirre-Yves Rahari, VP, Head of Shareholder Services, PIMCO Europe Ltd says: "As an alumni, you continue to receive the benefits of the Kellogg alumni network for a lifetime. I feel that the network has really opened doors to me."

Such a network will remain with you long after you have completed your EMBA. In fact, the time spent studying for an Executive MBA is simply the beginning. It is also in the years after when you are applying the skills and tapping into your networks, where the real benefits of the executive program lie.

Added bonus:  personal challenge!

An Executive MBA is intense; it is a challenge, a test of your personal and professional ability, and at times a struggle. Yet struggle usually causes growth and as these top five reasons for studying an EMBA show. This is why getting your Executive MBA is an experience that is well worth the challenge.