An EMBA that fits your personal career plan

Whatever your career goals, an Executive MBA could be the boost you’re looking for to reach them. QS TopExecutive takes a look at what you need to consider when choosing an Executive MBA that fits your personal career plan.

Professional qualifications

At some stage in our career we all want to further our professional qualifications. It may be refreshing our knowledge of what we already know or embarking on a subject of study we’ve always had a passion in. While any further study is going to add to our professional skills and experiences, many of us want to ensure the qualification we ultimately choose to invest time and money into will benefit our career. That’s why, before you start researching business schools, you need to research qualifications. Are you looking for a program of study that will develop your area of expertise, or a program that will equip you with a distinctive specialisation? If so, you may be better suited to pursue a specialist masters degree. However, if it’s a helicopter view of management and business practices that you’re after – an Executive MBA will be best.

A global element

No matter where you are in the world, chances are your daily job requires you to work – and think – globally. Whether it’s communicating in different time zones, travelling to international offices, negotiating across cultures – having an understanding of international business practices is important. So will your Executive MBA give you this global element? Global EMBA programs allow students to undertake modules in different countries, giving them firsthand knowledge – and experience – of how business and management is conducted across continents. Alternatively, you may choose to study abroad for your Executive MBA. Either way, it’s important to take into consideration how your chosen EMBA program will equip you for the international business world.

EMBA network

Talk to an EMBA alum and one of the greatest benefits of their time in the business school classroom will be the network of fellow students they established. These professional, and sometimes personal, relationships allow for future business opportunities, career progression or simply social occasions where likeminded individuals are able to reflect on their EMBA program, and discuss the challenges and impacts their EMBA experience has offered them. What kind of network do you want to establish as part of your personal business plan? Individual business schools each have their own network of alum that you can become a part of, but do your research to find out exactly who this network is made up of. Does your chosen business school attract candidates in similar industries as yours – if so, the network of alums will be relevant for your own goals.  

Making impressions

Whatever your career goal, making the right impression counts – will an Executive MBA make the impression you need it to for your career? The Executive MBA is a recognized qualification the world over – what’s more, the skills and knowledge you acquire from experts in their field, within the business school classroom are portable across industries, cultures and business practices. But an Executive MBA is a significant investment of both time and money so it’s important to ensure that the Executive MBA you choose makes the impression you need it to.

Return on investment

Embarking on an Executive MBA is a significant financial investment – and one you want to be sure you’ll get returns on. Will you be able to recoup the cost of your EMBA program in the short to long term? Some of the ‘big name’ business schools charge in excess of $100,000 for an EMBA, yet other programs charge their candidates significantly less. While there are a variety of financial options available to fund your Executive MBA, it’s important to ensure that the return on investment can be met within your personal career plan.

It’s important to take your time when researching EMBA programs to ensure you find a school and program that fits your needs. You may also wish to think about other factors such as location, faculty, specialization, and industry connections.