Does your Career Need an EMBA?

By Dawn Bournand Updated Aug 31, 2018

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Introduction
Build your knowledge base
Master IQ+EQ
Make a career change

Does your Career Need an EMBA? main image

An Executive MBA could be just the program to help you broaden your horizons

There comes a moment on almost every career path, when the question “what’s next” is asked. Maybe you’ve started to feel restless and know it’s time to make a change, but you’re not quite sure what that change is. Could it be time to build on your current situation? To pursue a promotion? Or, is it time to look elsewhere? If even one of these questions has come to mind, pursuing an Executive MBA may be exactly the journey you’re looking for.

Build your knowledge base

If you enjoy what you’re currently doing at work but want to learn more, to dig a bit deeper and to become more proficient in your executive post, an EMBA program is a perfect place to build on what you know. Not only will you enhance your knowledge, you’ll also learn plenty that will allow you to progress in your job as well as prepare for future opportunities.

Paula Steisel Goldfarb, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Admissions and Graduate Financial Aid, NYU Stern School of Business explains, “The executive MBA program is such a wonderful way for students to accelerate their careers and it gives them the opportunity, especially as experienced professionals, to fine tune their business skills.

“The NYU Stern EMBA program also gives them the opportunity to learn from world renowned faculty members and to build a strong professional network of peers who are executives in a number of industries.

“We carefully select the students for the program, and with an average of 13-14 years of work experience, it’s a great opportunity for participants to learn from their peers, to gain real world experience and learn about different business sectors.

“Gaining a better understanding of what it takes to succeed in your job, as well as the job of those around you in a variety of fields, makes you a valuable asset to your company. Not only does this help secure your position, it also gives you a 360° view of the current business landscape and insight into what the future may hold.”

Master IQ+EQ

If your current position isn’t exactly where you want to be, you may have decided you’re ready to take your career to the next level. If you’ve considered career advancement or wondered what it would be like to move into the C-Suite, an EMBA is a powerful tool to help you make that happen. These prestigious executive programs are designed to take participants from mid to high level management positions and equip them with the tools and knowledge to become strong business leaders.

Steisel Goldfarb points out, “Our successful EMBA Candidates have IQ+EQ. They’re students who have academic success and professional achievements but also have self-awareness and emotional depth; a combination which is crucial for the success of today’s business leaders. “Additionally, in our program, participants learn how to solve business problems in a more complex way and are guided in how to navigate leadership challenges.”

Becoming a leader in your department and company takes preparation and a full understanding of what makes a business work. With the building blocks provided in an EMBA program these tasks seem less daunting; when the next promotion is on offer, you’ll be ready to step up to the opportunity with confidence.

Make a career change

Maybe you’ve decided your “what’s next” is a whole new career. In an EMBA program you’re exposed to many people, places and ideas, which will inevitably open your thinking. You’ll expand your ideas, as well as enhance your belief of what is possible. When you remain in the same career sector – especially in the same company – you tend to view things from the familiar angles you’ve come to know. Stepping out of your comfort zone into the unknown broadens your horizons and enables you to see things from a greater perspective. By working alongside students from a variety of companies, backgrounds and career paths, you can see options for yourself you would have never considered possible before.

As you explore all the opportunities, you also need to get clear on what you have to offer. Do a career inventory and look back over all you’ve done. Consider what value you bring, focus on what you’re best at, and figure out where your real expertise lies. Then, consider what you’ve most enjoyed along your career path; this is usually a good indicator of where you may want to use your talents next. The career sweet spot is when what you’re good at meets with what you enjoy.

The contacts you make during your EMBA can help with a career conversion if that’s the right step for you. Take advantage of the career counseling and coaching many programs offer and use the time dedicated to your studies to investigate where you would like to work next.

Whether your next move is lateral, horizontal or staying in place, the benefits of an Executive MBA will serve you well in whichever career direction you choose.

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Written by

Dawn Bournand

Dawn Z Bournand is associate director of the Executive MBA department at QS and handles editorial content for the department which includes serving as editor-in-chief of the QS TopExecutive Guide. Along with two of her QS colleagues, she recently wrote the book, QS TopExecutive Passport - Your essential document for entry into the world of Executive MBAs. One of her favorite parts of the job is serving as an MBA/EMBA expert on webinars and panels, at conferences and in the media.