MBA vs Executive MBA: 6 Things You Need to Know

Sponsored by ESSEC Business School

Deciding whether to pursue an MBA or an Executive MBA (EMBA) essentially comes down to your own current circumstances; where you are in your career, whether you can afford to take time away from work, how much professional experience you already have, and so on.

In terms of content, reputation and value to employers, the MBA and EMBA are actually very similar. But they also have some striking differences, particularly when it comes to course length and pace, cost and entry requirements.

Both programs have their own distinctive purpose and have the potential to give you a boost in your career in very different ways, so it’s important to understand which is right for you.

To get a better idea of what you can expect should you decide to study either an MBA or an EMBA, we spoke to ESSEC Business School and one of their Global MBA participants, Emilia Wilson.

The MBA is great if you’re looking to broaden your growing business perspective, are looking to reach the next level of your career, and like the idea of having a more immersive student experience.

Because the MBA is primarily for those who are in the early stages of their career, the curriculum is highly versatile and covers all primary business bases, including accounting, management, economics, operations management, marketing and more. In addition, given that most MBA participants have significantly less work experience, the MBA program often focuses on helping them map out their career path, and aims to equip them with the tools and knowledge necessary to get their foot in the industry door that they’re interested in.

Certain MBA programs also offer specializations to help you make a career change. For instance, at ESSEC Business School, the Global MBA allows you to choose one of three majors, including Strategy & Management, Strategy & Digital Leadership, and Luxury Brand Management. Emilia Wilson, current ESSEC Global MBA participant majoring in Luxury Brand Management, tells us more.

“I was at a place in my career where I really needed an extra edge to get to the next step. I had a background in marketing and events management, but needed something more to be considered for higher level management and leadership roles.

It was clear to me that pursuing an MBA was the best choice. Given my career objectives, I felt that it was important for me to find a specialized program in luxury brand management, which is how I found and decided to study the ESSEC Global MBA in Luxury Brand Management.”

The EMBA, on the other hand, has a distinctive emphasis on leadership management and is better suited for working professionals who have significant experience and want to enhance and strengthen their already strong-standing business acumen and ability to lead more effectively while maintaining their career.

This means the EMBA starts off with core modules that formalize the knowledge that executives have gained from experience, and then goes in-depth into complex strategic subjects. In the ESSEC & Mannheim Executive MBA, participants can select a number of advanced modules designed around cutting-edge business topics.

Both programs more often than not cover similar fields of business, as well as offer a variety of immersive learning experiences, including the opportunity to study abroad, which, thanks to the constant globalization of higher education, is almost imperative for many participants.   

“The international travel to Hong Kong, Italy, and Switzerland clearly demonstrated that the international aspect of the program wasn’t confined just to the extremely diverse group of participants,” said Emilia.

While the average MBA program length is one year, an EMBA tends to be slightly longer at 18 months. The EMBA is therefore better suited for business professionals who don’t want to put their careers on the back burner. It’s designed to fit it in with your daily schedule, as opposed to the MBA which demands commitment to a full-time study schedule along with a denser workload.

EMBA lectures and seminars tend to take place in the evenings, on weekends or a combination of both, and although it can be more intense, you are able to balance studying with your career, family or both.