Why MBAs are 'Going Global': The Global MBA

This article is sponsored by ESSEC Business School’s Global MBA program. Learn more about the program.

Today, business managers dreaming of going global navigate increasing turbulence. Once dynamic markets face declining growth, while previously ignored regions are ascendant. These sudden shifts can give chart watchers motion sickness. Preparation becomes the best way to prosper.

The old Boy Scout motto of “Be Prepared” could well be 2015’s theme. Both emerging and advanced economies have been shaken by a recent commodity glut. China endured well during the days of global recession. Yet now as its economy shifts from manufacturing to consumption, the country’s double-digit annual GDP has growth plummeted. Meanwhile, India has exceeded expectations as its economy becomes more diverse.

Professionals who can provide coherence in the midst of so much noise are valued more than ever. We spoke to two recent graduates of ESSEC Business School to find out why they chose to earn the school’s Global MBA and how this decision will benefit future employers.

Founded over 100 years ago, ESSEC Business School operates two campuses in Paris and Singapore. During its one-year duration, Global MBA participants travel to a number of countries and work with a variety of companies on management issues (which is the why it’s called the Global MBA). “Students spend a term in Singapore, a week in an emerging market, and a month immersed in a project internationally,” the school’s website explains. “The first class ventured all over the world, working on projects in Egypt, Venezuela, Uruguay, the Philippines, South Africa, and India.”

The Global MBA is an intimate program, averaging less than 40 participants. One of them, Rajesh Ramanathan arrived in Paris from Pune, India. An electronics & telecommunication engineer, he earned his first master’s degree in financial management. After seven years working as a software architect in the information technology industry, he decided to pursue a Global MBA.

Hailing from a Chicago suburb, another graduate of the program, Matthew Werner studied political science and international relations at the University of Notre Dame. His interest in different cultures and languages along with a curiosity about intercultural communication and management issues is part of the reason he’s spent more than a dozen years in France.

Why did you decide to earn a Global MBA?

Rajesh Ramanathan: I was involved primarily in a technical role throughout my career. I was seeking a change into a role as a Project Manager or a Business Analyst, where I could be involved more in the business side of things, and leverage my prior technical expertise to help both the customer and my organization to achieve better results.

ESSEC's Global MBA offered a perfect mix of the components that I was looking for in an MBA program, with 11 nationalities in the class and a truly international experience on offer. It is also affordable, with scholarships based on your overall profile. It also has an incredible alumni network of over 45,000.

Matthew Werner: I felt like I was missing certain business fundamentals that could hold me back. I needed the theory and fundamentals taught in an MBA program to formalize my business knowledge. I also wanted to do an MBA program to get exposure to new areas of business that I did not work with on a regular basis in my previous job. 

How was the smaller class size an advantage? 

RR: The smaller class size meant that I was able to interact, learn and have a lasting impression on each of my classmates. I have made some lifelong friends in the Global MBA. A smaller cohort ensures that we get one-to-one attention from our professors, career counselors and during the various workshops.

MW: The smaller cohort was a major advantage because I was able to create strong links... I worked with every classmate on at least one project, which is a great way to get to know somebody. I was also surprised to discover that I possessed business acumen in areas that I was not aware of. 

Tell us about the Global MBA mentorship program

MW: The Global MBA team did a great job matching students with mentors who share similar career paths or aspirations. The personalized nature of the mentorship program reflects the administration's knowledge of each Global MBA student and their professional backgrounds and goals. With a larger cohort it would be harder to match each student with an appropriate mentor.

RR: At ESSEC, I found myself mentoring fellow students on some courses which I was good at like finance, accounting, economics etc. I was surprised at how well received these informal coaching sessions were. And some of them even egged me to pursue a career in teaching and academics!