Executive MBA Blog

3 Reasons Why MBA Graduates Would Do Well in Academia

EMBA World welcomes contributing authors on various topics related to the MBA, the Executive MBA, and professional and academic options for business people. Below is a recent submission by Kat Sanders. Thank you Kat!

3 Reasons Why MBA Graduates Would Do Well in Academia (June 2009)

There was a time when the financial world ruled the roost and the people with the MBAs in finance made the big bucks and lived the fast life. The situation is very different now, and big dreams have come crashing down with the economy. People have begun to cut their losses and see how they can consolidate their positions, and most of them have turned to an MBA as a way to see the recession through and build on their skills so that they’re able to reenter the job market when the economy starts to look up.

But the problem with applying to B schools at this time is that almost everybody with an eye on the future is doing the same, and if you already have an MBA and are looking to change your specialization, well, it’s a waste of time and money. Instead, you could look at the pedagogy option – with all the B schools in demand among students, there is a need for qualified faculty. And if you’ve been around long enough in the big, bad world of business, here’s why you stand a pretty good chance of making it as an academician: 

• Practical experience is the best teacher: Most business students have no idea of what goes on in the real business world, and sadly, most of their professors are in the same boat too. They may be able to teach them business principles and theory, but when it comes to practical experience, it’s the people with work experience who have the edge. If you’re an MBA who has recently been laid off because of the way the economy is, you could check out opportunities that allow you to teach at a college or B school. If you need an additional degree or diploma, work at it to improve your chances of securing a good teaching position.
• There is a demand for qualified faculty: If you’re able to prove your mettle through a few well-positioned guest lectures, there’s no reason why you cannot ask the institution to consider you for a full-time teaching job. Your expertise in the real world and the fact that you are interested in teaching will work to your advantage.
• Students have the advantage of your connection to the business world: Even though you are out of a job in the finance industry, you can still use your contacts and networks to get the best for your students, both in terms of internships and future job prospects. They can also tap your knowledge and gain valuable insights into the workings of the business world.

This article is written by Kat Sanders, who regularly blogs on the topic of best online engineering degree at her blog The Engineering A Better World Blog. She welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: katsanders25@gmail.com.

MBA Grads From Around the World Struggle to Find Employment

April 21, 2009

From the Chronicle of Higher Education:

Israeli Graduates of U.S. Business Schools Are Stuck With Loan Debts and No Jobs

Jerusalem — Hundreds of Israeli business-school graduates are stuck in the United States with no jobs but huge student loans to repay, the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz reported today.

According to participants at a gathering of 100 Israeli M.B.A. students and alumni in New York on Sunday, the prospects of getting a job in the dismal economic climate are slim. Meir Stein, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, said many American finance and technology companies, particularly those receiving government money from the economic-stimulus package, will not hire foreigners.

Such support can be contingent on providing local jobs, and handling immigration issues can be a huge hassle for the employer, Haaretz said.

According to today’s Wall Street Journal, many American M.B.A. graduates who had planned to start a new career are being forced to return to their old jobs in order to find work.

The New York Times reported last week that this year’s Wharton graduates were changing direction abruptly as job offers from traditional companies dried up.

The global economic crisis has spared no one, including the Israeli M.B.A.’s, said Aharon Shenrech, who so far has no job and faces debts of $100,000 from his Wharton M.B.A. “I estimate that roughly 60 percent of my acquaintances who finished their M.B.A. studies are getting job offers, but the rest aren’t,” he said.

About 100 Israelis are accepted by M.B.A. programs at American universities each year, but their success depends on finding a good job afterward, even if the student ultimately plans to return to Israel. The whole concept of studying in the United States on a student loan is based on getting a good job, said Haaretz. And today, even if a job can be found, it may not pay well. —Matthew Kalman

Thank you Mathew. EMBA World is pleased to bring timely articles to its readers.

 

 

The Drucker Executive MBA Management Program and EMBA World Press

 

Claremont, CA, April 2, 2009 -- The Executive Management Program (EMP) of the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University was featured in the last issue of the EMBA World Newsletter, a respected independent publication written by EMBA graduates and a prestigious advisory board for the benefit of aspiring working professionals and employers.

The publication focused on the benefits of Drucker’s EMP program – flexibility, personalized curriculum, intimate atmosphere, renowned faculty, diversity, engaging community and global perspective, and referenced the Drucker difference – innovative curriculum designed to train effective managers and leaders on local, national and international levels. The Executive Management Program is one of the school’s Master business programs aimed to create productive and purposeful leaders who are effective managers and ethical leaders in all sectors of society – business, government and non-profit organizations.

About the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management
Named after Professor Peter Drucker in 1974, the Drucker School was established to satisfy the niche of part time executive management education. Today, the school shares its name with one of the world’s most respected entrepreneurs, Masatoshi Ito, combining a thinker (Peter Drucker, the founder of modern management) with a doer (Masatoshi Ito, who built the largest retail network in Japan), and reflecting a decidedly global orientation. Drucker has some 4,400 alumni around the globe, many of whom are leaders in business, government, and the nonprofit sector.

The school is known for its innovative programs, which in addition to the Masters in Arts Management (AM), includes the traditional Master of Business Administration (MBA), the Executive Management Program (EMBA), a Master of Science in Financial Engineering (MSFE), a Master in Politics, and Business and Economics (MAPEB), as well as a variety of certificate programs and customized corporate executive education offerings. The Drucker School’s programs and degrees are unique in their focus on management as a liberal art, rather than specific concentrations on core business functions such as accounting, finance, or marketing.

About Claremont Graduate University
Founded in 1925, Claremont Graduate University (CGU) is an independent institution devoted entirely to graduate study. More than 2,000 students are studying for Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in 22 disciplines. Located 35 miles east of Los Angeles, CGU is part of a liberal arts consortium commonly known as The Claremont Colleges. The Claremont University Consortium (CUC) includes Pomona, Scripps, Harvey Mudd, Claremont McKenna and Pitzer colleges, plus the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences, and Claremont Graduate University.

EMBA World (www.EMBAWorld.com) is a free online resource for prospective students, hiring managers, corporate managers, and working professionals with detailed information about the Executive MBA. EMBA World offers its services to anyone interested in pursuing a business degree seeking unbiased, real life experience from a panel of distinguished business professionals, Executive MBA graduates, career counselors, hiring professionals, and industry consultants.

Georgia State gets $2.1M for international projects

Atlanta Business Chronicle

Georgia State University won $2.1 million in 2008 from Higher Education for Development for international projects, including about $1.5 million to support Alexandria University’s executive MBA program in Egypt.

The two-year partnership between the J. Mack Robinson College of Business and Alexandria University will let Robinson College faculty help revamp the Egyptian school’s EMBA curriculum and train its faculty, said Bijan Fazlollahi, professor and director of Robinson’s Center for Business Development in Transitional Economies.

GSU also got $400,000 for a three-year partnership with Cairo University. Jorge Martinez, the director of the International Studies Program at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, said the partnership will help the Cairo economics and political science faculty boost its curriculum and become a regional hub for economic research.

Georgia State was granted $250,000 through a partnership with the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional of Mexico in a project to strengthen the English language teaching curricula at UPN and provide the foundation for an English teacher education program.

This article was published by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. See the full article click on this link. 

The Financial Times 2008 Executive MBA Rankings has been announced and here are several school announcements were noting regarding their rankings.

 

BYU land spots on global business education survey

Therefore, the executive MBA programs — which offer part-time, accelerated education to full-time workers already in the field — are becoming more popular ...

Read more about this story by Desert News Salt Lake City UT.

 

University of Denver's MBA program among world's best

From Bizjournals.com - Charlotte, NC, USA, University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business has been ranked among the world’s top executive MBA programs by the Financial Times. ...Read more about this story by Bizjournals.com  

 

Executive MBA Program Rated Tops in Texas Again University of Texas at Dallas - Dallas, TX, USA 1 among Texas universities in its annual survey of executive MBA programs. The ranking lists the UT Dallas EMBA program as No. 14 in the nation. ...Read more about this story by the UT  Dallas

Financial Times ranks IE Executive MBA programs among the top 5 By iblasques.mide2002 The ranking considers IE’s Executive MBA as one of the best in the world based on criteria that include graduates’ subsequent professional development, fulfillment of participants’ expectations and more. Read more about this story from IE Portugal - Alumni Point  

London’s top business schools By Kevin McCarthy London Business School’s joint Executive MBA (EMBA) with Columbia Business School has topped the Financial Times 2008 annual ranking of the world’s top MBAs for working professionals for the first time. The EMBA-Global, as the joint ...Welcome to the Study London Blog

Top MBA Considerations Before Making the Investment

EMBA World recognizes that education is vital but not always in reach due to financial cost or time commitment. Therefore, an online program is an attractive option, the executive MBA on weekends is another. There are also part time evening programs, and if you can afford to stop working - then there are traditional full time programs. As you may know, the executive MBA offers full time employees the opportunity to earn a Masters in Business Administration while maintaining full time employment. A full list of executive MBA programs can be found at EMBA World.

The following article was written collaboratively with the Online Education Database (OEDb). This organization offers a directory of online educational programs including sources for alternative MBA program delivery formats. To learn more about online MBA programs, visit http://www.oedb.org.

Top MBA Considerations

The business world has always been about results. This is never going to change so you have to do everything you can to stay on top. Completing an MBA program is the surest way you can stay on the path to success. If you don't want to get lost in the shuffle of the fast-paced business world then you have to put yourself in line to obtain your MBA. Here are some more reasons you should get your MBA:

1. Earn more money. Simply put, if you have an MBA you're long term financial prospects up the salary grade are higher than your colleagues without the specialized degree. The educational training is practical and immediately applicable through the executive MBA.

2. Gain more stability. Employees with an MBA are in high demand and enjoy greater job security than those without one. The education makes the candidate attractive in a broader range of fields as well as the networking with classmates to collaborate on initiatives and new opportunities.

3. It's all about networking. If you complete an MBA program you will make countless contacts during your time on campus and on special projects. Through the executive MBA you will visit corporations and meet high ranking business officials while working on consulting engagements and other classroom case studies. The doors readily open.

4. Climb the ladder at your job. Set the horizon higher by being groomed for an upper management position. By attending the executive MBA you are already reinforcing one's role up the corporate ladder. An MBA in general positions you for upper management.

5. Change gears. If you're stuck in a rut and yearn for a career shift then an MBA can open up new options. These options could prepare you for a career elsewhere on internally at your current firm. Obtaining an MBA will allow you to meet the goals you've set for yourself.

6. Get on the fast track. On-the-job training is crucial. Move up the ladder. Be recognized by senior management. An MBA program educates you in a relatively short time period in the dynamics of the business world. Understand challenges facing senior management and the competitiveness of the firm.

7. Take control of your career. It's one thing to come up with a great business model. It is another thing to execute on the plan. The world is made up of dreamers. Business school will teach you to implement and mange the vision.

EMBA World thanks Heather Johnson, a freelance writer as well as monthly contributor for OEDb, a site to help students select among accredited online schools. Heather invites your comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address heatherjohnson2323@gmail.com.

Baby boom strikes Masters of Business Administration

BABY boom has struck a business school with six students becoming dads during their executive MBA course.

Be Fruitful and Multiply. According to the UK-based Northern Echo newspaper, during the two-year Durham Business School executive MBA programme, seven babies have been born to the part-time students. The students also juggle their full-time jobs with parental commitments, as well as the course. O'Donovan, from South Shields, South Tyneside, who has become a father to two children since enrolling in 2006.

Mr O'Donovan, regional account manager for Filtrona Filters, said: "I've had a lot to contend with during the past 18 months, but its been worth it. I love my family and enjoy being a dad.

"I'm developing myself and pushing on in my career for my family."

Clearly the executive MBA has motivated O'Donovan to study more than just books but it goes to show that people can still have lives while in business school. This article is brought to you my EMBA World, an organization dedicated to helping prospective students and employers understand the executive MBA.

Career Changers Must Find the Career That Fits Their Personality to be Successful

 

(March 2008 by www.EMBAWorld.com) For many professionals, advanced education is a tantalizing answer to a career change. New, challenging projects or more responsibility may be the answer because a career change really is a big decision and has to be done for the right reasons.             

People who genuinely feel little or no passion about their work and simply go through the motions are candidates for career change. People who believe in the importance of making a meaningful contribution in ways that provide personal, internal pride and satisfaction are the people who should explore career alternatives.

            

• However, career changers frequently make common mistakes.
• They assume they must reinvent themselves rather than seek understanding of who they are.
• They take a very broad approach to “what is out there” rather than establish a clear focus.
• They put too much emphasis on finding security, rather than learning, challenge and growth.
• They focus on less cosmetic matters such as title or staff size, rather than satisfaction and enrichment.

            

It is important to also think about those qualities that go beyond quantifiable skills. Leadership, dealing with pressure, listening skills, and cross-cultural sensitivities are a few examples of abilities or soft skills that can contribute to success in new careers. Understanding those skills and experiences and the values that accompany them form a baseline that provides a direction and focus for that new endeavor.

            

Non-essential considerations, such as job title, organizational hierarchy, staff size and others pale in comparison to the essential need to find a career path that provides personal fulfillment.

            

Finally, with the insights that an advanced business degree delivers, there is a reasonable expectation of growing security and confidence because as the individual grows in the new career the toolbox of expertise through learning and experience can grow.

            

As reported by Marie Field of QS Networks, an international media agency that focuses on MBA and Executive MBA programs, suggests the EMBA is a highly desired program for the over thirty group, as it equips the experienced manager with a sophisticated set of diverse skills and strategic thinking that can be immediately applied on the job . While full-time traditional MBA programs are theoretically focused, the EMBA offers a broader understanding of the business world with attention to confidence, leadership and communication skills required to reach the C-suite. Further, the executive programs are tailored to the professional with a tight schedule – weekend classes or modular weeks of study are the norm.

            

Another appealing factor of the EMBA is the networking and the opportunity to learn about business methods practiced in other industries and countries. “With the diversity of companies, functional areas, and geographical representations, students gain insight and unique perspective from their classmates. It’s like having potentially 87 free consultants looking at a problem – not to mention expert professors!” explains Arnold Longboy, Director of Recruitment and Corporate Relations at Chicago GSB

            

Find the career that fits your personality. Take steps to find the right career and a leap over the challenges you may currently face as the economy and career stagnates.

            

EMBA World is a New York City-based organization dedicated to helping employees and employers understand options regarding graduate level business education and in particular the Executive MBA. Jason A. Price, MS, MBA, is Director of EMBA World and author of The Executive MBA: An Insider’s Guide for Working Professionals in Pursuit of Graduate Business Education. Jason is a frequent speaker to media on graduate business education issues and publishes industry articles periodically on the subject. The Insider’s Guide can be found at online bookstores or at EMBA World www.EmbaWorld.com. You can reach Jason A. Price at Jason@embaworld.com.

Career Resolutions 2008: Setting goals show to make lasting effect

Each year resolutions are made – some achieved while others forgotten. According to Accountemps, an international job placement firm, only 12% of workers made career-related resolution in 2006, but nearly three-quarters of those who did achieved their goals by the end of the year.

What is remarkable is that goal setting can make all the difference including in one’s career. Set goals that are reasonable and achievable. Break them into smaller and more practical tasks if necessary – and learn from others. Here are some goals to consider: Learn new skills, set a course to earn a higher pay rate, and improve the balance between work and life.

Learning a new skill continues to score highest according to the Accountemps survey. Training begins at the workplace not necessarily on campus. If formal education is desired then find out what your company offers in the form of tuition assistance. Determine if you qualify and whether there are any classes or training being offered on-site or nearby.

Pay grade is essential but goes hand in hand with experience and accomplishment. What have you done or obtained to command a higher salary? What makes you different and sets you apart from the rest of your colleagues to justify an increase?

We all search for more personal time at home and with loved ones. Shifting work to the home -  telecommuting - or launching an in home career offer possibilities. Certainly pursing a formal education consumes even more time. But for some the investment today in education is a payoff for some of those luxuries of tomorrow. Find those who chose this path successful. See what they do differently and learn from them.

With respect to education, the executive MBA, which is offered at more than 250 business schools throughout the world is not an end all solution but does provide academic flexibilities that would not be possible for most full time working adults. An executive MBA provides an alternative to the traditional MBA. Students study in a concentrated curriculum of weekends or weeklong sessions, fulfill the same requirements of a traditional MBA, and study with peers in the same boat with full time work, family, and other responsibilities and still graduate within two years.

If you were one of the 12% that made a resolution to learn a new skill, earn a higher pay rate, and find balance between work and home – education is one of the approaches. For business professionals who desire an MBA, the options are less limited if they factor in the advantages – practical and educational – to attend an executive MBA. Find out if it is right for you. To learn more about the Executive MBA, learn more and compare programs, simply visit www.EMBAWorld.com.

SOURCE: EMBA World is a New York City-based organization dedicated to helping employees and employers understand options regarding graduate level business education and in particular the Executive MBA. Jason A. Price, MS, MBA, is Director of EMBA World and author of The Executive MBA: An Insider’s Guide for Working Professionals in Pursuit of Graduate Business Education. Jason is a frequent speaker to media on graduate business education issues and publishes industry articles periodically on the subject. The Insider’s Guide can be found at online bookstores or at EMBA World www.EmbaWorld.com. You can reach Jason A. Price at Jason@embaworld.com.

Executives Head Back to the Classroom

Executives head back to the classroom – Further education may be your best investment yet.

By Marie Field, Dec 2007

If you’ve told yourself that changing careers or going back to school simply are not options for established professionals, you may miss out on the one thing that will bring back the enthusiasm of a fresh graduate.

Executive education may be what you need to surpass that career plateau. Whether it’s enrolling in an Executive MBA (EMBA) course or simply taking a 15-day course in management skills, business education can only brighten your career outlook, even if this just means meeting people outside of your regular network. The realm of executive education encompasses a huge range of options. You may want to improve your negotiation skills or take a class on leadership, or focus on personal development. If you’re looking to pick up new skills - whether in finance, marketing, or information technology - there is sure to be a business school that can help.

The Executive MBA As Business schools continue to respond to strong demand for their EMBA programs, the results of a recent survey confirmed the return on investment for those who have made the commitment to an Executive MBA. The percentage of students who received promotions increased from 34% three years ago to 43% last year, according to last year’s Executive MBA Council Survey of their member schools. The EMBA is a popular program amongst the over thirty group, as it equips the experienced manager with a sophisticated set of diverse skills and strategic thinking that can be immediately applied on the job. In comparison to full-time MBA programs, the EMBA is focused on gaining a broader understanding of the business as a whole, with the confidence, leadership and communication skills required to reach the C-suite. Further, the executive programs are tailored to the professional with a tight schedule – weekend classes or modular weeks of study are the norm.

The other attraction of the EMBA is the networking and the opportunity to learn about business methods practiced in other industries and countries. “With the diversity of companies, functional areas, and geographical representations, students gain insight and unique perspective from their classmates. It’s like having potentially 87 free consultants looking at a problem – not to mention expert professors!” explains Arnold Longboy, Director of Recruitment and Corporate Relations at Chicago GSB Most EMBA programs are open only to those with comprehensive experience in the professional world. Many courses exist, from 18-month programs to 24-month programs, to programs with specific focuses like global business.

The Global Executive MBA at Duke, for example, focuses simply on this area through sending its students to “Asia, South America, Europe and the United States with Internet-enabled distance learning allowing students to live and work from anywhere in the world,” in addition to offering conventional classes.

Jason Price, Director of EMBA World (www.EMBAWorld.com), and an EMBA graduate from Fordham University, explains how the EMBA is much more than just “an MBA for older people”: “The beauty of the EMBA is that you will not only study a company facing real challenges but the chances are that you will also have classmates who have worked in that company and were involved in senior-level decision-making.” For Jason, the reward of the EMBA was phenomenal. “I feel the EMBA classes and projects are what helped me win the 2001 Microsoft Global Technology Award and build a solid and fast growing consulting firm.”

The Executive MBA may just give you that extra push. Take, for example, a 43 year-old IT manager who wants to make it to Director status but doesn’t yet have the organizational or analytical skills to pull it off. This is exactly what the EMBA is for. “The Executive MBA gives you the extra push you need to make it to boardroom prominence.”, says Nunzio Quacquarelli, Director of QS, the educational and career specialist network that organizes ExecMBA Villages in many US locations as part of the World MBA Tour, “After gaining a number of years work experience, the EMBA is maybe the only thing that will give you what you need to reach your professional goals. Entering an EMBA program after being in the professional world for a number of years presents you with a unique advantage over a 27 year-old with a lack of experience of business dilemmas and undeveloped management skills.”

Marie Field of QS Network and TopMBA can be reached at marie@qsnetwork.com and www.TopMBA.com. This article is brought to you in partnership with EMBA World which can be reach at info@embaworld.com and www.EmbaWorld.com.