Pros and Cons of Executive MBAs

Was wondering what WSO's consensus was on EMBAs. Seems as though they are for people with 10-15yrs experience with a relatively senior role at their firm. I would think the ocr is less so but the the pros would be the brand name as well as the recognition that having a MBA can have. I personally know a booth emba grad and he said it was a good decision for himself (albeit he graduated like 20 years ago). It also seems that executive mba programs are more likely to be covered substantially by your firm?

 

I think they're two different types of degrees, so it's hard to consider one "inferior." My understanding is that a full-time (regular) MBA is for those who are seeking a career change or wanting to move into a different position. Executive MBAs are typically sponsored by the company you work for and while you pursue your eMBA, you continue to work for that same company. eMBAs are also pretty damn expensive.

But for the majority of us here on WSO, I think the pursuit of a regular MBA makes more sense than an eMBA (it's not superior, it just makes more sense).

 

I feel the same way, After the panel told me I had the job they said they needed to finish the rest of interviewers. A lady with a very low cut shirt went in for her interview and got it. I was like, Oh god!

 

I took six months of the EMBA and then switched to the regular MBA, I found the EMBA class more about debating a business situation rather than solving the business situation, I discovered that the regular MBA was more practical/hand on approach in dealing with theories or day to day problems. For example, the business communication class for the EMBA was more of a high level approach compared to the MBA which went in to better mechanics of business communication. Subjects like CEO (Concise, Effective Organized) with real examples based on the given situation (E1 vs E2), Presentations etc.

Want to Lose the body fat, keep the muscles, I can help.
 

bad move in my opinion, stick with your current job. EMBA is for career advancer not career changer. But if you're set on the emba, definitely columbia. Not sure what a trium is...

 

Thank you everyone for your input. Just to answer a few of your questions:

There are daily buses (7hrs)from MTL-NY. I would depart every second Thursday at 11pm and sleep on the bus until morning classes. My business is very successful but I am not sure about the staying power, it might be better to sell at the peak. It also is in an industry I could not care a less about. Paper-manufacturing. Unfortunatelly, selling my business and then doing a full time MBA in NYC would be difficult as I have to move my family there just to go to school which is not fair to them. I would have to do the regular MBA full time here at Concordia or McGill. Wall Street recruiters have probably never heard of these Universities so there wouldn't be much point to that. TRIUM EMBA is offered by STERN NYU jointly with LSE and HEC Paris. Its rated #2 by FT. I am near 40 and have not yet considered what exact position I would want on WS. I don't know much about starting a VC or PE group but that could be interesting to me as well. Columbia is Ivey but for some reason NYU Stern is more apealing to me, I just don't know which program would have more Wall Street Execs in it.

You guys are great, a really cool forum!

 
Best Response

First, congratulations on getting into two of the top EMBA programs in the world. I guess from where you live, the two are equally annoying commutes for you, right? Because the differences in benefits between the two programs are probably more logistical than anything else.
Both programs are established, so you won't have to go through a program's teething pains -- something you are probably too familiar with. You will get an MBA, not an eMBA, and you will learn from the same professors as the full-time students. More importantly, your peer group will be interesting and diverse. Both schools attract a national, and even international crowd. So... I hate to say it, but it really comes down to your impression of the way you feel when you are on campus, how you regard any other admits you've met, and which is going to be easier transportation-wise. I'd love to say that the Wharton program might have some San Francisco exposure because of its campus right here in my backyard, but not sure that makes any difference for you, and it would be entirely optional.

Betsy Massar Come see me at my Q&A thread http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/b-school-qa-w-betsy-massar-of-master-admissions Ask away!
 

An EMBA is typically for more advanced professionals. While a regular MBA is for people with 2-6 years of work experience, the EMBA is usually for people with 8-12 years of experience. Basically, it is for the situation described above where you didn't need an MBA to advance, but want to add the credential for the future or for the networking. Typically, you can do EMBAs two days every other week (Friday and Saturday) and it takes 2 years to complete. Therefore, you don't quit work to go to school (but not like a PT MBA since prestigious schools still offer them, like Columbia, Harvard, etc.).

As for the OP question, the main downside is that the EMBA is not good for breaking into banking. After all, most of the time no one wants to hire a 30+ year old associate and since you typically need 8-10 years of exp to get into an EMBA, you pretty much cannot use it to break into a new career (I know someone graduating from columbia's EMBA program and this is what she told me) like you can a FT MBA.

However, it could still have some benefit. Say you went to a non-target school, but managed to get a job and then promoted to associate. You could benefit by "rebranding" yourself as a Harvard EMBA and of course from networking.

As for compatibility with a banker lifestyle, I'm not sure about that. It could be a huge challenge to do a EMBA while working FT in finance, given the huge time demands. That being said, you'd probably be a VP by the time you had enough exp to take a EMBA, so it would be as bad as when you're an associate.

 

I'm doing my EMBA. I picked it becase I didn't really want to take time out of the workforce. I'm enjoying it - the calibre of the other students is fairly high as well because of the experience requirements to get into it.

You can set your own pace so I'm doing 1 subject at a time - 3 sessions per year. This should take me 3 years to complete however the workload is thus very manageable and I find that it doesn't add much stress day to day at all.

 

Temporibus nam consectetur ut dolor dolor iste debitis. Quam ut sequi neque placeat dolor voluptas ab.

Aut delectus repudiandae modi voluptas. Accusamus sint unde cupiditate tempora est voluptate. Quia neque hic voluptas eos quia quis itaque.

 

Laborum eaque iusto ea laborum ducimus aperiam provident. Voluptatem rerum velit fuga odio. Quia maiores quia dignissimos explicabo ut consequatur est. Quo illo omnis voluptatem quisquam rem. Enim ut cumque rerum doloremque et nisi consequatur.

Iusto hic aut libero quibusdam officiis unde. Dolores delectus est labore et. Quia recusandae dolores debitis labore.

Libero et vero dolores mollitia. Repellendus minus eos eaque itaque. Omnis non labore voluptatem enim.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”