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?
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/blog/qa-with-an-executive-mba-student
MBA vs Executive MBA (Originally Posted: 01/23/2013)
Just curious on what the opinion was on Executive MBA vs a regular MBA. Is it generally believed that an Executive MBA is inferior to a regular one?
Yes.
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).
Thanks for the input. What about Executive MBA from target school/ivy league vs traditional MBA from non target, but still solid state school?
bump?
bump
There are many factors you will be considering when creating a shortlist, I believe a lot of advice will be thrown at you on how to make the right choice. Great sources!
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.
EMBA Programs (Originally Posted: 07/29/2012)
I'll keep this brief-have an undergrad degree in Accounting. Currently employed as an Accountant(non-big four, not well paid). Looking to get an MBA to advance and possibly move into more of a management/Controller/CFO type role long term.
Don't want to take the GMAT, but I've heard that MANY top B-Schools no longer require the GMAT for the EMBA program. What are the BEST PROGRAMS I should set my sights on? I also know some offer once a month weekend regional programs(Cornell and a couple others come to mind-ie, they may have one in Chicago, one in SF, one in NYC.)
Wharton EMBA and Columbia are regarded as the best, from what I understand. think they require GMAT though...
EMBA (Originally Posted: 05/23/2011)
Hi,
I searched forums but could not find answers to my predicament. I hold a bachelor of commerce from a Canadian university(graduated in 1998). I worked in a couple of companies(high tech, not banking) and rose to lower and then middle management before starting my own company in 2003. As insane as this may seem, I am considering doing my EMBA in New York (commute from Mtl, QC) and then selling my business to pursue my dream career on wall street. I am hoping to meet fellow wall streeters in the EMBA program and network with the hopes of getting a job in GS, MS, JPM etc. I have two questions: What EMBA program would groom me better and have more "contacts" to network with, TRIUM,Stern NYU, or Columbia? How realistic is my plan? I would want to land a good job, not entry level as I would be moving my whole family (wife and kids) with me. Would the firms take into consideration the fact that I started my own multimillion dollar business (now with 75 employees) from scratch?
thank you,
John
Is there an effective train line from QC to NYC? 500 miles is a bit much to drive
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...
.
I'm curious what exact job on "Wall Street" would you be looking for post Exec MBA? By my math you are approaching your 40s?
Why would you sell your business with 75 employess, assuming it's successful, to go to work for somebody? I'm absolutely stumped...
I can see where you may want the EMBA from a qualification standpoint or even a business refinement and networking tool, but in all honestly you sound much better suited towards the entrepreneurial route than IB. Go to school, network, sell your company, pool investors and start your own VC or PE group.
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!
Evolution of the eMBA (Originally Posted: 02/24/2011)
Since wharton Columbia and other top business schools are offering emba programs with full time recruiting vs the part time ban for OCR that NYU and booth have, do you think these programs themselves will become more viable alternatives to full time programs? I know the big argument is that you need xyz experience and the time is not plausible with banking but there are non banking high finance jobs and also the programs are becoming more lax on the "executive" requirement. Ant this could be a good side project for msfhq :p
If technologies can make learning online more effective, I think it could definitely happen. But, that may take awhile...
? huh. lol executive not electronic MBA. fail econ fail ;\
Haha, oops! Yeah, I know about those too, somehow didn't connect the dots lol.
Can anyone tell me how is the Columbia Sat EMBA program? In terms of reputation and networking opportunities? I am in finance (derivatives pricing+risk) and want to move to buy-side. Do you think it will be difficult to make this switch (although its not too drastic) to buy-side. Think about buy-side middle office pre EMBA to buy-side client facing (or on track to managing money) kind of roles post EMBA.
EMBA Program (Originally Posted: 02/26/2015)
Which is the ideal option assuming I have admits to both Wharton EMBA and Columbia EMBA programs ? I live in NJ, I'm a manager in big corporate and a mother of 2 year old.
WEMBA. There is no executive MBA program on the planet that can compete.
Full-time is the only way to do it UNLESS your company is willing to pay for the entirety of an Executive MBA and you are married with kids.
That video gave me eye cancer.
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.
eMBA? (Originally Posted: 05/05/2007)
assuming you don't need an MBA to get an associate position, any downside to 'executive' MBA? MBA seems like a waste of time...
can someone explain the difference
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.
good info, thanks folks
EMBA value? (Originally Posted: 08/26/2014)
I have 10+ years of work experience with 5 years in equity research (4 years sell side, 1 year buy side) and 5 years in Commercial Banking (made a lifestyle choice), which is my current role. I am also a CFA charter holder.
An MBA never was really a big deal on the equity research side, but it seems to be more of a necessity in commercial banking, at least for an executive level position. Reviewing the top executives from my current Commercial Banking employer, there really seems to be a mix of top MBAs and lesser known MBA programs.
Right now, I am debating between an EMBA at a number of top 15 schools or an EMBA at a top 50 school that costs much less. My goal with an MBA is to move up within my current organization.
Also as background, my undergrad degree is from a top school with an extremely strong alumni network, which I have leveraged to obtain all of my past jobs and expect to do so with future positions.
I can provide additional details, if needed, but my main question is:
Given a very strong alumni network from my undergrad, combined with a respectable professional designation with the CFA, will I obtain enough value from a $150k+ MBA program at a top 15 school to justify the cost differential from a $50k MBA program?
I believe I would benefit from an EMBA but am not clear as to the incremental value a top 15 provides vs. a less expensive school, given my particular situation.
Advice?
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