Employers and Employees Benefit from Graduate Education
Employers have much to gain by encouraging and supporting employees undertaking graduate business education and in particular, an Executive MBA. While the programs can be demanding, the benefits include bolstered employee engagement, productivity and morale; retention and refreshment of institutional knowledge; and an archive of research or consultancy projects directly related to solving your business issues. Often, what isn’t appreciated is enhancement to company brand in the marketplace and to clients.
Invest Your Time & Money
It is a demanding investment because it requires time and money. However, the resulting benefits far exceed the costs of investment. Many employers support prospects with direct financial assistance covering most or all tuition costs. Other employers choose to support prospects indirectly by giving them time off with pay to attend classes so employees do not have to use vacation time. Some employees even choose to take program courses while away from work on maternity or parental leave. This helps keep their minds actively engaged while at home with their newborns. Most EMBA programs are designed with full-time working professionals in mind. Many programs offer courses in varied formats such as intensive condensed one-week or weekend classes, evening classes, and online or streamed formats.
Change Your Life
Deciding to pursue an Executive MBA is a life changing decision, both personally and professionally. Studying alongside like-minded seasoned professionals with a broad set of knowledge, skills, and academic and professional experience will result in fresh thinking, broader perspectives and new ideas. Prospective EMBAs and employers should be prepared to embrace change and be realistic in their expectations about what that degree will do for career trajectory, salary, business and clients. As an Executive MBA graduate, you will think differently, leader others (and yourself) differently.
What You’ll Learn
As expected, an EMBA education covers the core fundamentals of business such as finance, accounting, marketing, human resource management, organizational behaviour, operations, ethics, and strategy. The curriculum also includes important courses on leadership, change management, global business, critical and creative thinking. Executive MBA programs build personal and professional confidence and presence, hone analytical and presentation skills, and employ experiential learning to apply fundamentals in a fail-safe learning environment. Further, EMBA programs help build networks and lifelong relationships with your program peers—a network of rising business professionals who will undoubtedly provide support, insights, counsel and advice throughout your career journey.
Your Support System
Family, friends and employers are important support systems. Prospects should talk with each of those support systems so all are aware and clearly understand they will be busier than usual. Household chores may have to be reassigned, and entertaining and attending social events will need to be reconsidered depending on where and when they fall within a semester. The good news is that all Executive MBA students are in the same situation and it’s a great opportunity to share time-saving, time-management, efficiency-coping mechanisms among yourselves. Peers are valuable resources and can offer creative solutions to like challenges.
Take The Plunge
Today’s business world continues to evolve thanks to technology. Business moves quickly, across broader and multiple geographies, complex cultural norms, currencies and governments. Executive MBA programs deliver a deeper understanding of leadership and the multi-perspective lens required to be an effective inspired executive. They equip businesses, industries and senior leaders aspiring to achieve greater goals and meet the demands of business today. They no longer are a ‘nice-to-have’ but rather a smart, necessary investment.
