Executive MBA in Discussion: 4 Questions with Elisabeth Finkbeiner

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Executive careers are what the majority of MBA students aspire to. They crave greater responsibilities and find that, without those three letters, their dreams are thwarted by a low ceiling. They want more options and opportunities. Or, they just want a bigger paycheck.

The ranks of executive MBAs are filled with a very different type of student to a full-time program. Many have worked in management positions for over a decade. The executive MBA is often viewed as a complement to skills they’ve already acquired. For those who already have a corner office and a high salary, the rewards might be considered somewhat less tangible.

To learn why someone with a top job would add hours of study and class time to an already full schedule, we spoke to Elisabeth Finkbeiner, a vice president at ITW Motion at the time she enrolled in the executive MBA program at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

Begun as the Illinois Tool Works, Inc. in 1912, ITW has grown from a four-person operation under the leadership of Byron L Smith to a Fortune 200 corporation with a global presence.  Today, ITW and its subsidiaries employ over 60,000 people in 58 countries. Its success is partly due to decentralized operations, which allows division leaders a fair amount of autonomy and control. The company holds over 10,000 active patents.

As vice president and Geschäftsführer (aka general manager) of ITW Motion (part of the ITW Automotive Products GmbH), Finkbeiner heads the Röttingen division in Germany. One of three production sites (the others are in Frankfurt, Illinois and Shanghai), it is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of plastic components and assemblies in the automotive supplier industry.

As an executive vice president, Finkbeiner reports to the US-based CEO; as Geschäftsführer her duties are subject to the nuances of German law. A Geschäftsführer acts as a managing director of the GmbH, which resembles a limited liability corporation.

Finkbeiner answered four questions for TopMBA.com, addressing the unique challenges someone in her position faced while working towards an EMBA and the ways the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management helped her to address this.

Why did you decide to pursue an executive MBA at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management and what were the advantages of the program in terms of your career at the time of your enrollment?

I decided to pursue an executive MBA at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management because I wanted to get an outside perspective in my current role as Geschäftsführer and vice president in the automotive segment of my company. I realized that I had gained experience over the last few years by having a global role and leading an international team. I wanted to get a fresh view on models and ways to make decisions in all management areas, from operations to sales to engineering/innovation and HR.

The connection with students in other business areas provided me with new ideas and strengthened elements of my daily decisions and leadership approach. The school offered a well-designed program, including all these business aspects, and offered international modules and lecturer insights. The program was organized to balance daily professional work and study, with courses held on Fridays and Saturdays. It was convenient for me to reach the Frankfurt hub as I was flying in and out of Frankfurt regularly. I enjoyed the coaching sessions and saw this as a plus of the program.

In your opinion, how might the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management’s transition from a program that was partially taught in German to one that is taught exclusively in English affect the diversity of students and the school’s international profile?

I think the complete switch into English was key in attracting more international students from other areas of the world, as the global business environment is getting more complex and international, with English remaining the lingua franca. It makes it easier for international students to apply to this program and will also attract more international lecturers, who bring new perspectives into the program.

Tell me about the ways the executive MBA has affected your career.

I held the position as VP/GM prior to the EMBA, but when I started the program the company offered me a less international role to help me achieve a work-study balance. It was a new role as GM in another product area, bringing two units into one division, which had businesses in Europe, South America and China. 

What are the challenges and the advantages in being a vice president of a decentralized business unit that is part of a multinational Fortune 200 company?

I am a vice president/general manager and Geschäfsführer in one of our German GmbHs. Our CEO is based in the US and EVPs for each business segment report to the CEO. Being outside the US requires a balance, as we need to focus on ‘national’ needs and laws, with workers’ council aspects that are not relevant in an US company. Nevertheless, we are greatly supported by our holding and management, and exchange well at the level of Geschäftsführer in other business segments. We focus on general enterprise strategy and apply national strategic aspects, especially regarding national employment laws. The company’s values are based on trust, respect and integrity as well as simplicity. The company is very involved with diversity and inclusion, and gives serious consideration to global and local differences and cultural particularities. We are highly supported by our top management.

Answers have been edited for length and clarity. 

This article is sponsored by the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.