Overcoming EMBA Obstacles

Business school experts offer their advice on overcoming the hurdles of an Executive MBA.

Many business school candidates think twice about pursuing an EMBA because of cost, time away from work, family, foregone salary and additional stress. But with these words of advice, the EMBA experience will be one you won’t want to miss.

Finances

•  Obstacle: With tuition fees, travel costs, social occasions and reading material to pay for, the EMBA is a major financial investment.

Francis Petit, associate dean for Executive MBA programs, Fordham University, says:“There are many factors weighing in on a prospective student’s decision to pursue the EMBA: expensive programs, work related issues, the family impact, and stress to an already full personal/professional agenda. The bottom line is, a prospective student has to really want it, because it is so easy to find an excuse not to pursue a program. This desire has to be strong and laser like. The determination has to be there.

Rachel Killian, MBA marketing and recruitment manager, Warwick Business School, says:“The costs are significant, but the best way to manage these is to talk with your employer and reach an arrangement together. They will get benefits from your studies, so it’s not unreasonable to ask for them to make a contribution to the program. At Warwick, most of your assignments can be work-based, so you really will be delivering value back to the organization on a regular basis. You would also complete your consultancy project and dissertation on a topic that is of relevance and interest to your organization; if they were to outsource this, it would likely cost more than your tuition.”

Family

•  Obstacle: The Executive MBA requires significant amounts of time to be dedicated to it; time spent away from family and loved ones.

Bernie Zanck, director of recruitment and admissions, Executive MBA program, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, European campus, says:“Involve your family! Chicago Booth hosts a Family Day early on in the program where students can bring their families to campus to look around, meet other students and other families, sit in on a class or explore the area and attend a social evening. It helps to get them on-board and gives them a greater sense of what their family member is doing and experiencing.”

Vani Nadarajah, associate admissions director International Executive MBA and IE BrownExecutive MBA / IE Business School, says:“We advise our EMBA students to take care of their families and loved ones. Students are encouraged to dedicate more time to them ahead of the program start date and to also spend time preparing them for the 13 or 15 months ahead. Many of our admitted EMBA candidates with families take the decision to commit to the program with their spouses.”

Additional stress

•  Obstacle: The Executive MBA is a highly-intensive, and challenging program of study, putting many candidates out of their comfort zone.

Joan C. Coonrod, assistant dean admissions and outreach, Executive MBA programs, Emory’s Goizueta Business School, says:“Granted, the EMBA at Emory is designed to be a powerful immersion experience, and you are taking on a major commitment. But it is also one of the most engaging learning processes that you can experience. So while there will be stress, there will also be community and accomplishment.”

Mario Ramò, managing director Executive MBA, University of Zurich, says: “Being able to manage additional stress and tough times during their EMBA is a skill set that further qualifies every alumni for their future career.”

Workload

•  Obstacle: With an already busy workload, how do you find time to fit EMBA studies into your weekly commitments?
Anne Nemer, assistant dean for Executive Programs, Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh, says:“The EMBA Worldwide at the University of Pittsburgh is carefully designed to minimize the challenges of obtaining an advanced degree. Students become more productive in their working environments, demonstrating newly-developed competencies with greater responsibility, which often leads to promotion during the program, or directly after graduation.”

Diane Sharp, director marketing and associate director admissions, Wharton MBA program for Executives, University of Pennsylvania, says: “To quote the University of Pennsylvania’s 2011 commencement speaker, Denzel Washington: “To get something you’ve never had, you must do something you’ve never done.” The road to success isn’t easy, and you can’t get there by sitting on your couch, hoping for something to change. In life, you only get out of it what you put into it.”