Why Professionals Choose Executive MBA Programs Over Traditional MBAs

Dr Gary Stockport, Dean EMBA and Professor Strategy at SP Jain School of Global Management in a recent interaction with Janifha Evangeline, Editor, Higher Education Review Magazine shared his views on the factors that drive professionals to choose Executive MBA programs over traditional MBAs, how these programs cater to their unique career aspirations and schedules and more.

What drives professionals to choose Executive MBA programs over traditional MBAs, and how do these programs cater to their unique career aspirations and schedules?

Working professionals prefer doing a part-time Executive MBA (EMBA) program over a full-time MBA primarily due to the need for schedule flexibility and the focus upon building an accomplished general manager and leader. An EMBA student, on average, is around 35 years old with 10-12 years’ work experience. Unlike the more traditional MBA programs, which often require full-time commitment, EMBA programs are designed with the busy schedules of working professionals in mind. This part-time qualification is generally offered over 18-24 months versus the 12-month full-time structure of an MBA. EMBA programs typically offer weeknight and weekend study options in addition to study in whole or part on campus or online. This learning format enables EMBA students to balance their work, family and study commitments.

EMBA programs are also tailored to cater to the career aspirations of working professionals. They predominantly focus on building strategic thinking, business acumen and leadership capability, which are essential for those seeking to fast-track their professional career. The EMBA curriculum typically includes undertaking case studies discussion and analysis, simulations, role-plays and applied business projects which students can apply directly to themselves and their workplace.

The rich peer network within an EMBA program is typically comprised of students from an assortment of industry sectors. This provides a ‘hot-bed’ of cross-sharing and learning from each other as well as on-going professional networking. The cohort structure fosters collaboration and the development of interpersonal skills. This is all reinforced with the Alumni network.

How can Executive MBA programs serve as a transformative investment for professionals looking to elevate their careers and leadership potential? What are the tangible and intangible benefits of an Executive MBA that make it a transformative investment for long-term professional success?

EMBA programs are designed to be transformative both professionally and personally. The outputs from undertaking an EMBA are enhanced general management capability and leadership development. Undertaking an EMBA demonstrates that a student can show focused commitment over an extended period, effective time management, and a general desire to focus upon their growth professionally and personally.  This in turn can lead to tangible benefits such as company promotions and salary increases.

The intangible benefits are just as evident. EMBA students learn how to approach a business problem through applying the models, frameworks and theories learned during the program to identify and structure business problems and implement effective business solutions.

EMBA programs also emphasize soft skills personal growth, enabling students to develop better self-awareness, presentation skills, emotional intelligence, determination and grit amongst other things.

In short, doing an EMBA is much more than just obtaining a piece of paper. Rather, it is a journey of self-discovery and learning which hopefully will bring lifelong benefits including long-term professional rewards.

How India’s growing appetite for executive education is reshaping the professional landscape and addressing the evolving needs of a competitive global market? What are the key factors driving the surge in demand for executive education in India and how are institutions adapting to meet these expectations?

India's increasing demand for Executive Education (Ex-Ed) for both open and customized programs is helping to transform the caliber of the country's professional acumen and making it more effective at managing the increasing global turbulence. Take Russia and Ukraine, and Syria as recent examples. Generally, the Indian economy is on an upward growth trend and Indian companies need managers and leaders who not only manage locally but can also strategize on a global scale.

Furthermore, the impact of generative AI digital has required that Indian professionals continuously update their knowledge and skills to help keep pace with the transformational work practices that are happening at an increasing speed. Ex-Ed options are appealing in this regard as they provide short courses over a few hours or a few days that can help to quickly upgrade managers and leaders.

The most prestigious Indian Business Schools continue to widen their Ex-Ed offerings, and these include flexible scheduling and applied project learning. Additionally, Indian Business Schools are increasingly forming strategic alliances with global Institutes to help bring global expertise and perspective into their programs. In summary, Ex-Ed programs can offer an effective and cheaper alternative for Indian working professionals who cannot commit to the longer requirements of an 18–24-month EMBA. However, having had a positive learning experience undertaking an Ex-Ed course, they can choose to further upskill themselves through undertaking an EMBA.

How does an Executive MBA justify its value as an investment by driving career growth and equipping professionals with advanced leadership skills? In what ways does pursuing an Executive MBA provide a strategic edge for professionals in a competitive and rapidly evolving global economy?

There are several ways to justify investing in an EMBA with both time and money. As mentioned earlier, it leads to enhanced general management and leadership capability. Students learn to identify and implement better business solutions and therefore can create much value for their employer. Students and Alumni can in turn quickly advance up the corporate ladder with increased salaries and compensation packages. The return on investment (ROI) can be measured in terms of time, money and capability development. The ROI will likely increase over time may even in fact prove infinite.

The diverse and rich network of EMBA peers and Alumni also offers ongoing and value adding opportunities for career advancement. Connections can lead to the establishment of new business ventures and job opportunities.

How do Executive MBA programs act as a catalyst for personal and professional transformation, enabling professionals to achieve their career aspirations? How do Executive MBA programs empower professionals to maximize their potential and deliver measurable impact in their organizations and industries?

As emphasized earlier within this interview, doing an EMBA can prove to be a powerful catalyst for a person’s knowledge, skills and capability development. Professional and personal transformation will likely happen consequently. This includes a wide spectrum of development from enhanced strategic thinking to better self-awareness. Most importantly, doing an EMBA helps build the ability to deliver measurable value creation impact within organizations and this will likely increase over time with further experience. I strongly recommend the reader does one and finds out for themselves!