13/12/2024
Find out why Executive MBAs are more relevant than ever.
There’s been plenty of discussion about the validity of Executive MBAs in recent years. With the rate of enrollment rising and new requirements in modern business, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. To help clarify things, we’ve compiled some expert insights from the Financial Times. MBA degrees look like they’re here to stay even amongst competition—and we’ll tell you why.
Changes in trends with Executive MBA enrollment
There have been some changes in trends with Executive MBA enrollment in recent times. According to the Financial Times, the “Executive MBA has long been a staple of corporate leadership development, with many companies footing part, or all, of the hefty bills to retain and develop rising stars. But that is changing.” FT makes the point that employer support for Executive MBA—which used to be common for companies who wanted to upskill employees—has fallen over the last decade. The new trend is in-house leadership programs, such as the CORE Leadership Program of Deloitte.
Why is this happening? According to Michael Desiderio, Executive Director of EMBAC (Executive MBA Council), “we’ve seen a shift over the past decade [to] where employers want employees to have some skin in the game.”
The reason behind this is that many companies are seeing Executive MBA graduates leaving their roles to move onto senior positions elsewhere; naturally, they’re losing faith. But it shouldn’t be this way.
For graduates like Becca Anderson, company support for external studies is invaluable: “I’m grateful that my leader and mentors encouraged me to lean into my education.” Becca completed her Executive MBA while working as a senior director of ownership experience at Ford’s electric vehicle business, Model e. Despite the lowering of employer funding (self-funded students rose from 41% to around 55% this decade), there was a 13% average increase in applications for Executive MBAs from 2019 to 2023. So, despite reluctance from employers to invest, the Executive MBA is more popular than ever.
IE Business School student featured in the Financial Times
One of the nicest surprises from the Financial Times’ October 2024 edition was to see our Executive MBA student Alejandra Badilla featured in October’s edition of this year’s Financial Times. Speaking on career development and her recent promotion to a director-level role at Chubb, where she manages a $100mn portfolio of clients, Alejandra pointed out the importance of professional coaching during her studies: “I believe that everybody needs a coach, always, because your life is changing constantly. For me, it’s like a religion.”
Our approach at IE Business School puts your real-world career first. As such, our Talent & Careers department is at the cutting-edge when helping students and graduates find the opportunities they need to fulfil their potential. They bring a focus to career paths and provide technical tools, workshops and support groups that bring students closer to their goals.
Being smart about current trends in industry is fundamental to success—we understand that Executive MBAs need to incorporate this into their educational material.
This is where we differ from in-house leadership programs. According to Nick van Dam, head of the Center for Corporate Learning and Talent Management at IE University and former global chief learning officer at McKinsey & Company, top Executive MBAs offer a more structured curriculum compared to business-led education. “An EMBA is like upgrading your operating system,” says Van Dam. “Changing how you think and act by exposing you to insights from other industries.”
Executive MBA career paths according to the Financial Times
Executive MBA career paths are varied—and recent trends show that the money is falling in different places. The Financial Times polled graduates to find out where the highest earners worked. The results are fascinating.
FT polls found those in healthcare earned the most, beating those in insurance, banking and financial services. Just below were those working in IT, technology and telecoms. While technology is becoming a focal point across many business practices, those with a consummate knowledge of leadership skills were able to work in a broad range of sectors.
Many studying an Executive MBA do so alongside work in middle and senior management positions, with most candidates boasting over ten years of working experience.
This is key to understanding why Executive MBAs are still so important. “The number of Executive MBA graduates who form their own companies jumps sharply for those in their late 40s or older, according to data from the 2024 FT EMBA Ranking.” So, Executive MBAs are more relevant than ever because they’re providing the next step in career progression for seasoned professionals that may have otherwise reached a plateau.
Study with us at IE Business School
As Andrew Jack highlighted in the FT Executive MBA Ranking 2024, “IE Business School ranked highest for its integration into core courses of environmental, social and governance topics”. This is a result of our continued focus on sustainable practices and putting human interactions first in business.
If you’re interested in what we have to offer, let us tell you a little more about what we do. Our Executive MBA, Global Executive MBA and IE Brown Executive MBA are curated for C-suite goals and those with a wealth of working experience. Personalized to each student’s goals and designed to build on your success, the Executive MBA is a transformational journey that forms the “Next Best You”.
We look to educate individuals who are open to innovation and hungry for knowledge.
Throughout the Executive MBA program you’ll be pushed on topics including advanced business theory, leadership development and hands-on Business Sprints, which tackle real-world scenarios to apply your learning with effectiveness. These combine with innovative practices including Reflection Lounges and Board Readiness modules, which help you navigate boardroom dynamics for any C-Level position. The Global Executive MBA uses a blended learning format to understand the critical aspects of global leadership in the 21st century. The IE Brown Executive MBA partners with Brown University to deliver an innovative, humanities-centric approach to leading industry.
Is this the path for you? Find out more information via the link below.
