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Komal
22 October, 2024
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Experienced businessmen sometimes feel the need to upgrade their knowledge and skills. They know that the industry is advancing rapidly so they must stay abreast with the changing industry. However, returning to academics and investing so much time and money in studies is tedious for experienced professionals. For such mid-level professionals, an executive MBA is the doorway to brush up on their basics and take their skills to next level.
According to the 2024 GMAC Prospective Students Survey, an experienced professional with a career span of 3-5 years would have a nearly 50% salary hike after the EMBA programme. Additionally, the EMBA significantly boosts the candidate’s marketability. In the last 10 years, candidates’ interest in EMBA has somewhat increased due to its flexibility and offered career scope.
If you are an experienced professional looking to enhance your existing skills, this blog is the one for you. Here, let’s unlock some of the key benefits of an executive MBA that can accelerate your career growth and open new leadership opportunities.But first,
It’s not like your full-time MBA that most freshers and early career professionals choose. The executive MBA is designed for experienced and mid-level professionals with 5 to 10 years of work experience. It is a focused management programme that is designed to fast-track your career and prepare you for senior leadership roles in your industry. Remember, it focuses less on business basics and more on business depths.
While a conventional MBA might prepare someone for a management career, an EMBA is intended to teach an experienced professional how to become an effective leader. According to the Executive MBA Council (EMBAC), the average executive MBA student is 39 years old and has about 9 years of management experience. These students tend to have significant work obligations. Thus, EMBA course schedules are flexibly designed to accommodate their demanding work requirements. The classes are mainly conducted on weekends or weeknights.
Well, it’s certainly not just about earning another degree or having classroom lectures, there’s so much more. Guest lectures, seminars, group discussions, case studies, industry interactions and networking events. Isn’t that great?
Must Read: Top 10 Executive MBA Colleges in India
Before we get into the legit reasons to get an executive MBA, let’s answer a simple question first. Does EMBA really pay off? Why is EMBA such hype among professionals in the market today?
In India, the average fee for an executive MBA ranges from INR 8 to 20 lakhs, depending on the institution and the course offerings. As for the ROI, EMBA graduates see significant salary hikes after completing the programme. The average salary for EMBA graduates in India is around INR 15 – 50 LPA, and the highest salary can even shoot up to INR 1 crore in a year.
Isn’t it worth the investment? Not only in terms of money spent but also in the field experience gained that stays with you forever. Now, let’s quickly dive into the 8 good reasons to get an Executive MBA.
EMBA gives you the leverage to join a global learning programme, earn a degree and continue your work at the same time. That’s how the EMBA programme is structured. It is designed for experienced working professionals so that you don’t have to leave your career or give up your salary.
You can strike a nice balance between home, work and study.
After each EMBA session, you can return to your job and apply everything you learned in your class. For instance, you might optimise a few operational processes, revise your marketing strategy, or implement a new management technique. Whenever you learn, you also share experiences with your peers, helping one another grow professionally.
Executive MBA is not about learning alone; it is about creating opportunities and making a career path with diverse connections. Networking with fellow students, alumni, and industry experts can develop relationships that enhance your career prospects. It’s really beneficial when you find 10 others from the same field who have nearly the same career stories. How they overcame their challenges, stayed competitive in the market, and navigated industry disruptions can inspire new strategies and step up your career growth.
Also Read: The Advantages of an Executive MBA for Senior Professionals
EMBA provides an immersive learning experience that goes far beyond your current business knowledge. The programme doesn’t typically focus on fundamental principles or technical concepts such as accounting, finance, and marketing. Instead, Executive MBA students are generally expected to have mastered them before enrolling.
In this programme, you will learn case studies of various businesses and renowned corporations worldwide. There will also be group discussions, guest lectures by eminent industry leaders, and collaborative projects that stimulate real-world applications of current business challenges.
The multicultural and multi-industry nature of the students in Executive MBA programs is a great plus. When you meet professionals from various industrial backgrounds, you broaden your insights, foster innovative thinking, and add an edge to your leadership skills. It benchmarks your skills against international standards and shows where you stand within the global business landscape.
In addition to improving your job prospects, an executive MBA also increases your earning potential. According to the GMAC TM
Prospective Students Survey (PSS), the average salary increase for Executive MBA graduates varies across different industry sectors. It depends on factors like industry, role transition, calibre, and perspective. So, an Executive MBA doesn’t guarantee a specific salary, but it certainly increases your earning potential by many folds.
If you want to upgrade your job role, an EMBA is the right career move. It enhances your credibility as a professional and aligns your skills with current market demand. After devoting 18 months or 2 years to the programme, you can easily transition into higher leadership roles and more fulfilling career opportunities.
Let’s say you are a sales executive handling one or two small teams. Then, you might get promoted to a Regional Sales Manager. Here, you’ll have to take on expanded leadership and more work responsibilities here.
It doesn’t matter which part of the world you are connecting from; as a member of the global cohort. The universities ensure that the EMBA students are fully immersed in and out of the virtual classroom. An EMBA is beyond the content taught; it is about dynamic interactions with peers and mentors, exploring new possibilities, and gaining leadership skills in the process. This is what really counts!
Immersive learning is full of new experiences and a broadened perspective of global businesses.
Related: Executive MBA in International Business: A Passport to Global Career
Do you know why most professionals aspire to pursue an executive MBA, even after so many years of professional career? The answer is simple: EMBA has an effective approach that adds to your credibility and teaches you innovative ways to handle businesses. It doesn’t matter whether you are an employee or an employer; an EMBA is for everyone.
There can be two scenarios when deciding whether you need an EMBA for your career.
Imagine you are an employee. A mid-level professional who works at a corporation and holds substantial knowledge and practical experience in the field.
You are a salesperson with nearly 10 years of job experience. Although you have a very good understanding of the market, you feel that your true potential can only be unleashed in managerial or leadership-level roles. This is possible if you add value to your credibility. What does it mean? An upgrade in your skills, global connections (networking), a Master of Business Administration degree, and new experiences.
EMBA can fast-track your career by offering you a salary hike as well as opening doors to numerous managerial roles like Sales Director, Chief Sales Officer, or Client Relations Manager.
In the second case, you are an employer. An entrepreneur running your own business and taking care of operations, management, finances, and business development.
Without a doubt, you need a broad spectrum of skills and knowledge to tackle operational challenges, market competition, and team management effectively. And EMBA is just the course for you.
It teaches you how to take calculated risks, introduce new approaches to increase ROI, and stand out even in tough market competition.
Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from reputed B-schools enables candidates to get a 20-50% raise in mid-level careers . It is also observed that in some cases, professionals change their career paths entirely rather than seeking a salary hike. Kunal Ganguly, Chair of Executive MBA (Analytics) & Executive Development Programmes at IIM Kashipur, says that people switch their jobs and find better career paths after completing an EMBA.
EMBA is no fancy degree; it is a real deal. During the programme, you will learn effective communication, people management, and decision-making in EMBA. It also helps you develop a broader perspective on international business from a diverse peer group and leadership skills through group projects.
Remember, the career scopes for EMBA graduates are diverse and extensive. You will get a wide array of career opportunities once you enter the job market after completing the EMBA. Let’s discuss the different career paths you can take after earning an EMBA degree.
| Career Path | Job Roles |
| General Management | General Manager, Operations Manager, Business Development Manager, Project Manager, Corporate Trainer |
| Marketing | Marketing Director, Brand Manager, Digital Marketing Manager, Content Marketing Manager, Market Research Analyst |
| International Business | International Business Development Manager, Global Marketing Manager, Export Manager, Global Supply Chain Manager, International Trade Specialist |
| Consulting | Management Consultant, Strategy Consultant, Operations Consultant, Risk Management Consultant, Human Resources Consultant |
| Finance | Financial Manager, Investment Manager, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Treasury Manager, Risk Analyst |
| Entrepreneurship | Startup Founder, Business Strategist, Venture Capital Analyst, Product Development Manager |
| Healthcare Management | Healthcare Administrator, Clinical Operations Manager, Health Services Manager, Health Policy Analyst, Quality Assurance Manager. |
| IT | IT Manager, Product Manager, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Cybersecurity Manager, Data Analytics Manager |
One can have many intangible gains along with earning an EMBA degree. Let’s discuss some of the professional gains that you must leverage to advance your career:
A strong Alumni Network to help you find the right fit for your skills and experience.
A top-notch faculty team to provide advice, mentorship, and career guidance.
An industry-focused curriculum to hone your corporate skills, provide valuable insights and provide up-to-date information about trends.
Seminars, Meet-ups and guest lectures to facilitate valuable connections to potential clients and industry experts
Peer-to-peer interactions to learn from professionals from diverse industries, cultures, and backgrounds.
Real-world projects and capstone experiences to apply the programme learnings directly to practical scenarios.
It’s high time we realise that the domain of business management and administration has transcended geographical boundaries. In the age of globalisation and digitisation, businesses no longer operate in silos. Professionals need to have a global marketing perspective and cross-cultural insights to thrive in today’s interconnected economy.
EMB is the most rewarding programme for business players in the market. If you, too, are an experienced business professional seeking career advancement, then it’s not too late to apply to a reputable Executive MBA programme that aligns with your goals and aspirations. All you need is to take the first step; the rest will follow as you gain invaluable knowledge and unlock new career opportunities.
