Working in the U.S. in the private equity and clean energy sector, Australian Tim Short, WG’17, wanted to earn an MBA from a U.S. school to ensure a successful career path in this country. With his sights set on a senior leadership or governance role in the future, he saw an MBA from a top-ranked school as a necessary part of his career plan.
When he started researching programs, he looked at both full-time and executive MBA programs. In the end, he came to Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives in Philadelphia. His decision came down to 10 reasons.
1. Global Brand
“I have undergraduate degrees in finance and engineering from a school in Australia, but one that is not well-known in the U.S. The recognition and validation you get from a Wharton MBA was an important factor. You get the full Wharton MBA in the EMBA program. The Wharton brand not only sets you apart, it is recognized around the world.
2. Executive Format
“I was 31 and always thought I would do a full-time MBA, but I was in a job that I enjoyed. I also saw people coming out of full-time MBA programs apply to positions similar to mine. I didn’t want to take five steps backward by leaving my job for two years. I wanted to continue on my career trajectory.
3. Experienced and Diverse Classmates
“I’ve been working in the field of investing in renewable energy for a while and I wanted to meet people in different industries and gain new perspectives. Wharton’s EMBA program attracts students who are experienced in a diversity of fields, ranging from medicine and the military to consulting and marketing.”
4. Learning from Classmates
“In a Wharton EMBA class, you’ll talk about a case study and inevitably someone in the class will have first-hand knowledge of the company involved in the case. They make valuable contributions and add deep insights about what is going on in that industry –even more than the case might suggest. That leads to great discussions and enriches the learning environment.
5. Flexibility
“Wharton’s executive MBA format is very doable. It’s Friday/Saturday every other week for two years. Some programs are a full week every month, which would be a big disruption to my work and life.”
6. Residential Requirement
“When you come to this program, you spend two full days with your classmates. You set aside the other parts of your life to focus on school. That creates more of a collegiate atmosphere and enables you to build friendships. Other programs have a commuter format, where you come for classes and leave. That would be a very different experience.
7. Real-time Learning
“Being able to apply what you learn at work the next week is very valuable. I found specialized electives like restructuring, negotiations and influence to be immediately applicable to both professional and personal aspects of life.”
8. Identifying Blind Spots
“Because executive MBA students have been working, they know their knowledge gaps. In Wharton’s EMBA program, they can talk to world-class professors and select electives in their second-year to address those blind spots.
9. Sending a Message
“Doing this program sends a message that you can handle anything. You’ve gone through this incredibly rigorous program while working full-time.”
10. Confidence
“You come away with the knowledge and confidence to handle things that are outside of your usual areas. You can deal with uncertainty and adapt to change.”
Posted: January 19, 2018
