To meet changing needs and demand, Broad College at Michigan State University has introduced the Executive MBA Flex, a new pilot option for the incoming class of 2022. The EMBA Flex embraces a hybrid model, with in-person, team-oriented sessions combined with online learning. Under this program, students will meet in East Lansing one weekend per month and complete the balance of their courses online on their own schedule and time.

“Given the impact of COVID-19 and to continue delivering on our mission of providing a high-quality, high-value graduate education, we think the EMBA Flex will offer a great alternative experience to our existing program,” says Cheri DeClercq, assistant dean for MBA programs.

The EMBA Flex also will broaden access to more high-potential candidates by considering strong applicants with three or more years of significant work experience and providing an opportunity for those who live further away.

Traditionally, the Broad College offers its EMBA Program in person, every other weekend, in East Lansing, Troy, and Detroit. The EMBA Flex program will be offered in lieu of the Detroit cohort.

Jennifer Monroe (ProMBA, ’19) completed a cost-benefit analysis as part of her Organizational Action Project (OAP) to evaluate the viability of a mobile prosthetic laboratory for her former employer, Choice Orthotics & Prosthetics, which resulted in saving the company lost revenues.

At the time, Choice Orthotics & Prosthetics faced challenges with patients often missing follow-up appointments. She and the owners had discussed the possibility of acquiring a mobile prosthetics laboratory to eliminate that challenge. It became her OAP project.

Seventy-five percent of amputations are of the right leg, so many of the company’s patients could not drive themselves to follow-up appointments and did not have alternative transportation.

“Our patients also lived an average of 59 miles from our office,” Monroe says. “When you consider that they need an average of 32 follow-up appointments after surgery with doctors, physical therapists, prosthetists, and so on, you can see why the process is difficult.”

Her analysis determined that missed appointments were costing the company at least $70,000 per year in lost revenue. By investing about that much in a van, it could recoup at least $54,000 of lost revenue each year going forward — all while providing better service to its patients.

Rather than visiting patients at home, mobile workshops are driven to partnering physicians’ offices close to the patient. The patient arrives for the exam, and the workshop is available outside. Prosthetists make four trips to the mobile workshop to adjust a limb, saving the patient four 59-mile trips, and ensuring four appointments are kept.

With help from her team, Monroe laid out a detailed plan for pursuing the project, including a comprehensive timeline. She learned that the company completed the mobile lab in January.

“I’ve moved into a role with larger responsibilities at another company — thanks to what I learned in ProMBA — but I still love my old team, and I was thrilled to see that project come to fruition,” she says. “And it was completed under the projected budget!”

Monroe credits the ProMBA with teaching her about change management, saying it improved her approach to challenges and opportunities.

“As a manager, when you have a fantastic idea and a lot of energy, it can be easy to steamroll your team,” she says. “In the ProMBA program, I learned to take a step back and assess my team’s feelings about change—to ask them about their fears and concerns and see if I can methodically remove potential hurdles as we’re progressing. It has made me a much better manager.”

Enrollment in the Santa Clara University (SCU) Executive MBA Program (EMBA) increased 85 percent over last year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the second year the graduate program has set records.

The EMBA class of 2022 numbers 37 experienced executives, many from top Silicon Valley companies including Cisco Systems, Google, Juniper Networks, IBM, Intel, and Qualcomm. Classes started on Aug. 10.

This fall’s class also stands out for its gender balance and maturity: Women constitute 38 percent of the class, exceeding a national norm of 29 percent; the average age of 41 tops the national average of 38; and the 17 average years of work experience exceeds the national average of 13 years.

“Clearly, the high quality of a Santa Clara University EMBA experience trumped a once-in-a-century cataclysmic event,” says Kumar Sarangee, the program’s faculty director. “Because of our excellent curriculum and seasoned faculty, we have always attracted stellar students. The incoming cohort is proof of that. We have vice presidents, senior directors, directors, entrepreneurs, and intrapreneurs who want to learn how to be innovative and impactful leaders. Also, our students come from diverse industry sectors including high technology, financial services, consumer packaged goods, and consulting." 

The 20-month program meets twice a month from Friday evening until Saturday evening. 
Beyond the required core curriculum, students personalize their education through a number of innovative electives. 

“I opted to do the Executive MBA at SCU because the program teaches with real-world examples, an extremely unique aspect of the program,” says Satendra Prasad, lead research scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific.

The program also goes beyond the traditional “lecture and learn” format to feature a number of experiential elements that fulfill the needs of both the student and business community, such as leadership exercises, change management and mindfulness simulations, and executive-led innovation workshops.

"We are very proud of our incoming EMBA cohort who represent a talented group of students,” says Toby McChesney, senior assistant dean of graduate programs in the Leavey School of Business. “We pivoted quickly to adapt to the online environment in recruiting, and we were still able to keep our personal touch to assist our students.”

The Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) in Russia launched remote learning in early March as a result of the pandemic. While students miss the in-person classroom, they all stayed with the program.

SSE in Russia postponed the launch of a new EMBA group to September, and spent the summer recruiting new applicants. Along the way, SSE in Russia invented a new formula for success that made use of a WhatsApp community for potential participants plus ongoing communication with alumni. WhatsApp connected applicants of the future group, which helped them get to know one another. The program sent informational letters and hosted exclusive webinars for graduates, which resulted in a wave of recommendations.

In January 2020 Brenau University launched the first ever Executive Women’s MBA – EWMBA.

The program helps address the lack of women in executive positions. It provides an experience that empowers women to advance in their careers by focusing on the issues that women face and the support systems that they need.

Recognizing that it is often harder for a woman than for her male counterpart to leave home and family for a long weekend, the program takes place primarily online. The online program provides maximum flexibility, and the small class size provides maximum interaction.

Three residencies that focus on empowerment, growth, and networking augment the online course work. The first residency in New York came seven weeks after the program’s start. The fact that the students already knew each other helped make the in-person time together much more effective and the bonding stronger.

Women in executive positions, and even in EMBA Programs, are usually in the minority, which can lead to feelings of isolation due to a lack of a strong cohort. The EWMBA exists to create this network for students. In addition to the course work and residencies, the students take part in a book series with female author talks, a sponsored speaker series, executive coaching, and personal advisory boards. The entire package helps create a support network for women as they leave the program and advance in their careers.

The Purdue University Executive MBA class of 2021 returned to campus in July, after experiencing its spring residency remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The best part of this program is being able to immerse yourself in these residency periods with the people you’ve grown to love and respect,” says Matt Larabee, EMBA student. “So to be able to be face-to-face again felt like home.”

It all started with a test – and not the kind that involves studying. The 21 students, who traveled to West Lafayette from nine different states, arrived early to be tested for COVID-19, and had received in advance detailed information about the Protect Purdue Plan.

Purdue took the safety of students, faculty, and staff very seriously, and made many changes in advance of the on-campus residency – it configured classrooms and study rooms to allow for appropriate social distancing, asked students to wear face coverings, individually packaged meals, increased cleaning and sanitizing processes, and more.

Kyiv-Mohyla Business School continues to establish partnerships with international institutions, signing a Memorandum of Understanding with ISC Paris Business School in July.

The memorandum formalizes agreements that were reached through discussions about possible collaborations, opening new opportunities for the kmbs community such as student and faculty exchanges, joint learning products, and scientific research. The first Executive MBA student exchange is planned for spring 2021.

With a commitment to ensuring the safety of students, candidates, and the entire community, INSEAD resumed in-person teaching and offers both hybrid and dual-mode teaching. INSEAD is closely monitoring the situation to fully comply with local safety regulations.

INSEAD has made all required admissions tests and interviews available online and this year’s cohorts are motivated and committed, as the following blog posts from admitted students show.

• Anticipating and Embracing Changes

• Pursuing an Executive MBA During a Pandemic

• Why I Am Choosing to Do an Executive MBA This Year

The Career Development Centre (CDC) is closely monitoring the impact on recruiting executive talent. The team also is connecting with peers at other business schools, and the current assessment is that companies are maintaining strong engagement with top talent, while adapting their recruiting plans to the ever-changing context.

CDC staff continue to provide support and service to both employers seeking talent and students seeking opportunities. Staff are working with our key recruiting partners to move toward a virtual format for EMBA recruiting activities and have received updates of successful career transitions even during the pandemic.

The career curriculum has been successfully moved online with on-demand and just-in-time content, networking events, and other incremental innovations for higher engagement in 2020. INSEAD alumni throughout the world also are engaging with the INSEAD community and sharing insights from their own experience of major crises.

This fall the Goizueta Business School at Emory University launched its redesigned Executive MBA Program, which has an on-campus format and a hybrid format.

The two formats offer greater access for students who live outside of Atlanta and provide ways for additional students to engage with the Goizueta Business School and Emory University at large. 

Designed to meet the needs of working professionals seeking flexibility, the two formats are highly integrated.  A student selects one of the formats after acceptance into the program.

On the ALL EMBA Weekends, both the hybrid students and on-campus students participate collectively in the same classes, creating the optimal learning environment for more diverse perspectives and insights in the classroom conversations.  With the hybrid format, students come to campus three weekends a semester and fulfill all other course contact hours virtually.  Both formats feature the same faculty, same courses, and the same networking events and level of engagement.

Faculty participated in the Goizueta Online Teaching Academy to strengthen their skills in producing interactive online course content. This collection of workshops, both synchronous and asynchronous, equipped faculty with instructional design principles and tactics for virtual engagement.

With state-of-the-art technology and faculty well-versed in virtual teaching methodologies, EMBA students both in-person and online have better access to experience the school’s world-renown faculty and grow their professional networks.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the Graziadio Business School at Pepperdine University is offering nearly $2 million in scholarships to employees from the Pepperdine Graziadio Corporate Partnership Program.

Throughout the pandemic, Pepperdine Graziadio has continually maintained its commitment to providing a quality education by offering small class sizes, even in a virtual format, to the incoming cohorts launched in the spring, summer, and fall terms. Each cohort is intentionally kept small, allowing for a very personalized, high-touch experience.

Distinguished faculty – expert authorities within their respective fields – lead the curriculum. As a unique asset to the executive student experience, Pepperdine Graziadio has deepened its priority to offer unparalleled services for students by strengthening the enhancement of dedicated executive coaches. Executive coaches work collaboratively with students in each cohort throughout the program to provide a wealth of valuable industry experience and networking opportunities.

Pepperdine Graziadio’s programs focus on shaping students’ lives by preparing them for service, purpose, and leadership in an ever-changing globalized economy. Learn more about Pepperdine Graziadio’s Executive MBA (EMBA) Program and Presidents & Key Executives MBA (PKE) Program, to explore how these top-ranked executive programs meet the educational and professional needs of mid-level and senior executives.

As a way to make virtual learning more engaging for students, Saint Louis University's Executive Master of International Business Program partnered with the Austral Group, an organization that provides experiential and online learning programs for universities.

Austral Group, which works with some of the country’s top business schools to offer engaging international learning experiences, provided itineraries to two virtual “destinations,” Chile and Argentina. 

The schedules included presentations from a diverse array of business leaders, with representatives from VReady Now, BerrySur, InvestChile, and Emerson.

Students also were invited to participate in business challenges as part of their virtual experiences. BerrySur provided three distinct challenges based on the students’ interests and areas of expertise: brand management strategy; relationship building with distributors in the wholesale market; and internationalization strategy for new markets.

The program was a success. The virtual experience allowed program students to fulfill their graduation requirements on time without the need for international travel. It provided an international networking experience for both the students and organizations.

Because students in the program pursue careers in international business, this virtual study-abroad experience was a critical part of their degree. While a traditional international immersion experience would be preferable, the program's faculty have proven that a virtual substitute can provide a meaningful learning experience for students.

The Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder will launch a new Executive MBA Program starting in fall 2021.

Designed to be a first-class experience for leaders and executives, the program will deliver both a top-ranked education and exclusive access to a powerful network. Award-winning faculty, many with PhDs from Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, and Chicago Booth, among other top business schools, will teach EMBA students.

The 21-month EMBA Program offers a unique delivery format, featuring residency periods in Boulder and the Colorado mountains that allow students to build peer relationships and engage with faculty. Between residencies, instructors leverage technology to provide flexibility for students managing their careers and personal lives.

The program’s distinct cohort structure ensures that students form strong relationships with each other, while also connecting with Leeds’ prestigious global network of business partners and alumni.

Students gain knowledge and develop skills in leadership, innovation, and inclusion—and can immediately apply these at work, adding value to their company while simultaneously advancing their career.

Look for information about the program here.

Vice Admiral (ret.) Raquel Bono, a 2015 graduate of the Carson College of Business Executive MBA online program at Washington State University, thought the chances of going back to work just six months into retirement were slim—until she received a phone call from Washington Gov. Jay Inslee asking if she would serve as Washington state’s COVID-19 hospital “czar” and take charge of hospital surge capacity.

Bono began working with various care facilities and the federal government, ensuring facility and medical staffing needs were met, and developing standard protocols across facilities. She advises the governor, his staff, and state agencies on actions to address capacity and strain across the health care system. She also coordinates with the emergency operations center to initiate statewide efforts.

Bono’s 36-year tenure in the Navy taught her to be agile and find orderly ways to solve problems, she said, skills that were also emphasized in her WSU EMBA Program.

“My Executive MBA education was transformative in terms of giving me the business knowledge and additional leadership skills necessary to transcend the geographic and cultural boundaries I encountered every day in my career,” says Bono.

Another alumnus is also making his mark during this crisis.

Boosting millions in supply cost savings and revenues to health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic was not something Ted Nolan thought he would be doing in his career. Fortunately, he has the training to be successful after graduating with his Executive MBA from Carson.

“My EMBA has increased my confidence in taking on challenging projects at work,” says Nolan, vice president of Health Resource Services (HRS), a provider-led supply chain company that works collaboratively with health care organizations to find cost-containment solutions to their needs. “It has also raised my salary by 34 percent, making the ROI on my degree less than 12 months.”

Nolan is leading a project that will save millions in supply costs to HRS members and increase HRS revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic and well into the future.

“My EMBA experience allowed me to confidently enter these complex projects with a wide variety of stakeholders,” Nolan says. “One of the most important lessons I learned while working on my EMBA is to work with smart people who share a common vision, whether it’s during a capstone project or complex work project.”

Carson had been a leader in global education delivery for more than 10 years.

When he became dean in 2015, Chip Hunter led an aggressive strategic planning exercise. His intent: The college would become the “model business school for tomorrow’s land-grant university.” Germaine to that aspiration are the online business programs the WSU Carson College of Business offers to students throughout the world.

The college has been a front-runner in offering an entirely online Executive MBA Program reaching students globally for more than 10 years. During a time when EMBA Programs across the country are wondering how to continue to reach students, these programs are making tremendous impact.

The college listened to the market and created shorter courses with access to concentrated information, rather than diffusing students’ focus across multiple topics. Second, faculty thought creatively about how expert subject matter can be presented to a working, adult audience. Third, the college created an environment online where students can form meaningful relationships with faculty and one another so they can remain connected as Carson Cougs and WSU alumni long after completing their degrees.

The early entry into the online environment equipped the college to successfully support students in their academic pursuits during COVID-19. The college reached a milestone enrollment of more 330 EMBA students in 2019-2020.

During COVID-19, Mike Stitt, CEO of Easy Tiger in Austin, Texas, pivoted the company from almost shutting down to developing a new business model.

His idea to give back to his community during COVID-19 was inspired by the MIT Executive MBA module “Leading with Impact.” This lab gives students an opportunity to work with non-profits and integrate their learnings from the program to make an impact. Stitt and his team were able to hire more people and set a goal to deliver 10,000 loaves of bread to food pantries in Austin. After quickly achieving that milestone, they’re on their way to a new goal: 100,000.

Stitt created a video to celebrate essential workers everywhere during this challenging time.

“We made this film for two important reasons,” says Stitt, EMBA ’15 MIT graduate. “First, the film is a means of creating empathy and understanding in the world about what it’s been like to be on the front lines as essential workers, and how – even in the face of extreme adversity – we all stepped up to give back and help out. We hope people will see the film and appreciate each of you and others like us more fully – and be inspired to create their own positive changes. We hope people will see the film and be inspired to keep trying, keep going, and keep building, even when the challenges are steep – just as we all have.”

He also hopes the film serves as a reminder of the times.

“We hope people will see who we were, where we were, and what we did when they look back on the year 2020 decades and centuries from now. This film will be in the archives and it will serve as a historical record showing we created positive change in the world by helping others in this time of need.”

The EMBA Program at the University of Alabama Manderson Graduate School of Business recently added new features to its curriculum to better accommodate the schedules of busy working professionals.

A new streamlined format for the program – both in its Tuscaloosa and Huntsville-based tracks – offers a blend of in-person, classroom instruction and online learning. As a result, students can now earn their Executive MBA in just 17 months via 34 in-class days. The new schedule makes it easier for students to accommodate work and family obligations.

Class sessions will now take place on Fridays and Saturdays one weekend a month with online course instruction and faculty support between in-person sessions. The immersive international study trip is now optional.

“We are responding to feedback from our students and greater industry trends with how we’ve reworked our curriculum,” says Donna Blackburn, director of the EMBA Program. “Now more than ever, The University of Alabama EMBA is the right choice for a mid-career manager or executive looking to not only gain hard skills, but also build professional connections.”

The University of Texas at El Paso’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) streamlined delivery formats for its Professional MBA (PMBA) and hybrid Executive MBA (EMBA) programs.

The new formats include significant changes in both academic content delivery and flexibility for the working professional.

“This past year, the College of Business Administration embarked upon a number of transformational changes to further strengthen our engagement with the business community,” says James E. Payne, dean of the College of Business Administration. “A major pillar of those changes has been the restructuring of our MBA portfolio. These efforts are part of our ongoing commitment to meeting the educational needs for residents in the region and beyond.”

A fast-track, cohort-style platform that combines quality, convenience, and affordability for the region’s junior to mid-career professionals, the shortened 36-hour PMBA replaces the Accelerated and Full-Time MBA formats and can be completed in 18 months.

The college also has redesigned its EMBA Program to better accommodate the busy schedules of those in senior leadership positions with new hybrid online courses.

“We strive to provide a flexible degree program that maintains the integrity of our academic content and value for our students,” says Laura M. Uribarri, assistant dean.

The EMBA is designed for leaders within for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors, as well as entrepreneurs, who are interested in deepening their strategic management skills and expanding their network of industry professionals. EMBA draws students from a diverse set of professional industries, including health care, financial services, and manufacturing, says Uribarri.

To learn more about the UTEP MBA program, visit here.