How does an Executive MBA differ from a traditional MBA?
The main difference between an EMBA and an MBA is their participants. An EMBA participant typically has more life and work experience than an MBA student, including significant management experience. For example, participants in the EMBA McGill-HEC Montreal program have a minimum of 10 years of work experience and 5 years of management experience, although the program average is closer to 10 year of management experience and 17 years of work experience. This EMBA program has among the most experienced participants of any EMBA in North America.
EMBA participants are experienced managers, so the program can presume a certain depth of business knowledge, which means that the pedagogical approach can include the sharing of knowledge and expertise between participants in the class. In the EMBA McGill-HEC Montreal, this means the class can address issues that couldn’t be addressed with a less experienced group. Since the participants are managers and leaders, management issues are dealt with in the program just as they are encountered in real life.
Another key difference is that Executive MBA participants continue their careers while they study. For most, they are looking to enhance their competences and accelerate their careers, usually while remaining in their organization. In contrast, full-time MBA students are most often looking to reposition their careers and will interrupt their working-life for one or two years in order to do so.
Finally, the schedule of an Executive MBA program is also adapted to the participants schedule as working managers.
So how to choose between an EMBA and an MBA?
The choice is a very personal one. It should be centred on your current reality, your experience and your aspirations. If you are looking to combine study with career, and you have significant management experience, an EMBA is likely more appropriate. There are a number of excellent MBA and EMBA programs available. Each school and program has its advantages and disadvantages. Look for the program that will meet your needs and help you reach your goals.
Why did they choose an EMBA?
Here are thoughts from EMBA McGill-HEC Montreal alumni on why they chose to do an EMBA:
« Fier de mon background technique (ing.), j’ai toujours voulu participer à un MBA afin de complémenter mes connaissances en gestion. Avec 15 ans d’expérience en gestion, il était clair qu’un programme pour cadres correspondait mieux à mes besoins.»
“I liked that the duration is shorter than a normal part-time MBA program. I valued greatly the strength of the students and the value of the diploma. I think that it is better suited to people like me, having challenging jobs and crazy schedule.”
«Je recherchais un MBA de haut calibre où les participants pourraient m’apporter autant que les professeurs. De plus, je cherchais un programme ou j’apprendrais vraiment sans avoir l’impression de refaire mon BAC comme dans un MBA traditionnel.»
