Spawning such powerhouses as Under Armour and CoverGirl cosmetics, the Baltimore-Towson area is a fertile ground for success. The key to achieving this success, however, is understanding how to take advantage of the opportunities in this area. For many executives, an EMBA gives them the valuable insight they need into a changing business world to keep ahead of the competition and make more money both personally and for their company.
Before you can get into the ways an EMBA affects income, however, it’s first important to understand what distinguishes an EMBA program from a regular MBA program:
• It is extremely selective – Most of the time, EMBA programs are only available to executives; people who have been in the business world for years and have established a strong career. Acceptance often hinges on the depth and diversity of their experience as well as the quality of their background. In fact, many EMBA students are already extremely successful in their chosen careers, and they are looking to maintain that edge and expand their opportunities.
• Classes are held less frequently – To suit the schedules of busy executives, EMBA classes are frequently held just four days a month; oftentimes two weekend days every other weekend. The entire program averages 21 months.
• It focuses on continuing education rather than developing an initial base – MBA programs set up a deep understanding of business and prepare students to be successful in the business world. An EMBA program expands on an already extensive understanding and further develops leadership abilities that have been formed during years of experience. Students often learn just as much from each other as they do from the classes themselves.
With so many differences between the EMBA program and an MBA, it’s easy to imagine that the benefits of the program are also different. And, this is often true, since the ability to make more money by EMBA students is due to different factors than an MBA or other graduate program:
• Networking – Because the selection process for an EMBA is so rigorous, and it is useful to executives in all areas of business, attending can help you make valuable connections with leaders in various professional fields that you may not have otherwise come into contact with. You may build partnerships that can help you expand your business opportunities in Baltimore, nationwide, and even worldwide. MBA students may be interested in building relationships to find themselves a job; EMBA students build relationships to create jobs.
• A focus on higher level concerns – EMBA students already have the basics. These courses focus on the little aspects of business that can make a huge difference in performance and profit.
• Advancement opportunities – Many EMBA students work for a private or public company, but a significant portion owns their own businesses, and they are able to make more money by streamlining their processes rather than by getting a promotion and/or raise.
While this list explains some of the more common ways a Maryland Executive MBA boosts earnings, for many professionals, it is the things they weren’t expecting from an EMBA that end up providing the greatest benefit.
