Higher Education full throttle. Transforming how we work.

The power of higher education is giving shape to a new age. Right before our eyes, it’s transforming economies, industries, and how we work—and it is calling motivated people to develop fundamental career success so that they can positively impact our world. Are you ready to step up to the challenge and develop your talent? Here are two cogent options: MIM and MBA degree programmes.

Top business schools have been crafting a combination of human insight and the extraordinary potential of new technology tied to contemporary business practices. Their programmes are designed to foster lasting and sustainable impact on your career success as well as the organisations you choose to work for.

Furthermore, our clients have revealed their passions and the people who have inspired them most to build a better future for themselves as well as others. They are inspired by deeply held human values that motivate their work creating ethical paths to a successful career that shows a distinct break with past business behaviour, which they deem outdated and toxic.

MIM degrees have become exceedingly popular. First, you only need limited work experience that can include internships. Secondly, you need not wait until after your undergrad studies to finish your education. This is one of the MIM's most vital selling points; oh, did I mention, it also gives you unlimited access to some of the world's prestigious firms and great paying jobs.

The MIM Rankings

The most coveted prize in the FT MIM Rankings is the No.1 position, held for 11 consecutive years by St. Gallen in Switzerland. North Americans are unaware of this excellent school, but most Europeans are. It has also gained traction among Asian applicants as the perfect MBA alternative. The FT rankings feature 100 education providers, and what may come as a shock to some is that the list is dominated by European business schools, particularly the French. This won’t sound surprising to those who have followed the twists and turns in business education over the last ten years.

Best of all, graduates can look forward to excellent starting salaries, with St Gallen’s among the highest weighted salaries 3 years after finishing their degree. ($123,999). The school is especially valued for its active career support to gain plum jobs.

HEC-Paris: "Nous Voila"

HEC-Paris continues to be the number 2 “chou-chou” among applicants. LBS, which ranks number 4, offers its cohorts an outstanding post-grad education and a rich alumni network. Career support marks out the top European schools and has been spiking in demand. Dimitri Keramitas, an Admissions consultant at Whitefield Consulting, explains, "Undergrads are opting more and more for master’s degrees than in the past. Given the pandemic, aspiring professionals are impatient and want to get going sooner than their predecessors".

Why you should do your MIM now

Carole Jacquemont, an Executive Coach at Whitefield Consulting, points out to potential MIM candidates poignant reasons to do your MIM. Her analysis should encourage you to get off the fence:

“The pandemic has revealed and exacerbated several trends that will continue to play a substantial role in the way companies navigate their activities in the global economy.

According to McKinsey, the best firms will talent-hunt top people and give them the right conditions to build a solid career. Others will find it harder to compete, continue to downsize, and not make the right decisions to get them through this chaotic time.?

Policy pundits and politicians will continue to talk a good game, some with honest intentions, but the hard truth is that you must take your career in hand to succeed today. Nobody is going to push you unless you take the first step. Executive coaching and career counseling are starting points. A great coach will have your back, give you confidence, and better still, guide you throughout the application process to get a top MBA or MIM credential.

In our conversations with leading executives, we have identified priorities for firms that wish to remain relevant and, perhaps more importantly, how you can navigate your career trajectory given the “new normal” context.

First, companies seek to retain top talent and go out of their way to recruit and pay individuals they feel can enhance sales and their bottom lines. Executives and managers across the board can demand salary increases providing that they hold the proper credentials, are efficient, and literally “deliver the goods.”?

Governments have assisted companies during the pandemic to remain viable organisations. However, much of that money was put aside and not invested in the staff as it should have been. Some employees have felt intense pressure and have tried to remain resilient. Resilience only matters when you have a direct stake in staying where you are.

Secondly, this has given employees and managers a distinct advantage in making a career transition or demanding a salary increase. Those in this position will need further executive training, credentials, and skillsets to prove they are fundamental to an organisation’s health.?

Remember, companies are not charities and are driven by financial incentives. So, if you are a manager or aspiring professional, this is the perfect time to do either an MBA or MIM degree from a top business school. From the corporate point of view, the competition is hot and tight to attract top talent with the right pedigree.

Thirdly, managers at all levels will need to do more than fine-tune their day-to-day tasks to stay competitive in the workplace. You must be ready and willing to rethink how you operate and why you can make a difference. To put it in laypeople’s terms, you must embrace a broader perspective.?

From our point of view, this means enhancing your toolkit with relevant skills, mindsets, and pedigree. This is why we counsel people to do a MIM or MBA. It is worth the investment and will save your career from being side-tracked into redundancy. For those managers, who believe their positions are secure, think again.?

You might be doing fine now, or so you think, but in a short time, your function will be replaced by someone younger and less expensive. The only way to survive the economic changes we are going through is to arm yourself with those skills and degrees coveted by most companies.

Fourthly, most companies have not been idle during the pandemic. They have used this period to innovate, digitalise, integrate AI when possible, and reorganise their supply chains. How you fit into this picture will make you relevant or redundant. Companies are not fools and will continue to alter the work environment to suit their needs. From a manager’s perspective, you live in a time of opportunity. Are you ready to grasp it and make the career transition you should?

Bringing it back home

Aside from the mouth-watering salaries on graduation, other factors pushing up the demand for the top business schools (MBA, EMBA, MIM) are value for money, gender equality, and an international student cohort. Have other questions? Send us a DM and let's have a conversation.

?About the author

Andrew Scharf is an Award-Winning MBA Admissions Consultant ?? Executive & Career Coach recognised for helping top performers, and aspiring professionals be all they can be. His?mission is to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world at?Whitefield Consulting . Have a professional project you would like to discuss, send him a DM.