Should I Get an EMBA? The Answer is Yes —?Here’s Why

You might already be a seasoned business leader in your field, but for many ascending the management ladder, there may come a point where you find that some parts of running a business don’t come as easily as others.??

If this sounds familiar, an Executive MBA (EMBA) could be the ideal next step in your career journey.?

Unlike the business basics found in a conventional Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, an EMBA program is tailored to business leaders who already have experience in the management world. Many EMBA candidates currently operate in management positions in their organizations, so an EMBA program allows executives to attend school while continuing to work full-time.??

Rockhurst University’s Executive MBA program offers specialized education in business leadership that accommodates the busy schedules of executive leaders — with an enhanced emphasis on values-based, applied learning and holistic individual development. Centered around a unique cohort experience, the Rockhurst EMBA program provides students the opportunity to build relationship with peers that are far more profound than networking alone.?

Keep reading to learn more about why an EMBA is right for the current stage of your career, and why you shouldn’t be afraid to take the leap.?

What’s the difference between an MBA and an EMBA??

Unlike a full-time, traditional MBA program, an executive MBA (EMBA) program tends to focus less on the basics of business and more on its nuances. While a standard MBA program might focus on preparing students for management careers, an EMBA is geared toward teaching current leaders how to manage and operate a business more effectively.?

According to a 2020 report by the Executive MBA Council (EMBAC), a nonprofit coalition of business schools offering EMBA programs, the average EMBA student is 38 years old and has about 14 years of work experience, including about nine years of management experience. For this reason, EMBA classes are designed to accommodate the work obligations of its candidates, with most offering weekend and weeknight classes.?

Why choose an EMBA??

EMBAs have increasingly become a more popular choice for business leaders, as AASCB International reported a 68% increase in EMBA enrollment over the last decade (Fortune).?

This is because EMBA courses allow candidates to gain leadership skills and better understand the financial ins and outs of their jobs. Pursuing an EMBA can help candidates advance in their current organizations, change tracks within their career fields or help them to switch careers altogether.?

Executives are usually strapped for time managing their own business ventures, and they might not have time or need for the more generalized business courses that an MBA offers. An EMBA program cuts right to the advanced parts of business leadership, allowing executives to hone in on the parts of running a business where they really need education.?

What are the advantages of an EMBA?

EMBAs offer a wide variety of benefits that are advantageous to your career and professional development.??

An EMBA will help you:?

• ?Network with peers and create deeper relationships in the business community?
• Gain business acumen?
• Boost your management competency and skills?
• Enhance strategy skills?
• Understand and plan around company financials??
• Prepare for career advancement and promotion?
• Gather new insights into your own career path and others?
• Immerse yourself in a learning environment with other business leaders?

The Jesuit perspective?

You may have heard the term “Jesuit education” before, but what does it actually mean? A Jesuit education is essentially one driven by values: the importance of learning, personal development, social justice and a commitment to serving others. Jesuit education is deeply focused in mentoring and caring for the “whole person” — mind, body and spirit. This means encouraging students to pursue life-long learning on intellectual, moral and spiritual levels.?

While an EMBA program that enacts these personal and learning-based values can be a rare find, Rockhurst University offers one of the top-ranked EMBA programs in Kansas City.?

Ready to rock your impact??

Want to build out your management and leadership acumen? Rockhurst’s Executive MBA program can help you take the next step and rock your impact.?

If Rockhurst’s Executive MBA program sounds like the right fit for your professional journey, learn more about our program and how you can lead with distinction — or jump right into applying.?