These are all good schools. Do you have any career goals?

[quote]These are all good schools. Do you have any career goals? [/quote]

During studies I worked 1 year in a startup company focusing on sports and better health for people in society. Today I work in the banking sector but solely with startup companies (so not a traditional banking role - more about networking and stakeholder management) - we especially focus on "impact" companies (sustainability). This combination of entrepreneurship and business innovation linked to making an impact is an area that really has my attention. I am not sure I will take the entrepreneuship path but I have a huge desire to change society to the better through innovative thinking.

This would also lead more towards "inspirational leadership" in regards to which type of MBA I am looking for. One of the reasons for EADA is among other things the focus on entrepreneurship from the school and Barcelona itself being a "startup hub" so to say.
In line with this I have also considered HKUST- however, the total costs (tuition + the stay) scares me a bit.

Okay, but nobody wants to make the world worse. If you dont have any specific career goals, then selection just comes down to where your language skills are best.

Well, I don’t speak Spanish/French/Italian but I am eager to learn. I learned German through studying/working and living there, and would strive for the same no matter which country I end up in.
Sounds like I probably won’t go wrong no matter where I end. Do you have a subjective opinion about the schools? I have read your profile description and can see that you have a good knowledge about many of the European Business Schools.

No, my gut feeling is a bit different. If you don't have specific career goals or professional language skills in any of these countries, then it seems rather likely that things would go wrong. Of course with the lack of goals, it would be hard to tell if you were successful or not.

Do you already have admits for these schools? Are they your only options? Yes, it would be good to know more about your goals.

[quote]Do you already have admits for these schools? Are they your only options? Yes, it would be good to know more about your goals.[/quote]

Hi

No I haven't got admissions. However, I have been in contact with the schools, and they have all encouraged me to apply. Next step would be a good GMAT (have one the 20th December) and a good application. Of course I can't take this for granted but I feel quite confident.
I am open to all schools so feel free to chip in :-) Workwise it could be anywhere in the world after the MBA - though with Europe as the most obvious choice.

Here is what I previously have written about my goals:

Central in my career will be “genuine” leadership well anchored around Corporate Shared Values (CSV) instead of “just” CSR. Further business innovation and intra-/entrepreneurship will be core for me no matter business size.

Short-term I want to join a small to medium-sized company where I can get the CSR responsibility and the opportunity to grow the business through genuine leadership and empower my team to make a positive impact on society. I envision myself leading a team that will grow its size and importance both for the company as well as for external stakeholders.

Such career stage will allow me to have hands-on approach on daily operations and hence accelerate the business. I definitely have a passion for impact business but I also see this as a huge opportunity to grow the business and make profit.

Medium-term I want to move to a larger company where I first will be leading a team creating positive societal impact through innovative solutions. Working in a large corporation now, I see a lot of room for improvement, what kind of role such an organization can play in society. Especially, I would love to focus on extensive integration of values with the external environment. I see this as a must in order to create genuine CSV creating value for not only the business but also society as a whole.

Briefly touching upon a long-term focus my goal will be to become CEO of a corporate focusing on sustainable solutions for society. I am open to different industries but certain that business innovation will be core in order to shape a corporate organization with the mind of an entrepreneur.


Hope this helps a bit - thanks for the inputs :-)

I don't think there are small businesses in France that need an anglophone CSR manager with an MBA.

Have you considered Audencia?

[quote]Have you considered Audencia?[/quote]

Actually not - but just looked into it, and it sounds interesting.. and with scholarship options that potentially could fit to me. Do you have any experience with the school?

I btw did the admission test for EADA yesterday and think I nailed it (well, ok with confidence :-) ). Monday interview and potentially interview with the committee 1-2 days after. If I get in I will get 15% early bird discount (so price will be 31.000€ in total). Pretty hooked on that solution.. but will look more into Audencia :-)

Bocconi seems the best from those schools. Maybe you should first consider in which country you want to live/work. Not all countries offer same opportunities.

[quote]Bocconi seems the best from those schools. Maybe you should first consider in which country you want to live/work. Not all countries offer same opportunities. [/quote]

Yes I think you are right about Bocconi. However, the tuition fee of 57.000€ vs for instance EADA 28.000-31.000€ (dependent on elite sport scholarship or not) scares me a bit. I have a physical meeting with a programme manager from Bocconi next week, so might know more about the options very soon :-)

To be honest I see Spanish more useful than French/Italien in regards to the thoughts I have about my future. On the other hand I am still very open to the different options: good school with the right programme fit and to a price that makes sense.. I know everyone can say this, but they’re sort of my criteria.

The additional lifetime value of a great school like Bocconi is much greater than the difference between the tuition costs. Initially, SDA alumni earn $28k more than EADA MBAs and that gap will only widen. http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/charts?ranking=european-business-school-rankings-2018&field=44702&type=single&entities=348902|348879

[quote]The additional lifetime value of a great school like Bocconi is much greater than the difference between the tuition costs. Initially, SDA alumni earn $28k more than EADA MBAs and that gap will only widen. http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/charts?ranking=european-business-school-rankings-2018&field=44702&type=single&entities=348902|348879 [/quote]

Yes I know - what keep me away from Bocconi would be the thought about borrowing money (which can be avoided with EADA) + that I see it as a greater asset to learn Spanish than Italian. However, I of course don’t close the door.
Next week will I know if I get accepted into EADA. Then no matter that take the GMAT 20/12. After that I will need to decide what to accept or pursue.

Credit cards, mortgages, student loans, national debt: borrowing is really useful. With almost any long term investment, the best value is to invest in something better.

[quote]Credit cards, mortgages, student loans, national debt: borrowing is really useful. With almost any long term investment, the best value is to invest in something better. [/quote]

Well, you are right and it’s a good point. I will try to balance all the aspects like tuition, reputation, location, programme fit, length, etc.. and of course it also very much depends on the GMAT if the top schools should be included as options...

The difference in tution is tiny in comparison to the outcomes. Focus on outcomes because that is why you are doing this.