EMBA decision

Marie

1 2

Posted May 28, 2021 11:28

I am in the process of the EMBA selection, and I would like to ask your help. I have finance background, middle manager position, and more than 10 years of experience. I am based in french speaking part of Switzerland, and I would like to continue my career here. As my next step I would like to either lead transformation/change management projects or move to CSR domain (I know those are two far from each other). I would like to use my EMBA as a career boost for the cross functional move and move toward career lather.

I am currently admitted to IESE (Munich campus) and ESCP (various campus). I applied both as they provide very good value for money programs. I like more senior profile of ESCP and its international cohort. Further more ESCP has certain curriculum linked to CSR.

IESE is a traditional business school with up to date curriculum based on the case studies. Also I feel that IESE has better post career services and much closes to the business. On the other hand their program is not flexible and seems to offer the curriculums for someone without finance/business background.

I am concerned that despite both school/programs very well rated, their names are less known than some other schools. I checked that both IESE and ESCP has relatively limited network in Switzerland. Shall I consider other business schools? LBS or INSEAD? However their tuition fee is twice of ESCP/IESE and I don’t want to move to consulting field.

Last but not least in Switzerland there is EPFL - famous technical university. As of recently they started to offer Technology EMBA. The university itself has a very strong brand, not sure about EMBA thought.

Thank you a lot for your assistance, I would appreciate any advice!

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted May 28, 2021 12:01

The key thing here, of course, is not clarity on the school but clarity on the goals. If you want to focus on organisational change, why not take a degree focussed on that:
- Insead https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/emc
- HEC https://www.hec.edu/en/executive-education/executive-masters/consulting-coaching-change

I think IESE is an amazing school; I just helped a client be placed into that, and it seems like the quality and the experience is very high. 'Traditional' is not a bad word when it comes to the case study approach. It forces you to make the case for change, not just to identify the options. In the Francophone educational systems, it's often very easy to assess options but a little harder to leverage the full range of influencing tools.

The key thing here, of course, is not clarity on the school but clarity on the goals. If you want to focus on organisational change, why not take a degree focussed on that:<br>- Insead https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/emc<br>- HEC https://www.hec.edu/en/executive-education/executive-masters/consulting-coaching-change <br><br>I think IESE is an amazing school; I just helped a client be placed into that, and it seems like the quality and the experience is very high. 'Traditional' is not a bad word when it comes to the case study approach. It forces you to make the case for change, not just to identify the options. In the Francophone educational systems, it's often very easy to assess options but a little harder to leverage the full range of influencing tools. 

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Marie

1 2

Posted May 28, 2021 12:06

Duncan,

Thank you a lot for such a quick reply! Infact, I read many of your previous comments in other threads and I find them very insightful.

I was thinking about specialized program, but I am not 100% sure on the goal, so at this point of time would like to keep the door open with more broader exacutive eduction.

Can I ask you what do you mean with "In the Francophone educational systems, it's often very easy to assess options but a little harder to leverage the full range of influencing tools." ?

And thank you a lot about your IESE opinion. Do you have any position on ESCP?

Duncan, <br><br>Thank you a lot for such a quick reply! Infact, I read many of your previous comments in other threads and I find them very insightful. <br><br>I was thinking about specialized program, but I am not 100% sure on the goal, so at this point of time would like to keep the door open with more broader exacutive eduction.<br><br>Can I ask you what do you mean with "In the Francophone educational systems, it's often very easy to assess options but a little harder to leverage the full range of influencing tools." ?<br><br><div>And thank you a lot about your IESE opinion. Do you have any position on ESCP?</div><div>
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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted May 28, 2021 12:17

The point about francophonie is a bit hard to make briefly. My experience has been that, especially in the grandes ecoles, students are often taught to assess the options using data and to present the options confident that the facts themselves will present the right choice. In the Anglo-Saxon approach, often people make a qualitative, provisional judgement and advocate for it, planning to marshall material in support of their case and ofyen motivating the case for change on the basis of non-factual resources.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted May 28, 2021 12:18

I've nothing specific to add on ESCP to what has already been written. It might be helpful to search the board for: Romandy.

PS Ha! The search in this website is terrible. Try Googling this site instead: https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Afind-MBA.com+Romandy&oq=site%3Afind-MBA.com+Romandy&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.5400j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[Edited by Duncan on May 28, 2021]

I've nothing specific to add on ESCP to what has already been written. It might be helpful to search the board for: Romandy.<br><br>PS Ha! The search in this website is terrible. Try Googling this site instead: https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Afind-MBA.com+Romandy&oq=site%3Afind-MBA.com+Romandy&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.5400j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 

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