US vs. Italian alternative Online MBA

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M19A

8 5

Posted May 14, 2021 22:31

Dears,
I am a Product Manager of a worldwide multinational company ranked in Fortune Global 500. I would like to step out from my comfort zone and develop the skills for a high-level managerial path, within my company. My employer has agreed to sponsorize partially a MBA and we are developing together my development.

I have an Engineering background, BSc in Production Engineering and MSc in Management Engineering held in Italy at Politecnico di Milano and five 5 years of successfull growth within my company - active in technology sector.

Currently I live and work in Italy, I had on-site experiences in Central Europe and many business interactions with worldwide countries. For the future I am open to work in different international locations, Europe or even US, or eventually stay in Italy, I cannot predict in short term.

I am looking for a flexible MBA in English, mostly online (optimal 90%), from an internationally well recognized school. Budget within 45 k USD. General management know how and applied learning for a career boost inside my company.

The options are:
- Boston Questrom OMBA
- MIP International Flex EMBA

Related to BU, I do not like that is 100% online without any F2F activity. But from reviews and online articles, it seems exciting and also it gives me really the possibility to approach a learning zone (new context of studies, different people backgrounds). While for the second I like the blended teaching method and international weeks, program is more mature and solid in online rankings, but I am concerned on the fact that is very connected to my past studies (same school of management) and may be less internationally recognized.

May I have some suggestions within the two alternatives? Which kind of ranking can be used to have an apple-to-apple comparison? Many thanks in advance for the help.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted May 15, 2021 19:14

I'm not sure why these are the only two options. WHich business schools have the most MBAs in your company, or in your market segment?

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M19A

8 5

Posted May 16, 2021 17:48

I'm not sure why these are the only two options. WHich business schools have the most MBAs in your company, or in your market segment?

Hello Duncan, thanks for the interesting.

Based on Linkedin researches and my network, below a ranking approximately in order (it may be reliable at 80%) as recurrent MBA schools within my company:
IMD Business School
SDA Bocconi
MIP
INSEAD
London Business School
IE Business School
Harvard Business School
ESMT
MIT Sloan

The reasons of the two alternatives are the followings: MIP and Bocconi are preferred MBA suppliers for my company in Italy. I discarded Bocconi due of Italian language based MBA. MIP I like, but It has a very high engineering background and it may be less value added due of my past studies.
While BU is my preferred alternative, I am trying to influence the choice with solid reasons to pursue that path as special conditions, it is a breakthrough and it may be a great challenge for my career (increase global horizons).

[Edited by M19A on May 16, 2021]

[quote]I'm not sure why these are the only two options. WHich business schools have the most MBAs in your company, or in your market segment?  [/quote]<br><br>Hello Duncan, thanks for the interesting. <br><br>Based on Linkedin researches and my network, below a ranking approximately in order (it may be reliable at 80%) as recurrent MBA schools within my company:<div><br></div><div>IMD Business School</div><div><br></div><div>SDA Bocconi</div><div><br></div><div>MIP</div><div><br></div><div>INSEAD</div><div><br></div><div>London Business School</div><div><br></div><div>IE Business School</div><div><br></div><div>Harvard Business School</div><div><br></div><div>ESMT</div><div><br></div><div>MIT Sloan</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The reasons of the two alternatives are the followings: MIP and Bocconi are preferred MBA suppliers for my company in Italy. I discarded Bocconi due of Italian language based MBA. MIP I like, but It has a very high engineering background and it may be less value added due of my past studies.</div><div><br></div><div>While BU is my preferred alternative, I am trying to influence the choice with solid reasons to pursue that path as special conditions, it is a breakthrough and it may be a great challenge for my career (increase global horizons).</div><div><div><div><br><br><br><br></div></div></div>

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StuartHE

1.200 720

Posted May 16, 2021 19:02

Is your Italian not good enough to study at Bocconi? Is the EMMS or Executive MIF an option? Certainly, Bocconi adds a lot to your CV. I don't think BU is as well understood in Euripe as in the USA.

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M19A

8 5

Posted May 16, 2021 19:12

Is your Italian not good enough to study at Bocconi? Is the EMMS or Executive MIF an option? Certainly, Bocconi adds a lot to your CV. I don't think BU is as well understood in Euripe as in the USA.

Maybe I was not clear

I am Italian native speaker, anyway I do not like the fact that Bocconi teach in Italian and I am looking to an English based MBA, which is able to attract foreign students. I believe that international interactions are essential for a global role. But you are right, BU is for sure less recognized in Europe than US.

[quote]Is your Italian not good enough to study at Bocconi? Is the EMMS or Executive MIF an option? Certainly, Bocconi adds a lot to your CV. I don't think BU is as well understood in Euripe as in the USA. [/quote]<br><br>Maybe I was not clear :smile: I am Italian native speaker, anyway I do not like the fact that Bocconi teach in Italian and I am looking to an English based MBA, which is able to attract foreign students. I believe that international interactions are essential for a global role. But you are right, BU is for sure less recognized in Europe than US.

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StuartHE

1.200 720

Posted May 16, 2021 19:30

Most of the students at MIP will be Italians too. Obviously, the culture of these schools is very different. However, I think the quality of the experience with an on-campus degree at SDA Bocconi will be very much better than the Boston MBA, and its networking power will be much greater.

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M19A

8 5

Posted May 16, 2021 21:56

Most of the students at MIP will be Italians too. Obviously, the culture of these schools is very different. However, I think the quality of the experience with an on-campus degree at SDA Bocconi will be very much better than the Boston MBA, and its networking power will be much greater.

Thanks Stuart for the precious feedbacks. I believe that EMMS is too vertically focused, even if I like contents but it miss a leadership path and the risk of specialization is by nature very high. SDA Bocconi MBA recognition is for sure higher in Europe and there may be bias on US MBAs (due to lack of know-how). Do you think that networking power has still a great importance in case of an agreed long term development plan within same company?

[quote]Most of the students at MIP will be Italians too. Obviously, the culture of these schools is very different. However, I think the quality of the experience with an on-campus degree at SDA Bocconi will be very much better than the Boston MBA, and its networking power will be much greater.  [/quote]<br>Thanks Stuart for the precious feedbacks. I believe that EMMS is too vertically focused, even if I like contents but it miss a leadership path and the risk of specialization is by nature very high. SDA Bocconi MBA recognition is for sure higher in Europe and there may be bias on US MBAs (due to lack of know-how). Do you think that networking power has still a great importance in case of an agreed long term development plan within same company?

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted May 16, 2021 23:27

This sort of question would take a more careful comparison of you skill, needs, goals etc. BU is a profoundly American school and its MBA, which I think is just 30 or 32 credits, is a compressed and strategic survey of management. My experience working with clients and a partner firm in Italy suggests that Italian management requires different skills.

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NAX151282

14 8

Posted May 16, 2021 23:57

Why you don't try Alliance Manchester business school , global MBA program , i've got my MBA last year , i did the 18 month program fast track , and i would say it was a great experience , you have to travel to attend the workshops but the bended model with them works perfectly . By the way I'm Italian too and was but confused about doing the MBA in Italy or UK , and It was a good decision doing it in Manchester .

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StuartHE

1.200 720

Posted May 17, 2021 11:14

Great suggestion. In the top 30 for its full-time MBA, and much more rooted in global and European realities than BU. Both schools, and their parent universities, have strong healthcare experience. For example, Manchester has led the NHS MBA for most of the last 20 years, I think.

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M19A

8 5

Posted May 17, 2021 12:00

Thanks to all for the suggestions!

Now I have a higher clarity:
- MIP and BU are out;
- Global Alliance MBA or Warwick Online MBA on the table. I have analyzed them some months back, MBS seems very dynamic and rich of practice activities while Warwick has some additional contents (innovation and leadership) which may create for me an higher value;
- SDA Bocconi EMBA as (over budget but high value) back-up, in case my employer will convince me on that direction - anyway with the CONs identified before.

Thanks to all for the suggestions! :smile: Now I have a higher clarity:<br>- MIP and BU are out;<br>- Global Alliance MBA or Warwick Online MBA on the table. I have analyzed them some months back, MBS seems very dynamic and rich of practice activities while Warwick has some additional contents (innovation and leadership) which may create for me an higher value;<br>- SDA Bocconi EMBA as (over budget but high value) back-up, in case my employer will convince me on that direction - anyway with the CONs identified before.

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