EMBA - LBS, CAMBRIDGE OR OXFORD + (Some Advice)

Omair1985

2 3

Posted Jun 17, 2019 11:31

I am currently in living and working I Dubai but I want to eventually move back to London with my family and would highly appreciate your advice on:

1. Timing of the move ( If I stay in Dubai 2 more years, I will have 100% of the tuition fees+ expenses covered by my savings, but would this have an impact on landing potential employment opportunities in London?)
2. MBA format (EMBA or Full time MBA)
3. Business school choice (LBS, CAMBRIDGE, OXFORD)

Please see my profile below:
Age :34
Qualification: ACCA
Experience:
5 years in London (Financial and Management Accountant) 2005-2010
9.5 years in Dubai (Financial Controller at an investment bank 5.5 years, FD/CFO at Swiss private bank 4 years)

My aim is to work in London and then eventually set up my own consultancy in the long term.

Thank your for your time and effort!

quote

Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jun 17, 2019 11:36

What sort of work do you want to do? I don't understand why you need an MBA. If you do, I would focus on the LBS or Chicago EMBA since you are not looking at full-time MBA roles and you are higher value than the Cambridge EMBA and won't learn too much from the Oxford EMBA. If you started the LBS Dubai EMBA then you could could move to London at any time when you found a role that you liked.

quote

Omair1985

2 3

Posted Jun 17, 2019 11:46

I am not yet clear about the sort of work I would do , but most probably consulting based on my experience. My reasons for doing the EMBA / MBA are:
1. Learning and development (mainly areas where I lack experience such as - private equity, M&A, Fintech etc)
2. Networking - hopefully once I am back in the UK and establish my own firm, this could help open doors to new opportunities.

My CEO did the EMBA from LBS in Dubai and wasn't happy about the class profile due to lack of diversity and quality as many students were apparently on govt scholarship etc and he wished that he had done the EMBA in London instead.

quote

Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jun 17, 2019 13:30

Yes, that makes sense. I did the LBS EMBA in London and I was impressed with the quality of the Dubai students. However, it's true that most of them are based in the UAE and for a European network you'd be better off with a top London EMBA (since many of the full-time MBA students have just arrived in the UK and don't yet have a strong local network). Given your focus on drilling down into specialised areas, I think LBS is a better option that, for example, Chicago, ESCP or Oxbridge where the pool of electives is much smaller than LBS, where EMBA students have access to a huge pool of courses shared across the MBAs, the Sloan programme, the MIF and the PhD.

PS as a personal example, I was also able to take a Columbia elective and spend a term full-time at Tuck.

[Edited by Duncan on Jun 17, 2019]

quote

Omair1985

2 3

Posted Jun 17, 2019 13:36

Thanks Duncan! Appreciate your valuable insight and advice. Any advice with regards to the timing of the move? considering the financial impact it could have where as I am just concerned about being away for too long from the UK, however, I have always worked for international firms in Dubai which I feel may be a positive factor for me.

quote

Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jun 17, 2019 17:20

Other things being equal, I think earlier is better than later. You'll benefit earlier from the investment and network. You've decided to come here, so there's no point delaying if you find the right opportunity. Perhaps it all hinges on an employer that sees the benefit of your taking an EMBA and understand that you will both be benefitting and investing.

quote