If your considering a part-time MBA you will need a lot of support – your partner, your family, and your boss will all need to be on board if you are to maximise the opportunity.
Asking an employer to be flexible around your studies can be difficult, particularly in the current economic climate. In these situations it is always worth reminding your employer that with short term pain, comes long term gain.
The Association of MBAs (AMBA) has come with a handy list of the benefits a graduate from one of their accredited courses can bring to an employer.
Overall, an AMBA MBA is equipped with both a holistic view of all business functions and processes and a strong overview of international business strategy. In addition, students are taught a range of ‘soft’ skills which include, but are not restricted to: ability to manage change; communication; leadership; teamwork; dealing with ambiguity; negotiation; problem solving; critical thinking; values.
Employers can also expect AMBA graduates to:
- bring the latest business thinking to your organisation
- create, scrutinise and exploit opportunities
- have well-developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively and to interact with groups and individuals at all levels
- apply consistently in-depth knowledge and understanding, based on previous work experience and advanced study, to complex business situations
- have an holistic understanding of all key business concepts and functions, including financial management
- apply strategic management skills at a senior level in changing business environments
- transform organisations through strategic leadership, intellectual rigour and professional ethical values
- understand and have experience of global issues
- lead and develop others in an organisational context
- make sound judgements with incomplete data and communicate conclusions clearly to a range of audiences
- be self-directed and able to act autonomously in planning and implementing projects
- responsibility for continuing to develop their knowledge and skills
So next time your boss asks ‘What’s in your MBA for me?’, you’ll have all the answers.
