Executive MBA backed by domain expertise to fast-track your career

There’s a growing trend of Executive MBAs in India. Designed for people with higher work experience, one-year MBAs have been deemed ideal for people in managerial or top positions.

But can an EMBA reap the same benefits like a two-year MBA? Can an EMBA graduate change industry or function with good compensation package as easily as a full-time MBA graduate?

“It is possible to change the industry or function after EMBA to a certain extent. If someone with 10 to 11 years of experience in Telecom domain is trying to shift to Telecom Management Consulting, it is quite easy to make the shift with the help of EMBA. But if the same person is trying to shift to IT or Finance Consulting, the switch will be much difficult but not impossible. One has to start afresh in that case and not many are comfortable with it,” says Partha Sarathi Mukhopadhyay, current Executive PGP student at Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

Industry insiders and human resource personnel somewhat agree with the above statement. According to Gargi, a senior HR manager with a top IT firm, “Traditionally, we have hired EMBA candidates for their domain expertise along with management skills. However, we are trying to break from this mould and hire candidates from different fields for more diversity and experience.”

Mid-career executives bring a certain years of experience and knowledge about their domain. They enrol in EMBA to make the transition into larger management roles. However, switching to different fields or different roles is not a cakewalk. Rahul Jain (name changed on request), former student of PGP at ISB, worked as a news correspondent for almost eight years. “My career had peaked. After eight years, there were very limited growth options. Transitioning to senior management roles was the sensible option,” he says. After pursuing ISB’s PGP programme, he shifted fields and is currently working as senior brand manager in a healthcare firm. “I had to start afresh but it was worth it,” Rahul recalls.

In terms of compensation too, the EMBA programmes have made big news. Last year, ET reported on how two IIM Bangalore EPGP students were offered crore-plus salaries (view the report here). According to reports, this year also IIM-Bangalore has received enthusiastic participation from recruiters.

“After an Executive MBA, switching to some roles and functions may be harder than others but not impossible,” says Mukhopadhyay.