The Vanderbilt Advantage
Designed for seasoned professionals who want an executive edge, the Vanderbilt MBA for executives offers a rigorous, world-class 60-credit-hour MBA meeting two Saturdays per month over a 24-month period. You’ll gain in-depth cross-functional perspectives and executive decision-making skills amid accomplished peers who are in similar positions of influence in their organizations. All without disrupting your career momentum or settling for a lesser degree.
Here are 17 reasons why our executive students and alumni recommend Vanderbilt for their MBA.
It’s a real 60-credit-hour MBA from Vanderbilt University, a highly ranked university known for its strong academics, global prestige and loyal alumni network.
- You’ll benefit from a program design and curriculum that go far beyond a typical Executive MBA program. The Vanderbilt Executive Edge focuses on the Advanced Financial Frameworks, Strategic Skills and Vision, and Leadership Development insights that increase your value to and magnify your versatility within your organization.
- You’ll be among a class of outstanding and influential peers from a variety of organizations and industries.
- As part of a cross-functional “C-Team,” you’ll be carefully matched with a group of those peers whose expertise and perspectives differ from one another; you’ll learn from and be pushed to do more by your classmates as well as your professors.
- You’ll have open-door access to the same renowned faculty stars who teach in the Vanderbilt MBA program. They’ll serve as mentors and friends, and they’ll become part of your career network. Long after graduation, you can call on them for ideas and advice.
- Classes meet on Saturdays twice a month, so you can pursue your degree with the least possible disruption to your career. (The only time away from the office is during Week-in-Residence that kicks off the program and the International Residency that takes place during the spring of your second year.)
- It’s a great long-term strategy for your career that also gives you immediate ROI, even in a harsh economy. Despite the worst economy in years, only one year into the program 26 percent of the Executive MBA Class of 2012 reported a salary increase, well above the standard cost-of-living adjustment for their companies. And 56 percent of the Executive MBA Class of 2011 received a promotion or greater management responsibility before graduation.
- ROI for students also means ROI for their employers. Executive MBA students in the Class of 2011 expect that their sponsoring organizations will achieve payback in just 24 months.
- The program’s structure includes a variety of Apply-it-now Experiences that allow you to build on a foundation of knowledge and then apply it to your business challenges. These experiences include a number of course assignments, a Personal Capstone Project and a Business Strategy Project that you’ll do in concert with other members of your C-Team.
- The entire program focuses on your success. We start with pre-application counseling to ensure that you’re a good fit for the program, and that you’ll be able to work alongside first-rate colleagues in the demanding C-Team environment. Once in the program, you'll benefit from peer, alumni and faculty mentors
- Because of a distinctive emphasis on leadership development and the goal of equipping you to succeed in senior management, you’ll have access to industry tools and diagnostics used by Fortune 500 CEOs to master strengths and minimize derailers. You’ll gain insights about your personal strengths and goals that will assist you as you rise within your organization.
- There’s no absolute guarantee you’ll love the program. But satisfaction scores from students and alumni are exceptionally high. As proof, a full 100 percent of the 2010 and 2011 graduating classes contributed to their class gift (this is the highest participation of any class gift in the university’s history).
- You’ll gain a global perspective that’s critical in today’s business world. While courses throughout the program integrate a global viewpoint, a full 15 percent of the curriculum focuses solely on cross-border decisions and issues.
- Owen is competitive but it’s even more collegial, a rare quality among B-schools. Our class size—an average of 50 students—and comprehensive evaluation of prospective students during the admissions process help to build and preserve a collaborative and warm environment.
- Your family is part of our family. The support provided by spouses, partners and children is vital to your success and we work hard to acknowledge and celebrate their contributions by welcoming them to events throughout the year.
- You’ll benefit from a highly supportive network of students and alumni around the world—business leaders and entrepreneurs, near and far—who will help you while you’re in school and throughout your career. Wherever you want to go, we're there.
- You’ll be in a great city that offers easy access to many locations in and out of Tennessee. Nashville is within a three-hour drive or a quick, direct flight from major markets in the Southeast, New York, D.C., the Midwest, and the Southwest.