The Right MBA

The fact that an MBA degree is prestigious is not in doubt. It equips you and gives you leverage in the business world that would otherwise take a longer time to achieve. The kind of exposure an MBA degree from a prestigious school gives you is no doubt huge. In fact, most international companies have recruitment processes that are designed specifically for MBAs.

Therefore, it goes without saying that choosing the right MBA is extremely important. The quality of an MBA degree is intricately linked to the Business School that awards the degree. This explains the many rankings that are available today. These rankings give you a fair idea of how the schools are perceived in the international community. B-Schools build their MBA degrees around certain business values - Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Strategy, Innovation etc.

As such, the right MBA is the one that meets your needs based on its core values and composition. Most MBA Programmes have at their core, almost the same subjects. What differentiates these degrees are

1. The quality of the faculty.
2. The way the MBA is delivered.
3. The different value adds to the programme
4. The ranking or perceived value in the international community

At its very core, what differentiates an MBA degree is the quality of the faculty. I dare to say that one of the reasons Harvard Business School still retains its prestige today is because of “Michael Porter” – the guru that has defined and redefined strategy. He combines his deep knowledge of economics with modern day business and strategy and continuously reinvents himself such that it is practically impossible for anyone else to talk about strategy in the 21st century without being “Michal Porter”.

At the heart of the MBA Programme is the case study method. Unlike traditional university degrees, you don’t go to the MBA class to learn concepts; you go there to interact with them. You are expected to know the basics; you go to the class to apply what you know (and maybe what you don’t know). This makes the MBA unique and truly relevant to the industry.

One other beautiful part of the MBA Programme in most top schools in the world is that you get the chance to meet and interact with some of the best business minds in the world – CEOs of large companies (Bill Gates, Larry and Sergy – the Google duo), renowned leaders etc. Most top schools structure their programmes around seminars, interactive sessions, conferences etc where leaders are brought in to interact with students.

Most rankings usually take into consideration, job placement prospects, and value for money, salary prospects after graduation, quality of the faculty etc in their evaluation of the various business schools.

In selecting the right MBA, it is good practise to look at the various rankings – Financial Times, Business Week etc. However, the more important part is for you to evaluate yourself, understand your reasons for taking an MBA, your desires and your goals in life. You can then choose an MBA that best reflects your values and desires and that would help you reach your goals faster.

The truth is you don’t have to know what you want to do exactly now, but you have an idea of where you want to be in the future. For instance, if you would like to own your own business in the nearest future, it makes sense for you to choose a school that is based on Entrepreneurship.

Some top B-Schools that offer International MBA programmes

1. IE - Entrepreneurship and innovation
2. Insead - Leadership and Business Management
3. Havard - Business Strategy and Leadership
4. IMD - Leadership

This list is only a guide, different schools offer different things. Most schools also offer MBA Online options for online education. Go through their websites and evaluate the schools before you make your choice