Hello everyone

I have been admitted to both IE & HEC MBA prog for 2017 Jan intake. I understand that similar questions have popped on this forum earlier as well, but I believe your inputs would help me a lot.

I am an Indian, commerce background, 4 yrs experience Risk Advisory – FMCG Retail, Middle East. Wish to start post MBA as strategy manager, eventually moving to General Mgmt in the long run - FMCG. Can you please advise which one I should choose:

1. Ok with coming back to Gulf, but would love to have some experience in Europe. I understand Europe is no match for savings in tax free Gulf, but would be happy to work at a not-so-hot place for a change (but not in a job that pays peanuts, some difference is ok) .
2. Learning itself is a big factor as well. Want to really come out transformed.
3. I understand IE has had better rankings than HEC for long (in Financial Times at least, where IE forms group A & HEC group B), but how does it all pan out in the job market, with their respective locations, placements & network?

Appreciate your inputs!

Similar outcomes, but they recruit different people: HEC is less intensive and more extensive because of the longer time period, so they tend to be better for people in transitions: who are either less well rooted in Europe or in their industry and need a programme that better supports them (hence HEC's much better international mobility ranking). Assuming that your work experience is not in the Spanish-speaking region, and that you might benefit from improving language skills, I would recommend HEC on that basis. It has a larger and much more geographically diverse network of graduates, which might help in the Gulf too I guess. But in terms of personal transformation, if you know Spanish and want a high-pressure year then IE is the place.

[Edited by Duncan on Jul 11, 2016]

Thanks Duncan for such an articulate response. Appreciate it!