Hi everyone,


I have the feeling that I am stuck in my present career and want to pursue an MBA to make the next step forward.


I am pursuing an MBA to gain extensive managerial insights and experience, while also broadening my professional network within my target industries and companies. The goal is to position myself for strategic leadership roles in technology-driven and innovative companies and roles.


Background:


Age: 34

Nationality: German

Current location: Germany

Languages: Fluent in german and english

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Economics, graduated in 2015

Nearly 9 years of work experience


Career progression:


IT auditing Consultant at PwC

Consulting as a Consultant at PwC

Process Optimization at a financial services provider

Process owner at a financial services provider

Enterprise Architect at a financial services provider

Currently transitioning to product owner role at the same company


My Career Goals:


Target roles: Product Manager, Strategy Consultant, Corporate Strategy, Innovation Manager, Business Development Manager, Technology Strategist


Industries: Tech, Consulting, Financial Services, Innovation-driven corporations


Desired companies: Tech giants (Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple), Consulting firms (McKinsey, BCG, Roland Berger, Bain, Deloitte), major banks, fintech companies, and innovative large corporations


I would like to work for some years abroad to broaden my spectrum and see other cultures.


Target countries for work post-MBA: UK, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Spain, Sweden


Budget:


MBA program cost: Ideally around €60,000, maximum €80,000


I am looking for MBA programs that:


1. Fit within my budget

2. Are part-time as its out of question to give up my job, as I need to finance the whole MBA on my own with own capital and loans

3. Have strong placement records in my desired industries and roles

4. Offer specializations in technology management, strategy, and innovation

5. Have good connections and alumni networks in my target countries


I was looking at:


IE Business School Online MBAs and EMBAs

ESCP Executive MBA

Warwick Business School OMBA and Executive MBA

Imperial Business College OMBA and Executive MBA

Mannheim Business School Executive MBA

ESMT OMBA and Executive MBA

esade Executive MBA

Rotterdamm Business School Executive MBA


These were all within the budget. I am also open for other business schools as long as they are aligned with my goals and within budget. I know that INSEAD or LBS would be great, but I cannot afford these sadly.


Could someone please recommend suitable MBA programs and Universities based on these criteria? I am particularly interested in how these programs could position me for my target roles in the specified countries and companies.


Thanks in advance!

[Edited by Chuck Norris on Jul 01, 2024]

Without digging into this too much, I think this post is an example of the benefits of focus when approaching research around MBA programs. Part-time programs are less good at supporting career transitions, and European schools have profoundly specific footprints in terms of the countries, industries, and employers they connect with. Educationally, these are strong schools but the more this candidate can focus on a specific desired outcome, the easier it is to evaluate these and other options.



PS Also, almost everyone at these schools will have some amount of loan funding, and that's why schools offer this support. It would not be a wise choice to rule out INSEAD or LBS if they really were the best choices, since the additional borrowing involved would be modest compared to the likely improvement in salary.

[Edited by Duncan on Jul 03, 2024]

Duncan, do you think that Insead and Lbs is a wise choice? LBS price is stingy and it is not part of Europe now, Insead has no exchange partnerships except Wharton and Tsinghua. Taking into account economic situation in Europe, I am not sure if expensive MBA worth it. Mannheim has actually really good ROI and Esade has good connections with consulting firms. I am writing it because I am new here and I am thinking about doing MBA in future and do not understand why with economic recession people still pay quite a lot for LBS and Insead. I think we should do an MBA in a country with strong opportunities (of course taking into account costs, roi, partnerships, etc). I have been following you some time, maybe you can tell us-where mba can be better, as many people tend to favour USA and Asia more.

INSEAD and LBS are wise choices if you want the career goals those schools make much more likely. Mannheim is a great choice for western Germany. ESADE is an excellent choice for the Latin world. However, different programmes have different outcomes. Mannheim might have a good RoI but the Net Present Value of LBS and INSEAD are much higher, since their annual salaries are $50k higher, and because their career growth is faster. That will give average graduates over $1m more lifetime earnings.



The UK is still physically in Europe. There's no recession in the UK or in the EU. 2025 GDP growth is forecast at 1.9% in the UK and 1.6% in the EU -- both broadly back to pre-COVID situations. The UK, and perhaps Switzerland, have the most open labour markets for foreign talent and, until many firms in EU/EEA countries, foreign talent in the UK companies can rise into senior management more smoothly.



But the situation in the UK doesn't matter if your values and life goals take you to Sweden or Germany. These economic variables change in the medium term. You need a career strategy for the long term. Personally, I looked at roles in a few EU countries recently, and the after-tax salaries and lack of salary growth in senior roles, and challenge in foreigners getting into more senior roles, made me rule it out.

PS I am an INSEAD and LBS alumnus.

[Edited by Duncan on Jul 04, 2024]