Hi all,

Wondering whether there was some feedback on the IE Brown EMBA? I am looking for an EMBA that can bring the core elements I need to switch from a "functional" role to a strategic one, whilst also offering some significant opportunities to develop my leadership skills. the mix of humanities and "core" business elements there seems to be hitting the right targets, but wondering about the actual experience and outcome.
Alternatively, other schools like IMD or even Warwick could do, but wondering about the value of IE/Brown's differentiated selling point?

Best, A

It smells like a vanity degree to me, very light. A ranked EMBA will be much more serious. 

Thanks Duncan. Would you mind elaborating a bit on this please? IE seems to have a solid programme and Brown is pretty well renowned in their space - is that in their programmes that you see missing critical items?

I cannot imagine why you think the IE Brown EMBA has a solid programme. As I understand it, there are around 20 courses taught over fewer than 40 days in class. If you can find another MBA with two days or finance, or even three or four days, let me know. 

IE Brown are applying a blended approach, leveraging significantly on IE's online learning platform. So, 40 days in a classroom are indeed not a lot (I think IMD have 45-55 depending on electives, Kellogg/WHU 57), but one should probably not discard the online work that goes along?
With the above said, I agree the structure of their curriculum as presented on their website and brochure might be too diverse/thinly spread - hence my question on feedback on this (but guess I know where you stand on this ;-)) 

Of course you cannot disregard it, but I suggest you speak to students and ask them how much time they are putting in outside of classes each week. 

For contrast, I did the LBS EMBA. Finance is a double module running the whole academic year, on top of other core courses in financial accounting, management costing and managerial accounting and decision science.

I just can't see any reason to attend so much money on an unranked MBA. 

IEBrown is ranked.  Economist just rated #3 world wide.  I attended the program.  It matches everything you say you are looking to achieve.  

I asked an alumnus who said they spent 20-30 hours personal hours weekly (outside of the full week training). Off-hand seems in line with what I heard from other EMBAs. As Gkoehn said, it is ranked by the Economist, albeit only in their latest ranking, and not on FT nor QS, which turns me down a bit - in particular as the Economist has such a different way of ranking to the others. I hear what you are saying around the money side and would guess LBS would be better value for money - but again, the humanities element off-hand seems very appealing in that it is fairly unique to this programme and might bring a real difference in the way of thinking (as opposed to a standardized single-minded approach). The last plus would be the combination of both IE and Brown alumni networks.

Gkoehn, can you please develop further on your experience with the programme? 
- How many hours of work per week was there at your end?
- How has this practically improved your business skills? What areas specifically?
- How much do you think the blend of business/humanities was a key differentiator and what has this brought to you?
- How would you rate the alumni networks? Have you used it and are they dynamic?

The Economist ranking is a joke. It misses out the majority of the top MBAs. Great that IEBrown is in it, but it's a trivial endorsement.

I just compared the FT EMBA ranking and most of its top 20 schools are not mentioned in the Economist ranking. 

Question for the alum: how many credit hours is the degree, and how many hours is that core course in finance? 

As the program is new (‘12) its ratings are just starting.   This is why it’s not ranked.  Ie usually ranks well.  

How many hours of work per week was there at your end?
 

20-40 

- How has this practically improved your business skills? What areas specifically?

Tangible: finance and accounting improved

intangible:  economics are excellent, humanities. Critical thinking 

- How much do you think the blend of business/humanities was a key differentiator and what has this brought to you? 

It’s material.  I wanted that.  I’m glad for it now.  

- How would you rate the alumni networks? Have you used it and are they dynamic?

it’s great. You feel like a full alumni of both schools.  Other alumni also treat you as such, and the networks are truly all over the world..

Duncan, I don’t know the hours, but it’s triple-certified by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS, who look at this.  

It's not shown on your transcript?!?