Having moved to the USA after many years of management-grade jobs in pharmaceuticals I'm finding that my lack of an MBA puts me at an employment disadvantage; I'm over-qualified for anything that doesn't demand or have a preference for an MBA. Is there a course that would suit where the fees are not too onerous (I would have to amortise them over the next 10 years) and would appreciate that I might have some valuable life-skills to share with the others on the course?

As a middle aged career-changer who has returned to graduate school, I am skeptical that it's the MBA rather than your age that's the obstacle. You must have huge experience, and unless you are hammer to hit their nail many employers will think you are less able to adapt to new situations. if you're a foreigner, then that's compounded.

There are a few MBAs aimed at people like you: the IBEAR MBA at USC; the MSx at Stanford, the Sloan Fellows programs at MIT and LBS; and the Thunderbird MGM has been used as a post-MBA route for people wanting to move into a new field. 'Mini-MBA' executive programmes like the Senior Executive Fellow program at Harvard Kennedy and the MIT visiting fellows program might work better.

Since you mention fees, I would certainly look at one year programs at schools like Boston U, Notre Dame, Purdue and Pittsburgh.

Thanks Duncan - I suspect you are correct, the MBA is the least of my problems! I will take a look the programs you mention.