Greetings,

I'm a 30 year old entrepreneur in the automotive industry, and I'm trying to upgrade my business skills by doing an MBA or a specialized Master's in Marketing. However, I'm confused whether to do a Full-time MBA, Executive MBA, or a specialized Master's in Marketing.

My career goals are to either to continue building my automotive business further and expand it, OR relocate to another country and start my career there in the automotive or marketing field. Therefore, the brand name and reputation of the program I'll do will be important for global mobility.

Now my choices for the Executive MBA are London Business School, Cambridge - Judge or IE Business School. However, when I looked at the class profile of the EMBAs, I find candidates are much older than me, and I'm concerned I might not be able to enjoy the experience and networking due to the age differences. The EMBA is also intensive and I need time to absorb the MBA material. Therefore, I though of doing it full-time, but this requires GMAT, and I'm having a dilemma scoring high on the GMAT.

For full-time, therefore, I choose University of Edinburgh, Durham and Nottingham, as they're well-reputed one-year programs in the UK, which gives possibility for applying to scholarships.

Finally, I applied to Northwestern University for Masters in Marketing (Brand Management and Digital Marketing) as the not-too-distant future of marketing is all digital. I also got accepted at NYU for the same degree.

Now I'm in a dilemma: Should I go Executive MBA? Full-time MBA? or Masters in Marketing (Digital Marketing)?

Thanks in advance, and waiting for your replies

Growing your business requires more than marketing, doesn't it? So an MBA makes more sense than an MSc. If you can afford to take a full-time MBA then it's a better idea than an EMBA.

What score are you getting on the GMAT?

Take a look at:-
GMAT Tiers - strong schools for your GMAT www.find-mba.com/board/27082
Shortcut to find the best US MBA www.find-mba.com/board/36065
Why you should take the GMAT http://bit.ly/WhyGMAT

Thanks Duncan for opinion. Well what do you think of the choices of the full-time MBA? Is Edinburgh, Nottingham and Durham good and reputable choices?

Or should I go with the EMBA and ditch the GMAT? Except for LBS, most of EMBAs don't require GMAT.

What other full-time MBA programs in the UK you recommend?

Read the third link. Obviously I think you should take the gmat and get into the best school you can. Why limit yourself to the UK or US?

Hello Guys,
I have a similar situation in my career:
Short profile description:
Brazilian. Electrical Engineer, 30 years old. 3 y of experience in management consulting + 3y of experience in Design Quality Assurance in Manufacturing industry (B2B). Already worked abroad, and currently in a corporate dept.
My goal is to change in all 3 dimensions: Geography, Function, Sector.
Geography: Germany, Italy, Spain (in this order of preference)
Function: Strategy, eventually entrepreneurship
Sector: Utilities / Renewable
Looking at linkedin (uni finder) I could find out that many people employed in the major electrical utilities companies in Spain and Italy are MBA graduates (IESE, IE, ESADE), but the same does not apply to Germany. Where technical schools (RWTH / KIT/ TU Berlin) are dominant for the major utilities and renewables (E.ON, RWE, EnBW...)

1.In the case of going to Germany, would it be better to give a step "backward" and specialize first in the Energy field through a master and then do a EMBA later?
I will be 31 next year.

2. Would the Master in Business and Engineering with Electrical Engineer focus (RWTH) a good idea? I would focus on Energy market related subjects and improve my german.

There are 2/3 other options which are the Executive masters, (KIT, TU Delft-NE, ESPC) but they are part time.

3. Or Should I forget Germany and focus in Spain and Italy, with the MBA track first?

Notes:
Languages: My native language is portuguese, so spanish and italian would not be a problem. I did an intership in Germany and reached B1 level. Anyway, an extra effort improving the language would not be a problem. I enjoy it.

The adaptation, in general, would be easier in Italy or Spain, considering my wife doesnt speak german and she also values the sunny weather. Anyway, I dont want to give up from Germany for three main reasons: stronger economy (better chances), family origins (despite the fact I am an Italian citizen, also for family origins) and better quality of life (higher HDI, income...).

I really appreciate the help. The doubts and many variables are really making my life difficult.

Best regards,

This really seems to be a discussion to have most of all with your wife. I don't think it's credible to make all three transitions in one move when you simply state your confidence in learning languages rather than your actual proficiency in them. The least risky path: a top MSc taught in Spanish after a course in academic Spanish. There your being Brazilian will be an advantage for a a firm that wants someone afordbale who can work on an intercontinental basis. After then, take an EMBA while learning German, like the EADA-HHL EMBA, so you get the language and network skills needed. http://www.hhl.de/en/programs/global-executive-mba/

On the other hand, how about IMD and Switzerland? Your wife may prefer it to Germany.

Duncan,
Thank you very much for the prompt reply.

I may have overrated the difficulties for my wife changing with me, she also has international experience, studied in France for almost 2 years and spent 1 year in London. So it is more like a preference, not a deterrent. If we put this problem of adaptation aside, what is your opinion: wouldn´t it be better to invest directly in Germany, considering its stronger economy and current situation of Italy and Spain?

Even MBAs from IE for example, are presenting a medium in Salary of EUR 56 k for the Energy industry, IESE is a bit higher, 72 k, while all indsutries average is 89k. Financial aspect is not my main motivation, but I just didnt want to face trouble paying my course and having difficulties to have a relatively comfortable life. Not completely sure, but I believe in Germany it might be easier to reach this remuneration level.

Regarding Switzerland, I have done an intership there for 4 months (zurich), it is a little bit difficult to blend in. Besides, IMD doesn´t return many results of graduates working in the Utilities sector. For that, I think HSG would a better choice. I assume you were talking about the EMBA there, right? Otherwise I get back to the point: Master vs MBA for first step.

Again, many thanks for your support.

I don't think you can answer the question of Germany abstractly, and then avoid asking if you can move there in one step rather than two or three career moves. That is the point I am making. Make the easiest of the three transitions first, then the next, and the hardest last. Learn the language before you start the job hunt.

If you insist on one big leap, then a high value, two year MBA is the tactic. But to make one step and then another start with an MSc and then try a EMBA or Swiss MAS.

Duncan,
Appreciate if you could give me one opinion more:
If I am targeting Entrepreneurship, regardless geography, from which would I benefit the most: a Master in a specific Field, which also focus on entrepreneurship and innovation, or a high value MBA?

Note: in this case the master is also linked to an Institute which support many Ventures.

Regards,

I don't think I can answer this without knowing more about you and your goals.