I am considering starting an mba soon, and have been offered a place on the Cranfield EMBA starting January 2014. I am 32yrs old, have been in utilities for 8yrs and would like to position myself to gain access to other industries for general management or operations positions. I have gone up rapidly in my career and earnings, and progress for me in my current environment is beginning to flatline. I need to move up into middle management and have more responsibilities. I have worked in a bank before, albeit at junior level and for about 2yrs and I would not mind going back in retail/commercial banking. Any opinion on how the Cranfield EMBA compares to other similarly placed programs out there and if there is a chance of changing sector/industry following the MBA? I know the norm/preferred way to a change of industry is usually going on a full time program but sadly I am not in a position to be out of work to attend a full time mba. Any help and informed opinions welcome.

Of course there is a chance, but in general EMBA grads generally don't. But this may reflect the points that most 30-somethings are at in their career - they're probably more likely to continue on the same path as they were before, rather than make drastic changes.

I would contact the school's career services department and ask them how many grads ended up changing sectors. I'm sure they would be able to give you some guidance; and at the same time you could feel out the kind of career services they offer to EMBAs.

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I gained an EMBA from Cranfield; plenty of people in my cohort have changed industries, and I would dispute your assumption that this happens more often following full-time courses. Yes, people on Exec programmes tend to be older and more experienced - but that may also make them more attractive to employers from other sectors.

There were a number of people in my cohort in retail banks, and others who moved into the industry after graduating. The School has good relationships with Lloyds and Barclays in particular, and as you may be aware, the latter's CEO is a Cranfield MBA alumnus.