Help finalize MBA Program;

I am currently working in a big4 advisory 10 plus years total experience and looking to move toward industry short term some finance role and long term general management role. Very short term fast track my progress in my current firm.

Overall looking to brush up genera management courses, get a good MBA brand name (currently living in middle east). Learn new things


I have shortlisted following;
Warwick DL MBA
AMBS Global MBA
AMBS Kelly MBA (is this program worth the extra $ around 20k in terms of reputation)

Your goals are rather generic. Manchester will have a much better MBA network in the region than Warwick. If you do business in the US, the Kelley MBA adds a lot. 

[Edited by Duncan on Feb 25, 2021]

Thank you Duncan; some specific goals are:



Move more towards consulting/general management/operations

Move out either to a different service line (Strategy/consulting from Financial Advisory) in my current firm or a different firm more focused on consulting

In case I move to industry, my role should focused on planning, genera management

Network, having a reputable uni tag and etc
My recent 5-6 years experience is aligned to above.

Currently, no opportunity or plans to move towards US, having said this would Kelley add any benefit in middleeast

LBS would be the better option, of course. I tend towards the Kelley degree because it's going to have a much better cohort, better teaching and the degree makes you stand out more. 

Yes LBS was always on the list but the cost is to high. I wont be able to afford that and really dont want to be in so much debt. I think benefit of debt free with a decent degree from a decent school vs fully in debt at tier 1 school LBS/HEC/INSEAD is the choice here. Manchester seems like a decent brand name I am unsure about the quality of the cohort and the Value add Kelley name would provide

Yes, the cohort quality will be higher on the Kelley degree. It's a great brand in the countries that orient more to the US than to the UK, and their online MBA is regularly ranked first in the US in some rankings. It's a small amount to pay for a much wider experience and a network with a very different footprint. 

Yes thats where I am putting my money

I'm so jealous. I had a good education at the University of Manchester, but my time at top US business schools shows that those schools are generally much better learning environments because of the students and teachers greater engagagement. 

How many schools have been too, Man, ESCP and US as well. 

I mention them on my profile page. I attended ESCP just for a conference but as an EDHEC alumnus I had a good idea of the school, as the other top grande école with several campuses. 

Hey Duncan, I need a push from the cliff, so I have been admitted with $ to Kelley Man. Really confused should I go ahead? would I be able to get the ROI
Help me out here man

Other things being equal, the Kelley Manchester MBA is certain to give you a positive return on your investment. 

Thanks that's helpful. I have been all over LinkedIn to find Alumni of this program

I think you will see that they are mostly in the USA and, generally, higher in quality than the AMBS students in Dubai. 

Yeah even few in UAE I found have a better profile, for sure the additional amount paid for is worth it in terms of additional course, more experienced cohort, US degree (these three factors for someone not in the process of moving to USA, otherwise Value of their career service & Almuni would make it top row)

My only concern is the value add in financial terms post MBA. By the looks of LinkedIn it's a mix bag people got switch over/promotion are around 30%. This for AMBS program only can't much of K-M 

Maybe LinkedIn guru skills are needed but I can find the K&M MBAs and they are impressive. 

So an update, While I am pondering on this Admit, I have added a few more in the list 1) IE EMBA, 2) HEC EMBA & 3) LSE - GMIM

if I am willing to spend USD 60kish on K-M with 80-90% equity I am thinking to spend usd 80-90k with 60-70%equity.

whats your feedback on IE EMBA (not GEMBA) & HEC EMBA. How this two stand against each other both seems to have reasonable Alumn in middleeast in my field of interest. The numbers for HEC are more towards consulting because of their regular MBA going that route. Any thoughts

HEC must be a better option since it have a campus in the Gulf.