IE and Brown University's New EMBA Program Launches in Spring 2011

Pursuing an MBA is a significant investment in one’s career and personal growth. Therefore, prospective students often seek out MBA programs that not only provide a high-quality education, but also offer a compelling return on investment (ROI).

The summer internship is a core component of the MBA experience on two-year, full-time courses. For many students, it is the traditional route to a high-paying job in the consulting and finance sectors. Internships are especially valuable for career-switchers who want to try their hand at a new role in a new sector or geography.

Not long ago, an MBA degree was regarded by many people as a passport to a lucrative professional job in a field such as investment banking or strategy consulting. While many students still pursue these career paths, a growing portion of them are looking for purpose as well as profit in their jobs.  In fact, making a positive social or environmental impact has overtaken pay and other perks as the top reasons MBA students pursue their career, according to an often-cited survey by Bain & Company, which, ironically, is a consultancy firm.  Curriculum changes are underway as business schools respond to the corporate social responsibility (CSR) revolution. Schools have been criticized for their apparent role in the global financial crisis and for focusing too heavily on maximizing shareholder return. Today many top MBA programs include an impact-related module, such as impact investing or social entrepreneurship.  The career opportunities in this field have flourished. CSR was previously something many companies merely paid lip service to, but they are making “impact” a fundamental piece of their business plans. There are now 2,655 certified “B Corporations”, or firms that verify their high social and environmental performance, across 150 industries and 60 countries, including the ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s and the social media company Hootsuite.  Picking the right program, however, is crucial. So we’ve ranked the best MBAs for social or environmental impact, below. 

In many cases, the doors are now certainly open to LGBT candidates on many MBA programs. Here are the top 10 MBA programs for LGBT candidates.