Executive MBA Distinctives

A real Vanderbilt MBA

   
Buyer beware: Not all executive programs that bear the name “MBA” offer the benefit of a renowned MBA degree such as Vanderbilt’s. If you’re looking for the academic rigor of a full, 60-credit-hour world-class MBA program uniquely tailored to the needs of those already in or aspiring to senior management positions, then you’ve come to the right place.

Cross-Functional C-Teams

   
You can expect to learn from your peers as well as your profs. At Vanderbilt, you’ll complete much of your work as part of a “C-Team” of distinguished peers—successful managers and executives from a variety of industries who average 12 years of experience. These cross-functional teams, recruited carefully and assigned at the beginning of the program, are carefully balanced to include diverse backgrounds and experience—such as finance, operations, marketing and sales, information technology and engineering, and human resources—that you’d find in a typical organization’s C-suite. Read more.

The Vanderbilt Executive Edge

   
While all MBA programs offer the basic Management Fundamentals, the Vanderbilt Executive MBA is designed with the view from the top. The Vanderbilt program adds essential layers that will help you achieve your full potential as a leader: Advanced Financial Frameworks, Strategic Skills and Vision, and Leadership Development. Read more.

Apply-it-now Experiences for immediate ROI

The Vanderbilt program offers a number of Apply-it-now Experiences—beyond-the-classroom learning opportunities—designed to widen your perspective and allow you to build on the knowledge you gain. Over the course of two years, you will:

• Complete a Business Strategy Project as part of a year-long strategy sequence. Your C-Team will work with a company of your choosing to create a comprehensive strategic plan for the organization.
• Work with your C-Team to apply classroom learning to a real problem facing one of your employers. For example, you might seek to revise an incentive plan that inadvertently leads to undesired behaviors (Managerial Economics); redesign a supply chain process (Operations Strategy) or build a new spreadsheet model that provides better information for management decisions (Managerial Accounting).
• Take on a Personal Capstone Project that allows you to showcase your capabilities within your organization, addressing an issue, initiative or opportunity that will move your company forward.
• Have the opportunity to develop a New Venture business plan from scratch that will help you prepare and present your ideas to venture capital firms.
  

An alternating Saturday schedule

Unlike most MBA programs for working professionals, Vanderbilt Executive MBA classes meet on two Saturdays per month, with two one-week “residencies” built into the program. This intense but innovative schedule allows you to minimize your time away from your job and better balance your work, home and school lives. Concentrated “class days” are heavy on class instruction (about nine hours), but also allow ample time for meetings with faculty and group work sessions; and online technology allows you to work with your team on assignments between class days.