How Executive MBA Programs Are Helping Data + Finance Professionals Take The Next Step

If you’re applying for an Executive MBA—or EMBA—you’re likely preparing for a big step up in your career. According to research from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 45% of prospective EMBA students see the degree as a way to land a spot in the C-suite. 

With high aspirations and significant prior work experience, EMBA entrants need a program that’s going to provide them with high-level leadership training and networking to get them where they want to go. 

IE Business School’s EMBA program is an attractive option for professionals who want to elevate their careers, with EMBA graduates achieving an average salary increase of 51%.

Two students from the EMBA at IE Business School, Eslam Afifi and Alexis Vale, explain how the program has bolstered their leadership skills, giving them the confidence to take the next step in their careers. 

Using an Executive MBA to excel as a data-driven business leader

Australian-born Eslam Afifi entered the EMBA program with a background in data, insights, and customer experience (CX) management and says that the part of the program he has found most valuable so far is its diversity of experiences.

The average EMBA cohort at IE Business School is made up of students from more than 30 nationalities, from industries as varied as technology, banking, biotech, real estate, and energy. 

“It's great exposure, not only to understand your sector and function, but to get 360-degree view of how business works in different industries,” explains Eslam. 

At this seniority level, it’s about the connections you make, Eslam adds. 

46% of EMBA students at IE work in middle management while 26% are senior executives.

“Different viewpoints help you understand,” he says. “It makes you appreciate the perspective that different views, cultures, and sectors bring to the table.” 

Collaboration at IE happens both inside and outside the classroom. Most recently, Eslam travelled to Dubai as part of the EMBA’s Global Immersion Week, which included visits to companies such as Uber and Oracle. 

These experiences, along with the intense nature of the curriculum, enable students to develop vital soft skills that will help them reach a senior management role. 

“You need to get to know people and work with different groups. You also need to have new challenges. These experiences give you skills in adaptability, resilience, and time management,” Eslam says. 

From finance professional to Executive MBA

Alexis Vale, originally from the Philippines, notes that the jump from junior roles to senior positions is a huge shift. As zone finance controller for Asia, Oceania, and Africa at Cereal Partners Worldwide (Nestlé & General Mills) in Dubai, she joined the EMBA to bridge that gap with critical soft skills in leadership.  

“I can still be myself, be authentic, but now I need to be more concise and confident,” she says. 

Similarly to Eslam, Alexis points out the challenges of studying on the EMBA program, which is delivered over 20 months, with a combination of online courses and three week-long bootcamps in Madrid.

Adding part-time studies to a demanding full-time role is one of the biggest challenges of an EMBA—but Alexis realizes that this combination can provide benefits to her job. 

“I know that the demands will be tough,” Alexis says, “I organized myself and structured my timing and this structure allows me to be more efficient and have more quality time with the people I like to work with.”

In the end, an EMBA requires students to embrace the jump into a higher level—as that’s the only way you’ll develop the skills necessary for life in the C-suite.  

“There’s a lot of learning and self-adjusting that you will have to do but it's okay,” Alexis explains. “Enjoy the ride and don't be afraid to take the step.”