The Vanderbilt Executive MBA (EMBA) is a 21-month program designed for working professionals already in or aspiring to executive leadership roles. EMBA Executive Director Juli Bennett and EMBA Director of Recruiting Joe Wagstaffe answer prospective students’ most pressing questions about getting an MBA through the Executive Program at Vanderbilt Business. With their guidance, we also chart the course of the Executive Edge and Global Immersion tracks.
Summer Before EMBA
Math Camp
Juli Bennett
Before the program even begins, incoming students refresh their quantitative skills at Math and Stats Camp and prepare for the quantitatively heavy first semester. Held over four consecutive Saturdays in late June and July, Math & Stats Camp also incorporates Orientation events to help students acclimate to the Executive MBA program and introduce them to campus resources. The camp is required for the incoming class to prepare for classes and bond with their cohort.
“Our students have been out of school for an average of 10+ years. Then in the first semester, they’re going to have statistics, accounting, and economics all at once. We want to make sure that they hit that first semester ready for the curriculum,” says Bennett.
New Harmony Residency
Two weeks after Math & Stats Camp ends, students travel to the small town of New Harmony, Indiana for seven days of immersive learning. By the end of the week, students will have completed almost a quarter of their curriculum for the first fall semester. They are also introduced to their C-Teams and give their first group presentation together before the week is up. “It’s a great opportunity not only to go back to class…but also it’s a great chance to get to know your classmates,” says Bennett.
Joe Wagstaffe
EMBA C-Teams
C-Teams are designed to simulate a C-suite of executives, with each team member taking on a different role (such as CEO, CFO, or COO). C-Teams work on several assignments together during the first semester and even more in the spring.
The students in the Executive Edge track will have their teams reorganized heading into year 2, as they embark upon their respective capstone projects, where they identify and solve strategic problems for real businesses.
“In year one, it starts out being an 80/20 split: 80% personal work, and 20% team deliverables, with a lot of the learning happening within the team, but not the deliverables. By the second year, it’s completely flipped,” says Wagstaffe.
Global Immersion track students are assigned to cross-cultural teams in year two – more on this below.
EMBA Year One
Unlike other Vanderbilt Business Programs, which run on the Mod system, the Executive MBA tracks run on the traditional semester system. Starting in late August, two weeks after the New Harmony residence ends, EMBA students from both tracks travel to Vanderbilt every other Saturday to spend a day in class. They take four classes during the fall semester, five in the spring, and two during the summer session. Students get a winter break from mid-December to early January and a summer break from mid-July to mid-August. Courses within the semester are staggered, so that major exams and deliverables don’t fall on the same day.
Importantly, Bennett explains the Executive MBA tracks run on a Saturday-only schedule, which minimizes the days away from work and increases time for students to spend with families. “Time is a precious commodity for executive students; by efficiently packing classes into Saturdays, we free up the rest of the week for them.”
Year one also finds students taking advantage of career and learning development coaching, often starting in the spring. “Once you’ve re-learned how to go to school in the fall semester, in the spring semester you’re ready to pick up your head a little bit and begin thinking about ‘who do I want to become over the course of this MBA journey?’” Bennett said.
EMBA Year Two
Executive Edge Track
The two tracks begin to diverge in both schedule and coursework in year two. Executive Edge students continue alternating Saturdays at Vanderbilt Business. The second-year schedule kicks off in August with two three-day weekends, which allows student to wrap up in May and walk at the Commencement ceremony. “You walk across the stage in May and get the exact same degree as the MBAs,” Bennett said.
Outside of these two weekends, Executive Edge students continue to attend class on a Saturday-only schedule. Executive Edge students also participate in a week-long International Residency that falls during the University’s spring break in April.
Global Immersion Track
Global Immersion students participate in four international residencies that last for nine days each: Canada (August), Brazil (October), Mexico (January), and the United States (April). Vanderbilt candidates study alongside students from the three partner schools and work with them in cross-cultural teams on coursework and the capstone project. The four schools work together to source and assign capstone projects for the student teams. In addition to their MBA degree, Global Immersion students also receive a certificate from the four American Alliance schools.
Who teaches Executive MBA classes?
EMBA classes are taught by a combination of full-time, seasoned Vanderbilt Business faculty and practicing subject matter experts. The four residencies during year two of the Global Immersion track are taught by faculty at the partner schools, so students get first-hand knowledge from experts living in those countries. “In addition to conveying content, the faculty role is about facilitating a high level of discussion with people who are experts in those fields. So the learning happens from the peers, and not just from the faculty,” said Wagstaffe.
Are there chances for partners and families to get involved?
The Executive MBA program hosts multiple events throughout the year that are open to partners and/or families. In the fall, Partner Day gives partners a chance to attend a class and see what being an Executive MBA student is like. In the spring, the EMBA prom gives students a chance to get dressed up and celebrate with their partners at a fancy venue. In the summer, the annual picnic gives incoming students a chance to meet with current Executive MBA candidates and for families to get outside and enjoy the great weather together.
To learn more about getting an Executive MBA at Vanderbilt Business, visit the program homepage or request more information.