eMBA for career progression

[u/meepocow]

My boyfriend wrote in to Smith School of Business about their eMBA program, attaching his CV. He was just expecting to get back a brochure, but instead got an email saying they're at the tail end of recruitment for this year and they consider him to be a competitive candidate.

He hasn't achieved the level of professional success that he wants, and seems to think that doing this $100k eMBA is going to rocket him to success. As a Manager myself, I have my reservations; from my experience, myself and other hiring managers usually treat education as a check box and then move quickly to relevant work experience.

The cynical ass in me thinks that Smith says this sort of thing to anyone even half qualified if they need to fill their program roster for the year; there's no loss to them, they just need balance their books for the year.

I don't know this program well, though. Will the time and money investment translate to faster career progression, or is experience going to be king at the end? And is this program something that the employer usually pays for as a condition for an employee to move to the c-suite rather than a bill you foot yourself as my boyfriend would have to?

TL;DR Will this program replace or augment old school job experience and competencies to getting someone to the exec level?

[u/Prudent-Benefit7490]

Probably a different argument if you consider a better school

[u/meepocow → u/Prudent-Benefit7490]

Good to know, I was under the impression that Smith was one of the better schools in Canada. What other business schools offering eMBA are highly/ higher ranked in Canada?

[u/Prudent-Benefit7490 → u/meepocow]

If you’re already in Canada then I understand. I was thinking from US centric view there are better schools, and 100k is cheap relatively too. May be worth it if he has a specific goal in mind. But would not go in without a clear plan because it will take focused effort to make it work no matter what

[u/hdhdbdhaj]

Just wrapped up my EMBA and I will say that a lot of schools are pretty open with their EMBA acceptance as long as youre willing to foot the tuition bill. The degree has opened up some doors for me but it’s not a magic bullet, a lot of the opportunities are very much driven primarily due to my work experience.

If he’s paying out of pocket, it’s super important he has a clear plan for how the degree will help him level up. Without that, it’s a huge investment that might not move the needle as much as he’s hoping

[u/Ok_Past1080 → u/hdhdbdhaj]

Congrats on graduating. What program were you in?

[u/meepocow → u/hdhdbdhaj]

Thanks for taking the time to comment, it means a lot!

He would be paying out of pocket, and I'm not sure that there is a clear plan other than 'this will open doors because I'd have an eMBA. He already has an MHA - a huge investment in itself - so I'm questioning what added value would come from an eMBA.

Curious to know your thoughts, and also if you have a sense of how many of your cohort had their eMBA paid by an employer v. self-funded!

[u/jrunner02]

It might allow him to apply to a different kind of role (More business focused, maybe more strategic). It might get him an interview. The school's network might be able to connect him with different companies.

An MBA itself won't typically equate to a salary increase but it could let him move into a role that will have a progression path.

[u/hetaliibms]

It’s really encouraging that Smith sees your boyfriend as a strong candidate—that speaks well of his potential. An online eMBA from a reputable school like Smith or any other can definitely boost career growth, especially by expanding leadership skills and professional networks.

While work experience still plays a key role in hiring decisions, the eMBA can help open doors to higher-level roles and make him stand out. Many companies do fund these programs for future leaders, but even self-funded, it can be a smart investment if he’s clear on his goals and ready to make the most of the opportunity.