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SPRING / SUMMER 2014

SPRING/SUMMER 2014
Galina
Oleynik
Boston Consulting
Group Columbia
Business School
Leonardo
Banegas
KPMG Advisory
Singapore
ESSEC
Andrew
Selves
Entrepreneur
Imperial College
Business School
MBA Hiring Trends
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4 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
Following a period of global economic turbulence, the value of an MBA from
a top business school for ones career has remained a constant. The fndings
of the latest QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends Report based on a
global survey of 4,300 actively hiring MBA employers shows that MBA job
opportunities have risen by 14% globally.
Naturally there is huge variance from region to region and industry to
industry. Popular employment sectors come under the microscope as we look
in more detail at relevant trends, and delve into what employers are looking
for in todays economy and what the future holds for traditional and up and
coming sectors.
We look at global salary trends, focusing on differing levels on compensation
around the world, and comparing the expectations of ambitious MBA
applicants to the reality of what is being offered and post-study work visas.
What better way to see the value of the MBA by turning our gaze to three
alumni, who share their stories as well as show us how they used their
degrees to achieve outstanding professional success. We aim to provide our
members with access to key information that help you make informed choices
regarding your career. Youre well on your way to reaching your career goals
and QS Global Workplace wishes you every success in fnding your dream job.
Editors Desk
Meet the Team
If you have any comments or
feedback wed love to hear from you
Feature writers
Mansoor Iqbal
Adam Carstens
Ann Graham
Elke Schwarz
Dawn Z Bournand
Daniella Rubinovitz
Ian Lynes
Business Director
Corporate enquiries, Media
Partners and partnerships,
Marketing
Email: ian@qs.com
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7284 7259
If Ekong
Relationship Manager
Business Schools &
Universities, General &
Technical help
Email if@qs.com
Phone +44 (0) 20 7284 7230
Vlad Copaciu
Online Marketing &
Communications
Business Schools &
Universities
Email vlad@qs.com
Phone +44 (0) 20 7284 7224
6
The Top 10 Countries for MBA Salary Levels
List based on the QS TopMBA Jobs & Salary Trends
Report 2013/14
8
MBA Life in Focus: Six Months at Business
School
A visual look at some of the exciting happenings at
business schools the world over
12
Q&A with ESSEC Alumnus Leonardo
Banegas
From native Central America to Singapore, via a
global MBA
14
From Columbia Business School to Boston
Consulting Group
Galina Oleyniks success story
16
MBA Skills in the Public Sector
Systems engineer Andrew Selves explains how
his career has evolved after earning his MBA from
Imperial College Business School
18
What Top Employers are Looking for in
Todays Economy
The view of Adam Carstens, director of research at
Hult International Business School
20
Global MBA Salary Levels on the Rise
The strongest growth in MBA salary occurred in
emerging markets, the QS TopMBA.com Jobs &
Salary Trends Report reveals
22
MBA Salary: Expectations vs. Reality
Comparing the aspirations of MBA applicants with the
fgures reported by employers
25
MBA Jobs: What Does 2014 Hold?
The latest QS report shows a 14% global rise in the
number of MBA jobs across the globe
28
Post-Study Work Visas for MBA students
The regulations surrounding PSW visas in ten of the
worlds most popular study destinations
32
Careers in Finance
Confdence is returning to a chastened fnancial
sector in the post-crash landscape
34
MBA Careers in Consultancy: Whats in
Store for 2014?
The sector has become a gold standard in terms of
career trajectories among freshly minted MBAs
36
Soaring Demand for MBAs in the Global
Technology Sector
Technology continues to be a key driver for job
creation and growth
38
MBA Hiring Trends: Up-and-Coming
Sectors
The Energy and Pharmaceutical are highly
dynamic industries which seek MBA talents
40
Eastern Europe Set for MBA Hiring Boom
42
India and the Middle East Attracting Both
Local and International MBAss
44
Demand for MBAs Flourishes as Asias
Rise Continues
46
Art as a Tool for Business
48
14 Ways to Enhance Your Online Presence
2014
50
Engage to Create a WORKPLACE that
You, Your Co-workers and Your Customers
LOVE
52
CAREER COACHING a new essential for
EMBA programs
54
Africa: A Region to Watch
Contents
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 5

There are, of course, large
variables in the global market,
the consequence of which is
that MBA salary levels are
considerably higher in certain
leading economies than they
are in others.
So, for those looking for the
highest MBA salary levels, here
is a list of the top 10 countries
for MBA salary and bonus levels
based on the QS TopMBA Jobs &
Salary Trends Report 2013/14.
Australia
In the Asia-Pacifc
market, Australia
remains a key
player and boasts the top average
compensation for MBA jobs at
US$133,100. While average salary
levels are much lower than in
Switzerland, this is made up for
with big bonuses averaging over
US$15,000. The strengthening of
the Australian dollar plays a part
in this. But the key factor is the
competitive market, which seeks
to hire the fnest multinational
MBAs from leading business
schools across Asia, meaning that
employers are prepared to pay out
to secure the best graduates.
Switzerland
At a time of
austerity in
Western Europe,
Switzerland saw a slight decrease
in MBA salary, but continues to
head up the European tables, with
average remuneration standing at
US$129,700. This average rate is
a refection of the strengthening
of the Swiss currency, but more
importantly is due to the relocation
of many multinational companys
headquarters, away from places
like London or Frankfurt, to
Switzerland in order to reduce
corporate tax bills and this has
led to an increased requirement
for MBA graduates in the country.
Denmark
Second in
the Western
European market,
Denmark reports consistently
high MBA salaries and is the
frst in this list to present an
increase in overall compensation,
which averages at US$121,400.
Unlike Switzerland, tax rates
are much higher in Denmark but
interestingly this year corporate
tax has been cut from 25% to 22%,
slightly below the UKs current
rates. This can be read as part of
a drive to make the country more
appealing in the global business
market, the result of which will be
the creation of MBA jobs as well as
improved salaries.
UK
Businesses in
the UK continue
believe strongly
in the value that MBAs bring.
Accordingly, it stands fourth in
the world for MBA salary levels
(US$106,100). This confdence
seems justifed. In the service
sector, MBA recruitment is seen
as a considerable factor in the
dominance of the industry in UK
economy. Banking however, which
also remains central to British
The Top 10 Countries for
MBA Salary Levels
There are many
advantages to studying
an MBA, and not just in
the prospects of
growth within the MBA
job market or career
versatility. The
generous MBA salary
packages enjoyed by
recent graduates are
among the most
celebrated of these, as
are the prospects of
further growth in this
department.
| Editorial
6 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
economy, is still yet to regain full
momentum in terms of MBA hiring
in the post-crash world. The UKs
position on the global business
education stage means that the
value enjoyed by those who work
there is also shared with those
who have studied or gained some
experience in the country.
France
The MBA market
in France has
been in decline
over the last decade. It is no
longer in the top 10 list for the
total number of MBA jobs. Despite
this, employers in France offer an
average overall MBA salary and
bonus of US$100,800 to their MBA
employees, meaning that it stands
at ffth in the world. Average salary
levels in France actually exceed the
UKs if bonus levels are discounted.
US
MBA demand has
been pretty fat
in North America,
but there are outlooks of up to 16%
growth over the next year according
to the QS TopMBA.com report. This
is seemingly due to the renewed
confdence in economic recovery.
This is echoed in Europe, which
means the potential for renewed
demand for MBA graduates from
employers across the globe is high
next year. However, looking to the
present, despite the slowdown in
growth, MBA salary levels in the
country remain high, standing
at US$98,300. It would not be a
surprise to see an increase in
employee incentives and salaries
accompanying next years
predicted surge in interest.
Brazil
In recent years
there has been
an upsurge in the
growth of MBA job opportunities
in Latin America, with Brazil and
Mexico leading the change. This
year Brazil saw a growth rate of
14% and a corresponding average
compensation level of US$97,200
as employers in the region
continue to utilize MBA graduates
as key assets in the competition to
internationalize their respective
companies. It seems they are
more than willing to pay out for
graduates valued skills.
Germany
Although MBA
salary levels in
Germany are
signifcantly lower than that
of Switzerland, coming in at
US$93,700, this is not necessarily
representative of an equal
lack of demand. Rather, this is
due to the fact that more MBA
employers in Germany are hiring
internationally from Asia and the
Indian subcontinent refecting the
German economy which thrives
on the demand for German goods
in Asia. Subsequently demand
for Asian MBAs to join German
companies and vice versa in order
to maintain strong global, money-
making relationships, is high.
Spain
Hit hard by
austerity, Spain
has seen a 16%
contraction in the demand for
MBA jobs this year but remains
in the top 10 for overall MBA
salary and bonus levels which sit
at US$92,900 on average. There is
good news on the horizon for MBA
job availability though, with a
forecast of 6% growth in demand
in 2014. We can expect this to be
refected in future salaries.
Canada
Lastly is
Canada with an
average overall
compensation of US$91,600. Along
with the US, Canada is forecast to
see a 16% growth in demand for
MBA graduates which will see a
huge shift in hiring confdence
from both local and international
companies. Big employers are
recovering from the dip in the
economy, particularly in the
fnancial services, and are keen
to hire new MBA graduates. This
will undoubtedly lead to increased
wage prospects and career
progression.
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 7
|
8 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
MBA Life in Focus:
Louise Ronnerdahl, MBA 2104
INSEAD
The last months have been intense, challenging yet magical. I
have learned so much. There is more to pursuing an MBA than the
academic experience and the dream job you will hopefully land
at the end. As I have come to learn, the most inspiring and unique
part is the people that you meet, and it amazes me everyday how
much you can learn from people from 84 different countries,
with different cultural norms, experiences and outlooks on life.
This is noticeable every day at INSEAD, but became particularly
apparent during our National Week Voting Day; a day to truly
embrace and celebrate diversity, where the students dress up
in their national costumes, share their local food and cultural
highlights. There were 300 people mingling together in a
conference hall and the positive energy in the room could have
made the ceiling collapse. I remember thinking to myself, a day
like this can only be experienced at INSEAD.
Six Months at Business School
Despite what some critics will tell you, MBA programs are designed to be
an enjoyable and rewarding time for all concerned. The Top MBA Career
Guide takes a visual look at some of the exciting happenings at business
schools the world over
| Editorial
Kushagra Bhatia, AGSM
MBA class of 2014
I only had one year off work to study, so I was always looking
to do something extra. I got involved with the ASPIRE
program, for which we went along as representatives of
business studies to Dubbo, a relatively underprivileged town
from which not many people go to university. Our goal was
to try and show kids that there is a different path. We had a
lot of interest around 60-70 students from 10 schools got
involved. We decided to do our session in the style of Dragons
Den, putting students in small groups, and assigning them
each a role. Their job was to design and paint a t-shirt to be
sold at Dubbo Zoo, a major tourist attraction, choosing to use
cheaper or nicer paint, and then negotiating a price with us. The
students loved it we got one of the highest ratings.
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 9
Copenhagen Business School
The Leadership Discovery Process at CBS is a personal journey
to discover and refne your leadership style. It heightens
awareness of your strengths, weaknesses, blind spots,
communication preferences and values. Through a combination
of lectures, peer-to-peer coaching sessions, mentoring by
executives, and on-going self-refection, you develop a true
understanding of yourself and your leadership style as well
as how to appreciate the differences in others .
The fnal capstone of the year-long course is a multi-day
leadership simulator conducted somewhere outside of
Denmark where you have the opportunity to learn by
doing. Through a series of outdoor activities, you take
turns to perform as a leader and then receive feedback from
your peers as well as coaches in the areas of teamwork,
communication, interpersonal skills and leadership skills.
Tuck School of Business
Dartmouth College
Over the past few months, teams of frst-year students at the
Tuck School of Business have participated in 66 projects for 15
organizations through Tuck Student Consulting Services (TSCS). The
student-run group connects MBA candidates with local businesses
and non-proft organizations through volunteer consulting
projects. TSCS provides students with real-world experience in
consulting, the opportunity to apply their business skills, and a
chance to give back to the local Upper Valley community. Student
teams work with 10-20 organizations each year on key business
issues.
Consulting engagements range from operations to marketing to
strategy, with TSCS teams striving to deliver recommendations
that are relevant and impactful. Many of these organizations
are recurring clients and represent a wide range of industries,
including education, health care, manufacturing, energy,
and transportation to name a few. Students do not receive
compensation or academic credit. TSCS services are 100 percent
pro bono; local businesses and non-proft organizations can beneft from and
access the fresh perspectives and diverse knowledge of graduate business
students from Tuck.
|
10 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
NUS Business School
National University of Singapore
Theres communication. Theres business communication. And
then theres business management communication. Learning
the difference could be the key to being a successful business
leader.This is the reason why Management Communications
(MC) module, a core requirement for completion of NUS MBA
at NUS Business School, is one of the most challenging and
fulflling experiences for our students.
The MC module is a week-long, unique, experiential learning
course custom-designed for NUS Business School by LinHart
Group, a leadership services frm specializing in counseling
CEOs, corporate boards, owners and senior executives.
Through mock networking sessions, role plays, group and
individual class exercises and round table discussions, the
course helps students become infuential leaders by focusing
on new principles and ways of looking at business leadership.
The students are pushed outside their comfort zones, and
asked to grapple with situations far from their experiences.
Matt Brendle
MBA Class of 2014
IESE
I decided long ago that social responsibility in business
was not an option, but an obligation. Fortunately this
is an ethos that Ive been able to build on and share
during my time in the MBA. In the second year of the
MBA at IESE, youre given more freedom to shape your
desired career path, not only through electives (coming
from a fnance background I selected courses focused
on Marketing and Operations to give myself a more
rounded experience) but also through the opportunity
to lead student clubs so its no surprise that I
decided to head the Responsible Business Club. As the
President of this club I get a unique opportunity to
chair the largest student run event in Europe on social
and sustainable issues, the Doing Good & Doing Well
Conference.
As I approach the end of my MBA at IESE I can certainly look back and feel proud of all the
opportunities that have been presented to me and feel confdent that I have the tools to return
to a better world of responsible business.
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 11
Ayu Dewi
Duke University,
The Fuqua School of Business
Candidate for MBA, Class of 2015
Duke-Fuqua is one of the few business schools to include
improv classes. Why? Because much of what you learn in
improvisation will help you become a successful business
leader.
Here are a few things I learned:
Courage: Public speaking is not a problem, but being on
the stage in a crowded bar doing improv is scary. Im glad
I said yes, and to this opportunity
Preparation: I have been playing improv games in dinners
and even before internship interviews to increase my
energy and reduce anxiety
Youre Always On Stage: Having the mindset of being on the stage all the time enables me to slow
down and speak more clearly
Be in the moment: I used to worry too much about what I should say next. After improv, I learned
that any conversation is a two-way journey and that I dont have to do all the work
Shereen Chalak, MBA 2013
INSEAD
It hit me that I have lived in 4 cities over the past year. But its not
just me. INSEAD MBAs exchanging campuses would have lived in
a minimum of 3 cities in a year. With each move, I feel aversion,
fondness, love and separation anxiety when I have to leave again.
This cycle is much faster at INSEAD. Living in Singapore is quite
interesting. Life is dictated by the city, its massive towers, gorgeous
rooftops, great restaurants and easy access to the rest of Asia. But
just when it starts to feel right and gets a bit comfortable, when
its no longer about discovery, its time to pack and leave.
The beauty of going through this cycle at INSEAD is that youre
with more than 300 students who have made the same choices
for the thrill that comes with change. The next adventure is
coming up and this time, Im taking with me lots of amazing
memories of Singapore.
1. What made you
decide that you
needed to get an
MBA?
After working more than four
years at Citibank in Central
America, I felt the need to expand
on my academic and international
experience, particularly in Europe
and Asia.
The MBA was the perfect step in
my career; it gave me the tools and
general knowledge to perform at
higher levels in organizations.
2. Why did you
choose ESSEC?
I am pursuing an international
career so I had to do something
global. The Global MBA at ESSEC
offered me exposure to business
in Europe, Asia and Africa, so it
defnitely met my requirements.
Besides this, ESSECs reputation
in Europe and its extensive alumni
network were key drivers of my
decision.
I applied to four programs. Apart
from ESSEC, I applied to INSEAD,
HEC Paris and IE Business School
in Madrid. I was accepted at IE,
but decided against it because the
program had a high percentage of
Latin Americans and being with
more Spanish-speaking people
was exactly what I did not want.
ESSEC was the right place at the
right time.
3. What did you gain
from your MBA?
During my MBA I spent time in
six different countries France,
Singapore, South Africa, the
United Arab Emirates, Germany
and India not only taking
academic courses, but also
visiting companies, creating
social enterprises for global
competitions and completing my
international immersion projects,
where I had the opportunity to
work for one of the biggest IT
companies in India for eight
weeks.
One of the other most enriching
experiences of my MBA was the
diversity of the class, which
included people of 14 different
nationalities! There were people
from Qatar, India, Mexico and
China, people who had served in
the military in Afghanistan, people
who had PhDs. This all enriches
the Global MBA experience and
the discussions we had made it
clear that cultural factors are
important when doing business
internationally.
4. How did your MBA
prepare you for your
current role at KPMG,
both day-to-day and
on a higher level?
Before the MBA I had a rough
knowledge of private equity and
valuation models for M&A. Now,
after my fnancial courses, I have
Q&A with ESSEC Alumnus
Leonardo Banegas
After graduating
from ESSEC Business
School in September
2013, Leonardo
Banegas, from
Honduras, joined
KPMG Advisory in
Singapore, as part of
the Operation,
Synergy, Separation &
Integration Team. He
speaks to Mansoor
Iqbal about what he
learned from his MBA,
why he chose to study
in France and the
benefts of gaining
international exposure.
12 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
| Alumni Profle
the confdence to discuss and
challenge any initiative in my
day-to-day work. My personal
experience in integration in
combination with the broad
general knowledge of the MBA
allows me to do business
development consulting in a
variety of sectors.
As part of the Global MBA program
at ESSEC, we examined the
differences between business in
developed countries and emerging
countries, complemented by
rigorous fnance courses that
trained us in the M&A processes.
Both of these competencies are
required in my new role, where
we see many corporations from
developed economies completing
acquisitions in these fast-growing
regions!
Additionally, during my MBA we
spent fve weeks in Singapore,
where we visited many companies
and got a clear view of the
economic situation in the region,
which helps when you are
developing business not only in
Singapore but also the rest of the
ASEAN countries.
5. Tell us a bit more
about your time in
Bangalore.
My International Immersion
Project was one of the most
exciting parts of my MBA. I went to
India to work for one of the biggest
IT players in India. I experienced a
giant company from an emerging
market doing business mainly in
developed countries, which gave
me a different perspective on
doing business.
I was doing research and analysis
of the innovations process for
microfnance institutions (MFIs)
globally, and guiding MFIs on how
to develop successful innovations
for the base of the pyramid.
The challenge was to deliver
a foundation for developing
innovative products and business
models which would allow MFIs
to meet the needs of low-income
segments in a sustainable way.
I had the opportunity to learn
about the operations of the MFIs
and work with with the CEOs of
microfnance institutions from
India, Latin America and some
countries of South East Asia.
6. Are you where you
thought you be after
your MBA?
Before my MBA, I lived two years
in Taiwan. I was open to starting
my post-MBA career in Europe
or Asia. During my job search I
was focusing in consulting as my
priority and I was targeting most
of the 1st and 2nd tier consulting
companies.
7. Tell us something
about your non-
academic MBA
experience.
A result of the diversity of the
class was that every dinner
organized with my classmates
was exotic from amazing cheese
and wine tasting to Chinese and
Russian dishes. Of course, one
has to mention the beauty of Paris,
where there were so many cultural
activities to do, and restaurants
and bars to visit.
One of my favorite memories of
my MBA was a social business
competition, to which we had to
dedicate extra time in addition
to our normal curriculum. In this
competition we had to face global
challenges such as the food crisis
in urban slums and present our
proposal in Dubai.
8. What are your
future plans?
I expect to progress in my career as
a consultant and in the long term I
expect create my own businesses
here in Asia or even Europe.
9. What advice would
you give to future
MBA candidates,
particularly those
from Central
America?
Be curious and get out of your
comfort zone (in non-English
and non-Spanish speaking
countries). Try to study in two
or three different continents
to get wider perspectives and
experiences. Analyze the strengths
of the programs and quality of the
faculty, so you make sure you are
making a good investment.
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 13
I was in private equity before
I started at Columbia. At that
time, only one year after the
Lehman Brothers crash, it
was clear that gloomy times
were ahead for the PE industry,
so I wanted to try something
different my ambition was
to get into my dream sector,
hospitality. Little did I know
back then that hospitality
was hit even harder! After
numerous interviews to
gather information, unpaid
assignments and two planned
internships with hotel
management companies
falling through, she thought it
prudent to put her dream aside
for the time-being.
Instead, she re-entered the
investment space, working as a
strategy intern for a VC-backed
tech company in New York. To spice
things up, she also spent a week
in Uganda completing a small
student consulting project for a
local microfnance organization.
After her degree, she secured a
position at the Boston Consulting
Group. The intrinsically
international nature of working
for the consulting giant really sold
it to her as career. My personal
circumstances changed overnight,
and I realized that I had to go
back to Russia after business
school, which led me to ask what
I could do there which would be
both challenging professionally
and global. My whole career has
been international, so I could not
imagine working in a local business
with only local people. Consulting
is a good place to be if you are keen
on a global favor, and there are few
frms more international than the
Boston Consulting Group.
Columbia Business
School: Location and
more
It was this same desire for
international experience which
started Galina on her path to
From Columbia Business School
to Boston Consulting Group
Consulting was not
on Galina Oleyniks
radar when the young
Russian woman
enrolled at Columbia
Business School back
in 2009.
14 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
| Alumni Profle
Columbia Business School. I
always wanted to study abroad,
but I never even considered
European schools. I thought, if
one wants business education, one
should go to the country where it
was invented. I also was certain
that two years were better than
one, so wasnt concerned about
the extra year of earnings Id lose.
Thats not to say I didnt take a
pragmatic approach, but I didnt
consider this a downside when
stacked up against what Id gain.
Columbia Business School offered
one major advantage over the
other schools she was considering:
If you ask people from Columbia
why they chose it, they always say
location and I wont deny how
important this is, particularly
career-wise. In New York, every
major company you can think of is
at your doorstep and Wall Street is
a short subway ride away.
The Columbia MBA:
Shaping your own
curriculum
One of the things she appreciated
the most was the opportunity to
exempt core classes by passing
exams to demonstrate existing
competence. The Columbia MBA
is one of the few programs that
let you do this. This left me with
a lot of empty slots which meant
I could shape my own curriculum
from day one. I took a class in
real estate fnance every semester,
which I could never do in Russia,
layered with a bunch of soft skill
courses and topped off with CBS
specialties and parts of the value
investing program. It really shaped
my experience and meant that there
was no frustration learning things
I already knew. Consequently,
Galinas learning experience
was consistently interesting
(and useful) something not
everyone she knew who attended
a prestigious American business
school could say
The aforementioned soft skill
classes were a particularly
edifying element of the Columbia
MBA, Galina found. At times
these courses really push you
beyond your limits. When you
graduate from university with
an undergraduate degree, you
concentrate on hard skills at frst,
learning how to persuade people
with facts. But you dont pay much
attention to how the message is
conveyed, and how people perceive
you.
What advice would she give
the aspiring MBA candidate, to
ensure that they become better
professionals after an MBA? Make
sure you know exactly what you
want to get out of your MBA. Its
a highly-charged time that is full
of opportunities. If you go to fnd
your dream job, youll land it, if
you do everything you can to get
it. If you want to learn something
youve never known before, you
will. Even if you go to get married
to a great person or just to have a
good time, you will but you might
not get much more than that. So
stay sincere, focused and precise
with what you want youve been
selected by the program exactly
because they know that you are
able to achieve anything.
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 15
Systems engineer Andrew
Selves interest in leadership
and organizational behavior
was piqued while working for
the UK Ministry of Defence
in aircraft fight-testing,
and then procurement roles,
roles required him to work a
good deal in US and European
organizations.
Working with people from
other cultures made me see the
importance of organizational
behavior. The way people worked
together was generally a good
indicator of which parts of the
aircraft design were likely to be
successful. Theres an interesting
link between behavior and
engineering technology risk.
From this observation, he
continues, he was led to think
about innovation, and how it could
be encouraged and facilitated by
leadership. But he acknowledged
that he had reached the limit of
what he could understand as a
self-labeled amateur and wanted
to look at these issues in a more
systematic and well informed
way as one might expect from
someone from an engineering
background.
I wanted to understand in a more
rigorous way how organizations
can work and what is helpful for
innovation and entrepreneurship,
particularly in the public sector
where value is more than just the
year end balance sheet. An MBA
would give me the opportunity
to study with people from other
cultural and business back
grounds, as well as looking at
technical MBA skills.
He chose Imperial College Business
School, attached to the prestigious
STEM University at which he
had studied as an undergraduate
20 years prior, because of its
culture of entrepreneurship and
diversity of nationalities. The
Imperial MBA is quite strong on
how you exploit good science and
engineering ideas and actually
adapt them to a real marketplace
so they are effective and adopted.
How to turn a bit of science that
has no commercial prospect into
something that is a commercial
attractive proposition, can make
a return on investment, and
therefore have an impact in the
real world?
The public sector as a
customer
He naturally managed to get his
hands dirty, getting together
with a patent lawyer and a PhD
to develop a technology idea
which could radically change
treatment for those suffering with
oxygen-related conditions, called
saturation driven oxygen therapy
(sdot). He was driven by a desire
to see what the public sector in
this case the UKs National Health
Service was like as an adopter of
innovative technologies.
They won a business plan
competition and decided
to carry on, working with
regulatory bodies, service
contract companies, and medical
MBA Skills in the
Public Sector
An interest in
organizational behavior
motivated systems
engineer Andrew
Selves to do an MBA at
Imperial College
Business School in
London
16 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
| Alumni Profle
practitioners to develop their idea.
We had to work out how to appeal
to them in a way that would make
the technology relevant, adoptable
and cost effective in a marketplace
dominated by large original
equipment manufacturers.
They managed to get another
business plan competition win
under their belts, as well as the
Royal Academy of Engineering
Prize for Innovation. A patented
prototype entered clinical trial
stage, and was the frst case study
for a new regulatory approach
for low cost medical devices
(MATCH). There has been a lot of
interest from original equipment
manufacturers. Our patented
approach is used in research and
potentially will be integrated
in commercial oxygen therapy
devices.
He also founded the Non-Proft
Club, with speakers from the
third sector who had effectively
combined hard commercial
delivery with a wider social beneft.
There are real opportunities in
seeing and understanding the non-
fnancial value you can create for
certain customers that transforms
the market.
He cites the example of the UK Met
Offce. It operates in a way with
universities and researchers on
meteorological modeling, high end
computing research and delivers
a commercial service all in one go,
all while being only able to spend
what it earns. It would be a reach
for a purely commercial business
to have that sort of trust and that
level of relationship to deliver
what the Met Offce deliver.
Indeed, the unique nature of the
public sector means that a special
skillset is required. Though there
are roles which require specifc
expertise, many of the problems
we tackle are complex and
multidisciplinary. One must, to a
certain extent, be a generalist to
succeed in such management roles.
An agile set of MBA
skills
On top of technical MBA skills,
gaining exposure to those with
different professional and cultural
backgrounds was one of the key
takeaways from the MBA for him.
I learned a lot from bankers and
management consultants and
those from media backgrounds.
I managed to get a really
good insight of how different
professional cultures set about
problems. When you take the time
to listen to what your colleagues
are saying, you see that they look
at information in a completely
different way. Theres a whole set
of assumptions about what else is
going on in that situation for it to
be true.
This diverse skillset has served
him well, since graduating. His
post-MBA career has taken him
from advising a defense minister
on the ownership of four trading
funds, which he describes as being
akin to managing an investment
portfolio with all the concomitant
challenges of recruiting, selecting
and motivating chief executives
and affliate teams, to the National
Archives, where he helped the UK
Government move from paper
records to digital multi-media.
This also involved helping the
National Archives move from a
role where they selected which of
the Governments paper records
to preserve, to that of information
consultant, enabling digital
information to be exploited and
knowledge sustained.
It is the behavior of people in
organized groups which still
fascinates Andrew. How do you
set the conditions for change in
an organization in which liberates
individuals to perform, collaborate
and innovate with others, and be
collectively effcient to achieve a
greater good?
With his latest challenge taking
him to Stockholm, where he will
be leading defense engagement
with Nordic and Baltic nations, it
seems that questions about how
to help people collaborate will be
occupying him for the foreseeable
future.
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 17
|
18 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
To investigate this issue
further, Hult Labs was
established to research the
effectiveness of business
education today.
Our researchers interviewed CEOs,
senior executives, and hiring
managers at 90 top companies and
organizations around the world to
discover what they are looking for
in future employees and how Hult
can respond to this challenge.
What did the
companies tell us?
They were mostly negative in
their opinion of both the process
and the products of traditional
business education.
They told us graduates need ten
critical skills to succeed in the
real world.
To deliver these skills, they
believe schools need to increase
opportunities for students to
gain real-world experience.
They believe schools should
place a greater focus on building
emotional intelligence within
these opportunities.
They want business school
faculty to have more real-world
experience to deliver these
experiences.
Specifcally the
companies wanted
employees who
possessed the
following skills:
Self-awareness. Achieved by
students testing their limits and
failing, then persevering and
overcoming these challenges.
Integrity. One CEO said, There
are so many opportunities for
fraud and we cant control all
of those. So we have to rely on
individuals who have a deep
sense of personal integrity.
Cross-cultural competency. The
ability to behave productively
in different cultural settings is
critical, given the increasingly
global nature of business.
Strong team skills. Many
students graduate not knowing
how to work with others or
deliver and accept feedback.
Critical thinking. As one CEO
said, Students look at data and
dont ask, Whats it telling me;
what does it really mean? They
know the mechanics [of data],
but not what it really means, or
the context.
Communication. A Senior Vice
President told us, very bluntly,
[Students] need to be able to
cram 20 minutes of info into
fve minutes, and focus the
rooms attention on the core
information.
What Top Employers are
Looking for in Todays Economy
With more and
more jobs requiring
advanced level skills
and the developed
world facing an
impending
demographic crisis,
employers today
report a pressing need
for a dependable
source of talent
equipped with these
high-level skills.
Companies are also
increasingly skeptical
of traditional business
education and want to
see this training better
refect the realities of
the 21st Century.
Adam Carstens,
Director of Research at
Hult International Business
School
| Advertorial
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 19
What Top Employers are
Looking for in Todays Economy
Comfort with ambiguity and
uncertainty. Students need to
show they can solve complex
challenges despite incomplete
data and would also benet from
more opportunities to grapple
with ambiguous problems.
Creativity. Companies need their
people to be able to create new
solutions to current problems
and will gladly pay a premium
for this skill.
Execution. Companies would
like students to be able to get
things done. Without the ability
to execute, all else is lost.
Sales. Graduates need to learn
how to pitch, persuade, and
obtain buy-in from internal and
external stakeholders.
In summary, companies feel the
traditional curriculum taught at
most business schools doesnt offer
enough opportunities for students to
practice and apply these ten critical
skills. Classes at traditional schools
often overemphasize functional
knowledge (e.g., accounting, nance,
marketing), when basic prociency
in these areas is sufcient. Moreover,
students at traditional schools are
seldom pushed beyond repeating
academic models through tests or
essays.
In response to these fndings Hult
chose to completely revamp its MBA
program for 2014/2015 so that:
Less time will be spent on
learning theoretical concepts
and more time will be spent
putting those concepts into
practice through real projects
and simulated business
environments.
More time will be spent working
on professional skills such
as self-awareness through
individual coaching. Students
will receive access to what we call
Navigators who will help them
work through issues related to
their individual performance and
performance as part of teams.
Students will have more
chances to prove themselves to
potential employers through
projects such as the Hult Prize
(hultprize.org) and the Hult
Impact Challenge; a team-based
competition concluding in Davos,
Switzerland, where students will
have the chance to develop an
idea into a viable business.
Hults MBA program will therefore
devote more time to developing
the qualities employers want and
ensuring that our graduates are
job ready from day one. Hult is
disrupting traditional business
education and Hult Labs and its
research play a key part in that
effort.
Adam Carstens
(Director of Research
at Hult International
Business School and
Professor of Change
Management)
Adam conducts original research
on new trends in business
education, and has helped design new learning approaches
in the classroom based on this research. Prior to Hult,
Adam led consulting engagements for Harvard Business
School Professor, John Kotters, consulting frm, Kotter
International. He was also the rst non-Japanese full-
time faculty member at Globis, Japans largest business
school in Tokyo. Previous roles also include acting as
a political aide for a U.S. Senator and Congressman in
Washington, DC. Adam holds an MBA from Thunderbird
School of Global Management.
Hult Labs: at the forefront of
business education excellence
Hult Labs was created to research the effectiveness of
business education. Under the leadership of Dr. Mark
Fuller (Founder of Monitor, one of the worlds most
prestigious consulting rms, and formerly of the Harvard
Business School), Hult Labs partners with the academic
faculty at our global campuses to pilot cutting-edge
teaching methods and technological innovations.
The strongest growth in
MBA salary and bonus levels
occurred in emerging markets.
An 8% increase in the Asia
Pacifc region, from $78,434
to US$85,076, is the standout
fgure, while the Middle East
and Africa region saw a 5%
increase from US$72,540 from
US$76,457. Latin American
salary and bonus levels
remained stable at US$72,234,
though with a 20% rise in
average salary occurring
between 2011 and 2012,
this cannot be considered a
negative outcome.
However, despite this strident
growth, the increased totals are
still eclipsed by the equivalents in
the traditional powerhouses of the
US & Canada and Western Europe.
Both saw a 4% rise in MBA salary
and bonus levels this year, with
average levels now standing at
US$109,200 and US$105,900.
While 4% might be considered
rather modest for these markets,
the subsiding threat of further
recession means that we could
well see a marked improvement
next year.
The story was less positive in
Central and Eastern Europe,
however, which was the only
region in which a decline occurred;
this years fgure of US$72,109
represents a 5% drop on 2012s.
As in previous years, the country
with the highest MBA salary
and bonus fgure was Australia
(US$133,100) followed by
Switzerland (US$129,700), with
Denmark climbing several places
to take third spot (US$121,400).
Perhaps the most obvious cause
of this largely upward trend is a
gap between supply and demand.
While employer demand has
tripled since 2000, there has been
no equivalent expansion in the
size of the graduating cohorts of
top business schools. Increased
numbers of MBAs in hiring
positions, whose experience
allows them to better understand
the value of the MBA, have also
played their part.
Base salary levels
bolstered by bonuses
Over the past decade, the annual
QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary
Trends Report has shown great
year-on-year stability in base
salary levels. It is the considerable
bonuses on offer to MBAs which
have been the primary driver of
growth. As well as traditional
performance-related bonuses,
many employers are offering new
hires sign-on bonuses to help
cover MBA tuition fees.
The average frst year bonus
offered by MBA recruiters in
Western Europe stands at a
not inconsiderable US$14,000,
while in the US & Canada region
employees can expect no less than
US$18,000. The highest reported
bonus in the 2013/14 report is a
gargantuan US$250,000.
Global MBA Salary Levels
on the Rise
For candidates with
a keen eye on their
MBA salary, the
2013/14 QS TopMBA.
com Jobs & Salary
Trends Report contains
plenty of good news.
The global survey of
4,318 actively hiring
MBA employers
reveals that salary and
bonus levels are up
nearly across the board
this year.
20 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
| Editorial
These two regions also continue to
stand head and shoulders above
the rest of the world in terms of
average base salary levels, which
have risen 10% over the past
decade to stand at US$90,930; they
are still, however, lower than their
2008 peak of US$95,250.
Though it is some way behind, Asia
is the standout region in terms of
salary growth with base salaries
growing by 8% to US$71,635.
The fgures that contribute to
this average base salary vary
greatly however, with salaries
offered in Australia and Japan
standing at roughly fve times
that of economies of South East
Asia, where MBA salary levels are
among the worlds lowest.
Despite there still being a very
signifcant difference in base
salary levels between regions, the
gap between the bottom (Latin
America) and the top (US & Canada)
has closed over the past decade,
from 50% to 30%.
The report considers salaries
offered by both multinational
and domestic employers. In
every region, the former offer
considerably higher base salaries
than the latter. The difference is
greatest in Asia, where it is 27%.
In Western Europe it is 12%, and
in the US & Canada it is 13%. The
reasoning behind this is clear:
as business continues to become
increasingly global, multinational
companies do not want to drive
candidates away from regions
which are set to become key.
Finance and
consulting salaries no
longer lead the way
The report also breaks down
salary and bonus levels for the
US & Canada and Western Europe
down by industry, which makes
for some interesting fndings.
Elite level fnance and consulting
salaries and bonuses are on the
up top consulting salaries are in
the US$110-130,000 range, while
salaries offered by investment bank
can reach up to US$200,000 (though
the range has widened, with some
banks reining in compensation to
around US$90,000).
However, while a decade ago, these
industries offered MBA salaries
as much as 50% higher than other
sectors, they no longer lead the
way. The highest paying feld in
these two regions is metals and
mining, in which MBA salary levels
stand at US$139,600, onto which
we can add an average bonus of
US$51,600 to take the total to a
princely US$191,200. Last years
leader pharmaceuticals is second
(US$100,350 salary and US$22,700
bonus), and construction and
property is third (US$97,200 and
US$8,290).
Financial services is in ffth place
with an average salary and bonus
of US$107,450 while consulting
and professional services frms
offer US$104,200. It must be taken
into account, however, that many
smaller boutique consultancies
have entered the fray this year,
which will have a consequence on
consulting salary levels though
it does mean that opportunities
are on the up in the sector.
But the conclusion is clear: once
more the fnancial value of the
MBA has been confrmed if it
was ever in doubt. Perhaps the
most illuminating statistic is
the report is this the average
post-MBA salary of US$91,000
in the US & Canada and Western
Europe, for candidates with only
three years of work experience on
average, is three times that of an
undergraduate entering the job
market for the frst time. Figures
which speak for themselves.
For detailed regional analysis,
including the highest paying
schools in each regions, read the
full report by clicking the link
below.
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 21
In terms of salary, the 2013/14
editions of these reports
yielded some interesting
fndings. The Jobs & Salary
Trends Report revealed that
MBA salary and bonus levels
were on the up, with employers
in every region except Central/
Eastern Europe, compensating
their hires more generously
when salaries and bonuses
were taken into account
(salaries in the US & Canada
dropped slightly, but this was
offset by increased average
bonus levels).
However, the Applicant
Survey showed that the salary
expectations of MBA applicants
have largely gone done, with
every region except Western
Europe in which the rise in
salary expectations can be
fairly described as nominal. So,
strangely, MBA salary levels and
salary expectations seem to be
heading in opposite directions.
Salary expectations
vs. reality
However, the story is not that
simple. While salary expectations
have dropped, the average global
fgure is still high, at US$113,000
down from US$126,500 the
previous year. It should also be
noted the latter fgure is a record
high, as MBA applicants regained
confdence after the recession, so
any drop from this fgure must be
taken with a pinch of salt.
This years average fgure is
still higher than the average
compensation levels on offer in
any region, according to the Jobs &
Salary Trends Report. The highest
average MBA salary is offered by
employers in the US & Canada,
MBA Salary:
Expectations vs. Reality
QS produces several
pieces of annual MBA
research, among which
are the QS TopMBA.
com Applicant Survey,
which looks at the
expectations, ambitions
and demographics of
MBA applicants, and
the Qs TopMBA.com
Jobs & Salary Trends
Report, which as the
name suggests, surveys
actively hiring MBA
employers to identify
the latest trends in MBA
salary levels and hiring.
|
22 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
who pay a combined salary and
bonus of US$109,191.
Of course, this varies by industry.
In the US & Canada and Western
Europe the average bonus
and salary for those working
in the metals/mining sector
stands at US$191,200 and in
pharmaceuticals, at US$123,050.
However, consulting salaries
stand at US$89,150 with a bonus
of US$15,050 taking the total to
US$104,200 (it must be noted
that top frms will offer more). In
fnancial services, the equivalent
is US$107,450 (US$95,350 and
US$12,100). So, it seems that MBA
applicants salary expectations are
still generally high.
It is worth considering the fgures
by region too. Though many
MBA applicants do not intend
to work in their home region
wanting to work in a country is
an increasingly important factor
in business school choice, the
Applicant Survey reveals many
do. Salary expectations will also be
shaped by local MBA salary levels.
Almost across the board, we can
see that expectations exceed
reality. The research does not
reveal the target industries of
these applicants by region, but it
is clear that the headline grabbing
salaries on offer in lucrative felds
like consulting and fnancial
services have obviously permeated
the consciousness of MBA
applicants.
Latin America the bottom region
in terms of MBA salary is the only
region in which actual salaries
outrank expectations.
MBA Return on
0 US$30,000 US$60,000 US$90,000 US$120,000 US$150,000
Africa / Middle East
Asia Pacifc
Central / Eastern Europe
Western Europe
Latin America
US & Canada
Average salary and bonus (2013/14 QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends Report)
Average target salary (2013 QS TopMBA.com Applicant Survey)
76,457
94,000
85,076
104,000
72,109
128,000
105,901
128,000
72,234
70,000
109,191
145,000
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 23
| Editorial
investment
Though in many quarters
expectations are not being met, the
MBA remains one of the worlds
leading qualifcations in terms of
return on investment, says Nunzio
Quacquarelli, managing director of
QS and author of the report.
On average, MBA applicants are
earning in the region of US$40,000.
If we take the tuition fees of a
two year program in the US to be
around US$100,000, and take into
consideration the opportunity cost
of two years foregone salary and
the added investment in books
and accommodation, [we can
then weigh these up against post
MBA compensation]. The average
in the US is about US$110,000
and the equivalent in Europe is
US$105,000. Now, if you imagine
that youre a 28 year-old and youre
going to be working for another 25
years, with your salary growing
at an average compound rate of
7% per annum. After three and
half years youre going to be in
the black. The net present value
on your investment of US$100,000
is probably going to be US$2 or 3
million over your working life.
The opportunity cost of a one year
program, he adds, is even lower,
with a payback period of closer to
two and half years. So the return
on investment, for someone who is
starting from an average salary level
cannot be denied. Of course, other
factors come into play industry
sector, the prestige of the school
attended, personal issues but one
is certainly equipped to do better.
But this focus on whether very
high MBA salary levels are meeting
slightly higher salary expectations
is perhaps oversimplifying
the matter. The MBA return on
investment is about much more
than just salary fgures.
Many a candidate, for example,
will want to change careers 43%
of respondents to the Applicant
Survey cited this as their reason
for doing an MBA. The MBA is a
very fexible qualifcation so its
very good for career changes,
refects Quacquarelli adding that
it can also be good for those who
are looking to change function
or geography, or a combination
of the three. He adds a word of
caution, though. If theyre looking
to change geography, location and
industry, that might be a step too
far. But, the MBA has proven to be
a very successful qualifcation for
career changes.
And then there are the other
benefts of the MBA cited by
applicants learning new skills,
network building or just the
possession of a new skill set
and knowledge that cannot be
quantifed. So while there may still
be a gap between target and actual
salaries, and its worth reiterating
that the latter are still desirable,
the fact is the MBA still pays.
|
24 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
The growth seen in this years
report is in line with the
average growth rate of 15%
reported since QS research into
MBA jobs and salaries began in
1990. There have been peaks
and troughs since; declines in
2009 and 2010 standing as the
most signifcant examples of
the latter, though the 36% rise
since in 2011 heralded a new
age of growth, as confdence in
economic recovery took hold.
But if theres one takeaway from
the events of the past few years,
its that we can never take for
granted that things will remain
as they were. So, QS research
attempts, as far as is possible, to
get an idea of what we can expect
from the future by asking the
employers on whose responses the
report is based about their future
hiring plans.
So, what does 2014 hold?
US & Canada and
Western Europe:
Economic recovery
inspires growth
For the two most economically
powerful regions of the world, the
past few years have been relatively
slow in the terms of MBA jobs. The
2013/14 report indicates a modest
2% growth in the US & Canada, and
an even smaller 1% for Western
Europe.
But it seems like 2014 might be
the year that this changes, as
the shoots of economic recovery
begin to bear fruit. In the US &
Canada, growth rates of 16% are
forecasted, and though Western
Europes fgure of 6% may be
more modest, it is at a positive
indication of things to come as
well as signifcant improvement in
itself.
MBA Jobs:
What Does 2014 Hold?
A 14% global rise
in the number of MBA
jobs across the globe
and nearly across the
board on
improvements in salary
and bonus levels will
make the 2013/14 QS
TopMBA.com Jobs &
Salary Trends Report a
pleasing read for those
with a stake in the
world of business
education.
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 25
| Editorial
In the US, growth has been slow
due to a slow and uncertain
economic recovery. However,
that looks set to change, with the
stabilization of fnancial services
and the booming technology sector
driving growth, as well as recovery
in some manufacturing industries.
New companies and those only
just beginning to look to MBAs will
also continue to play a part.
In Western Europe the picture
is as multifaceted as you would
expect from this diverse continent.
Germany remains a powerhouse,
as does Scandinavia, while Italy
driven by a notably strong
performance by the automotive
sector is this years surprise
package. A resurgent fnancial
services industry in London
also means the UK continues to
perform.
However, Spain, Greece and Ireland
are still struggling, with growth
either remaining fat or declining.
Asia and Eastern
Europe engine rooms
of MBA jobs growth
in 2014
With 20% growth in MBA jobs
over the past year, Asia is really
the standout region in this years
report. We can expect more of the
same next year, with a massive 38%
growth forecasted for 2014. India
and China, perhaps predictably,
will be driving growth as
employers continue to embrace the
qualifcation. The former overtook
the US as the worlds biggest hirer
of new MBAs in 2011, and the latter
jumped to third place.
Consulting, manufacturing, IT/
computer services, fnance and
micro-fnance were the industries
which drove growth in Asia.
Eastern Europe has had a quieter
year, with 6% growth in MBA jobs.
However, in 2014 the fgure is
predicted to rise to a gargantuan
34%. The automotive, engineering
and consultancy sectors in Poland,
Romania and the Czech Republic
are predicted to drive this growth,
while Russia and Kazakhstan
are consistently strong markets
in terms of MBA hiring. While
economic recovery and the
consequent growth in MBA jobs
may seem a long way off in many
countries, in Russia demand has
remained strong, thanks to an
energy boom and an expansion of
the fnancial services industry.
|
26 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
try to utilize MBA talent in order
to internationalize. 9% growth is
forecasted for 2014.
MBA jobs by sector
As predicted in last years
report, consulting was one the
hottest sectors this year, with
11% growth in MBA jobs. This
is predicted to slow to 4% next
year however, with the emphasis
shifting to smaller boutique
frms. Technology, which also
grew by 11%, is similarly set to
slow in 2014, with 5% growth
predicted.
The industry sectors predicted to
grow most in 2014 are law (43%),
energy (14%), FMCG (13%), and
fnancial services (11%). The last
of these remains by far the biggest
sector for MBA hiring, accounting
for 24% of MBA jobs, while the
other three sectors are relatively
small hirers of MBAs.
The most negative forecast is
for aerospace/defence MBA jobs,
which are set to decline by 1%,
while no growth is forecasted in
metals/mining as the global boom
comes to an end. Only 1% growth is
predicted in the pharmaceuticals
industry, which only saw 2%
growth this year. However, this
represents a continuing recovery
in this industry so this cannot be
read too negatively.
So, provided nothing dramatic
occurs in the interim, it seems that
2014 will be an extremely positive
year for MBAs, as the economic
recovery continues and more and
more employers across the world
come to see the value of the MBA.
Middle East and Africa
The Middle East & Africa
continues to enjoy strident growth
in demand, with 8% growth
complementing last years fgure
of 21% as economic recovery in
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates continues. The overall
fgures remain low; though with
13% growth forecasted in 2014,
there may come a time when this
is different.
Latin America
Latin America has also seen
growth shift to a sustainable 6%
after last years headline increase
of 14%. Mexico in which many
US manufacturing operations
are based and Brazil are the
key countries in terms of MBA
jobs. Growth is spread across the
continent however, as companies
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 27
| Editorial
United States of
America
Home to the frst business school,
The Wharton School (of the
University of Pennsylvania), the US
has dominated the international
business education sphere for
over a century. While other regions
around the globe have also
established both a presence and
a reputation for business school
education, nowhere has been able
to compete with the US as a study
destination for the ambitious MBA
candidate.
Indeed, as fgures from the 2013
QS TopMBA.com Applicant Survey
reveal, 65% of MBA candidates
state the US is their preferred
study destination for pursuing
this prestigious business school
degree.
All students who come to study
from outside the US are required
to hold an F1 student visa. For
those who wish to work in the
US upon completion of their MBA
degree on a short-term basis, their
F1 status can be used to apply
for optional practical training
(OPT). This must be done with the
US Citizenship and Immigration
Services. A short-term visa allows
the MBA student to work in the US
for a period of up to 12 months
following graduation.
However, for many MBA students
(66% in fact according to the QS
Applicant Survey), improving
career prospects is a signifcant
motivating factor for pursuing an
MBA, and where better to fulfl
these career prospects than in the
US?
To work in the US longer than 12
months after graduating, MBA
students need to fnd an employer
who is willing to sponsor them for
a work visa. This will usually be
an H1B visa. This will allow the
graduate to work in the US for up
to three years with the option to
renew for a further three.
United Kingdom
The UK has always been a hub for
business, fnance, industry, and
innovation which makes it an ideal
destination, not only for the MBA
candidate but the MBA graduate
as well. UK business schools
place strong emphasis on their
connections with employers which
creates long reaching benefts for
business school graduates.
However, as is the case with any
country, for those candidates
who wish to stay on and work
post-study, visas are required.
The good news is there are two
potential options for non-EU MBA
graduates.
The frst is the Tier 1 graduate
entrepreneur visa. This category
allows non-European MBA and
other graduates to extend their
stay after graduate to establish
one or more businesses in the
UK. In the current year (6 April
2013 to 5 April 2014), 2,000
places are available under this
category. Of these 2,000 places,
half are allocated to qualifying
Higher Education Institutions for
Post-Study Work Visas
for MBA students
According to the
2013 QS TopMBA.com
Applicant Survey, 51%
of business school
candidates now choose
their study destination
based on where they
would like to work
post-MBA. But being
able to stay on in their
preferred study
destination requires a
post-study work (PSW)
visa. Ann Graham
looks at the rules and
regulations
surrounding PSW visas
in ten of the worlds
most popular study
destinations.
| Editorial |
28 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
MBA graduates, known as MBA
endorsements (i).
The second is the Tier 2 (General)
visa. The UK Home Offce states
this visa is for foreign nationals
who have been offered a skilled
job to fll a gap in the workforce
that cannot be flled by a settled
worker. In the current year (6
April 2013 to 5 April 2014), 20,700
places are allocated for skilled
workers who are employed in jobs
with an annual salary of less than
152,100. There is no limit for
skilled workers with an annual
salary above this fgure (ii).
Both visas are part of the points-
based system.
Canada
Canadas business education
sector can often be lumped with
its neighbor under the North
American umbrella but the
countrys business schools have
made the effort to ensure their
MBA offerings dont go unnoticed
by motivated candidates and its
paying off.
According to the QS Applicant
Survey, MBA candidates are now
considering a far greater range of
study destinations, with Canada
and Australia more popular than
ever before. Figures show that in
2013, Canada was the third most
preferred MBA study destination
behind the US and UK. This is
compared to 2009 when it ranked
sixth. Whats more, Canada as
a study destination appeals to
candidates across the board, from
Western Europe (12.8%) to Latin
America (30.3%).
Canada has added to its appeal
by making changes to its Post-
Graduate Work Permit Program.
Under the program, international
graduates can obtain a three year
open work permit, allowing them
to work for any Canadian employer
in any industry, so long as their
program of study is a minimum
of two years. Candidates do not
need to have a job at the time of
application, but they must apply
for a work permit within 90 days
of receiving written confrmation
that they have successfully
completed their program of study
(iii).
Australia
Australian higher education
institutions are quickly making
their presence known in the
world of business education. In
the 2013/2014 QS TopMBA Global
200 Business Schools Report,
11 Australian universities were
ranked, with Melbourne Business
School leading the way at place
number three in the Asia Pacifc
region.
Australia, along with Canada,
has also grown in popularity
as an MBA study destination
over recent years. Furthermore,
international recognition of
qualifcations, cultural interest
and lifestyle, and the appeal of
post-study employment are the
three top reasons for a preferred
MBA study destination according
to the QS Applicant Survey, which
indicates Australia could offer the
full package of work, study and
lifestyle opportunities for many
MBA candidates.
While studying, an international
MBA student is allowed to work
up to 20 hours per week when the
course is in session. These hours
are unrestricted during recognised
vacation periods. Post-MBA, those
graduates whose program lasts
for at least 92 weeks qualify for a
PSW visa which lasts two years.
Students do not need to have a job
offer before applying for this visa.
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 29
Singapore
Asias growth and development
in all things business has been a
source of much intrigue for the
rest of the world over the last ten
years or so and the region shows
no sign of resting on its laurels.
A product of this growth and
development has been the surge
in business education offerings in
the region with Singapore leading
the way.
Results from the QS Applicant
Survey have Singapore as the
most preferred Asian study
destination for MBA candidates
and the seventh most preferred
overall. While the majority of this
interest comes from within Asia
itself (28%), candidates in Western
Europe (11%) and to a lesser extent
Eastern Europe (7.5%) are also
seriously considering Singapore
as their MBA study destination.
This, in part, is because of the
employment opportunities
Singapore has for the MBA
student, post-graduation. To
stay on and work in Singapore,
students must secure a job before
applying for their work visa. Once
a job is secured, the student will
be issued with an Employment
Pass (EP). This is sponsored by
their employer.
Germany
The proportion of candidates in
Western Europe interested in
studying an MBA in Germany is
on the rise signifcantly. Figures
from the QS Applicant Survey show
that in 2013, 22.3% of respondents
favored Germany as their preferred
study destination, up from 6.3%.
Yet, Germanys appeal extends
further with 28.3% of Eastern
European respondents choosing
Germany as their preferred MBA
study destination, alongside 19.3%
of Latin American respondents
and 17.8% of respondents from the
Asia-Pacifc region.
Germany has an established
reputation as a relatively stable
country, both politically and
economically, which adds to
its appeal as a post-MBA study
destination, particularly given
the ease with which post-study
visas can be processed. Following
graduation, students can extend
their general residence permit to
enable them to stay in Germany
for up to 18 months. This gives
them the opportunity to search
for employment. Once they have
secured a job with an annual
salary greater than 40,000, they
can stay on indefnitely.
Hong Kong and
Mainland China
Much like their Asian counterpart,
Singapore, both Hong Kong
and mainland China have come
on in leaps and bounds with
their educational offerings to
business school candidates.
While partnerships with Western
business schools have helped to
cement their place in the world of
business education, much of the
credit can go to Hong Kong and
Chinese universities themselves.
In the QS Global 200 Business
Schools Report, Chinas Peking
University is ranked in the top
ten in the Asia-Pacifc region,
while China Europe International
Business School (CEIBS) and the
Hong Kong University of Science
and Technology (HKUST) Business
School are ranked just outside at
places 11 and 12 respectively. A
further six schools from Hong
Kong and China are listed in the
top 200.
Given the growing infuence of the
two countries on the global stage
its no wonder MBA candidates are
interested in working in the region
post-MBA. To stay and work in
Hong Kong after graduation, a
student must apply under the
Immigration Arrangements for
Non-local Graduates (IANG).
This is quota-free and non-sector
specifc (iv).
To stay and work in mainland
China after graduation, students
will need to apply for a Z visa.
This is often much easier to have
approved if the course of study has
been completed in China. This visa
does, however, require graduates
to have an employment permit.
Applicants can obtain a permit
from the Ministry of Labour and
30 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
Social Security in China or the
State Administration of Foreign
Experts Affairs (SAFEA).
France
France is the fourth most preferred
MBA study destination according
to the QS Applicant Survey and,
furthermore, appeals to business
school candidates from a wide
spectrum of nationalities. Figures
show France is most popular to
respondents from Eastern Europe
(40.6%), although it still appeals
to many respondents in Western
Europe (32.3%). However, its
attraction as a study destination
goes further afeld with 27.9% of
respondents from Latin America
indicating France as their
preferred study destination and
22.8% of Asia-Pacifc respondents
saying the same thing.
Campus France [www.
campusfrance.org], the national
agency which promotes higher
education, international student
services and international mobility,
explains that students from
member countries of the EU may
work in France without restriction
after they graduate. Students from
other parts of the world who have
earned at least a masters degree or
the equivalent may apply for a one-
time (non-renewable) temporary
residency authorization (APS)
valid for 12 months beyond the
date of expiration of the students
residency permit. The authorization
enables the student to work at
any job up to the limit of 60% of
the offcial work week (just over
half-time employment). Students
who obtain a job related to their
academic program at a rate of
compensation equal to at least 1.5
times the national minimum wage
may enter full-time employment by
fling a request for change of status
(from student to employee) at their
prefecture (v).
Switzerland
Home to some of the worlds top
business schools, its no wonder
Switzerland is placed in the top ten
of preferred MBA study destinations
by candidates in the QS Applicant
Survey. Whats more, these
candidates come from all corners of
the globe: 11.6% of candidates from
Africa and the Middle East indicated
they were interested in studying an
MBA in Switzerland, while 14.5%
of Asia-Pacifc respondents also
identifed the European country as
a destination they would consider
for MBA studies, a similar number
to 15.9% of respondents from Latin
America. However, the bulk of
candidates interested in pursuing
their MBA in Switzerland come from
Eastern Europe (30.7%) and Western
Europe (20.9%).
While Switzerland may have some
of the worlds top business schools
at which candidates can study their
MBA degree, its not the easiest of
countries to stay post-study. That
said, there are still opportunities
to do so. Candidates, known as
third country nationals, who have
studied at a Swiss higher education
institution are eligible to stay on in
Switzerland for six months post-
graduation to look for employment,
thus having the opportunity to
implement their MBA studies into
the real world environment.
Notice: All of the information contained in this article is believed to be correct at the time of going to press,
however visa rules are complicated within any country. The information contained in this article should in no way
be considered a substitute for conducting your own research. While the author, the people quoted in this article,
and QS Quacquarelli Symonds have provided this information with the best of intentions, all parties consider it a
necessity for MBA applicants to conduct their own research regarding the topics discussed.
(i) http://www.ukba.homeoffce.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/tier1/graduate-entrepreneur/
(ii) http://www.ukba.homeoffce.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/tier2/general/
(iii) http://www.canadavisa.com/post-graduation-work-permit-program.html
(iv) http://www.immd.gov.hk/en/services/hk-visas/professional-employment/guidebook.html
(v) http://www.campusfrance.org/en/page/working-after-graduation
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 31
It is almost a truism to say that
working in fnancial services
lost some of its allure in the
post-crash landscape. Indeed,
banking became and remains
to some something of a dirty
word. Untrammeled arrogance
from the likes of Dick Fuld and
his Lehman Brothers colleagues
in the face of impending disaster,
despite warnings, did precious
little for the sectors reputation.
However, reputations can recover.
Take Martin Scorseses box offce
dominating The Wolf of Wall Street.
Much like Oliver Stones Wall
Street, despite showing the darker
side of the industry, it is not the
moral message which captures the
imagination, but the glamour.
Of course, the Machiavellian
antiheroes depicted in these
flms would not be tolerated in an
industry which has learned from
its mistakes. In the real-world, it is
fgures like Barclays chief executive
Anthony Jenkins who are rising to
prominence, insisting on adherence
to values and principles which
have little in common with Gordon
Gekkos greed is good mantra.
Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank CEO
Anshu Jain, reportedly requested
a US$2.6 million pay cut in 2013
and promised, along with co-CEO
Jrgen Fitschen, to transform their
banks corporate culture.
Jairaj Singh, a recruitment
consultant specializing in
investment banking & global
markets at Michael Page Hong
Kong, states that roles available
have shifted due, in part, to this new
paradigm. Risk and compliance
have been key areas of growth,
while corporate fnance and M&A
teams have become leaner due to
cost cutting pressures.
He adds, There has been relatively
strong activity on the buy side, with
client attention focused on China;
multiple hedge funds, to which
much risk has been deleveraged,
and asset management frms have
made their presence felt.
Still a leading target
sector
Those already working in the
sector are in no hurry to leave.
76.2% of respondents to the 2013
QS TopMBA.com Applicant Survey
already working within the sector
were seriously considering staying
put a retention rate matched
only by consultancy and energy/
environmental/utilities. It is also
popular with those who were
looking for a change, with only
consulting matching it in terms
of appeal. 41% of those working
in consulting, 33.1% in energy/
environment/utilities and 33%
in education were considering
transitioning to fnance. Aside from
media/advertising, at least 20% of
respondents in each sector were
considering making the move over
to fnance.
Stickers and twisters alike will be
pleased to hear that opportunities
are on the up. Globally, the sector
was the joint-fasting growing in
Careers in Finance
Confdence is
returning to a
chastened fnancial
sector in the post-crash
landscape, writes
Mansoor Iqbal.
32 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
| Editorial
terms of MBA job opportunities,
according to the 2013/14 QS
TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends
Report. Globally, MBA employers
reported an 11% growth in job
opportunities, on the back of 16% in
2012.
This is particularly prominent in
emerging economies. 21% growth in
fnancial services and micro-fnance
jobs contributed signifcantly to
a total growth of 20% in MBA job
opportunities in Asia the standout
region in the report. Demand is so
strong in China that the Municipality
of Shanghai has opened an advanced
center for fnancial studies. There
was also 29% growth in fnance jobs
in the Middle East, contributing to a
total growth of 8%.
While growth in developed
economies has been a bit slower, it
is predicted that we are entering a
better time for fnancial services
in Anglophone North America and
Europe. Economist and journalist
Anatole Kaletsky predicts in his
Reuters blog that the US economy
will be growing by 4%, rather than
the IMFs predicted rate of 2.5-3%.
He also predicts that the expected
rate of infation globally will rise to
3%, and consequently the benchmark
for global growth will rise to 7%. His
conclusion? The new normal will
be, well, rather similar to the old
normal in the decade leading up to
the fnancial crisis
Breaking into fnance:
Soft skills required
With a half a decade of cautious
trading behind them, it may well
be that banks will be looking to
up hiring levels, and who better
than MBAs who have been trained
in the wake of the fnancial crisis,
and subsequently come with an
understanding of the folly of pre-
crash arrogance particularly
those who were on the frontline?
But, Singh warns that it is still
competitive, and an MBA will not
allow you to walk into any role.
Studying at a reputable business
school a Harvard Business School
or an MIT Sloan could potentially
give you an edge in terms of
grabbing an employers attention.
But ultimately, its a combination
of skills that counts, a consistent
track record and a story behind the
choices for your career development
are far more important.
You should start planning several
years in advance, he says during
the MBA admissions process is as
good a place as any, as it will require
you think about the same questions.
Do your due diligence and mold
your education, experiences and
qualifcations accordingly. Building
a strong network prior to entering
the job market is essential but to do
so is not easy; it requires intelligence
and strong soft skills. The rest will
follow.
So, what does it take to really
catch the eye? Different roles have
different requirements. Generically
speaking, strong fnancial modeling
skills and the ability to produce
high quality value added work is a
must. Behaviorally, you need to be
a hardworking and versatile person
who can interact with people from
diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Being a team player is important.
If you dont have a combination of
technical skill sets with equally
impressive soft skills, its highly
unlikely you will go very far in your
career, especially in competitive
roles dominated by politics.
QS research has consistently shown
that soft skills are in high demand
with employers and that they are
an area in which MBAs are often
found wanting. But, this therefore
makes them an obvious way to give
yourself an advantage. A unique
value added proposition will also
help, he adds, such as learning to
speak several languages.
So, if you succeed, what sort of
remuneration can you expect?
In Western Europe and the US
& Canada, the average stands at
US$95,350, supplemented by a
bonus of US$12,100, taking total
compensation to a tidy US$107,450.
This is no longer a table-topping
fgure, but its hardly pocket change
either
However, you shouldnt aim at a career
in fnance, Singh adds as a fnal word
of caution, unless youre absolutely
sure that it is for you: Jumping into
a job without spending the time to
fully understand the ins and outs of
the role and the business is folly. You
need to truly assess whether its the
right ft for you, because you could
set off in a career path which may be
diffcult to change in the future.
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 33
solution-shop model in which
the consultant provides value
based on expertise. Increasingly,
however, consulting frms
develop new business models
that incorporate sophisticated
technologies and new practices in
providing value for money to the
customer. As the industry research
outft Source notes, the greatest
opportunities for growth are in
new services and new delivery
models for consultancies.
Thriving industry
This dynamic is refected in the
growth of the overall global market
for consultancies. While revenue
in the global consulting industry
amounted to US$ 391 billion in
2012, this number approximates
US$ 415 billion in 2013. Following
a brief dip in revenues, in the
wake of the fnancial crisis, the
consulting sector as a whole has
not only recovered but is positively
thriving at present. According to
Plunketts industry research study
on consulting, it is particularly
those consultancy projects that
deliver strategies for expansions
into emerging markets and
information technologies that will
be in high demand and therefore
experience the most solid growth
in the mid-term.
New emerging
markets
There are also notable geographical
trends. Perhaps not surprisingly,
growth in mature markets for
consultancy has slowed down
signifcantly including such
traditional consultancy hotspots
as the United States, the United
Kingdom and Germany. Consultancy
revenues in emerging nations,
however, are soaring. Particularly
thriving are markets in the Middle
East and Asia. In the Middle East, it
is Saudi Arabia and Qatar who have
initiated the strongest growth in
consultancy business in the region,
with Saudi Arabia representing 32%
of consultancy business in the Gulf
Corporation Council and Qatar 13%,
fuelling an already booming market.
Both China and India have
also seen a strong growth in
consultancy business, although
it has recently come to a bit of
a slowdown, as Plunkett report.
Nonetheless, soaring business
markets like China, Singapore,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and
South Korea provide a sound
basis for a continual supply of
consultancy projects and business.
Other emerging markets soaring
steadily to the top in developing
their consulting sectors are Latin
American strongholds like Brazil
and Argentina. The boost in these
markets is refected by MBA hiring
trends in the consultancy sector, as
the latest QS TopMBA Jobs & Salary
Trends Report highlights. The study
reports a strong growth in MBA
recruitment particularly in Latin
America and Africa and the Middle
East, where the MBA demand in
consulting increased by 33% in the
former and 26% in the latter. In
stark contrast, demand in the US
and Canada grew by only 1%.
MBA Careers in Consultancy:
Whats in Store for 2014?
Many an MBA graduate
aspires to a thriving career in
consulting, as this sector has
become somewhat of a gold
standard in terms of graduate
salaries and career trajectories
among freshly minted MBAs.
And that is for good reason.
These are exciting times for
professionals in consulting.
While the mature markets will
experience less growth, there will
new developments in techniques
and methods in consulting as a
profession. For those interested in
getting a foot in the door in new
and exciting emerging markets, the
consulting industry holds a wealth
of possibilities in the near future.
Salaries remain high
Not only do MBA graduates who
enter the consultancy sector make
among the highest entry level
salaries of US$ 104,000 per annum
on average, the consulting sector
overall has also been one of the
most prosperous and continually
growing areas of business globally
in recent years and this trend is
forecast to continue. Comprising
a broad range of business areas,
consulting activities range from
HR to IT to marketing to market-
specifc business advisories.
Traditionally, the consulting
sector was reliant on the skills,
experience and capacities of the
consultants in a conventional
34 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
| Editorial
Elke Schwarz
This growth in MBA demand for
consultancies refects the rise
of new economic powerhouses,
such as China and Brazil, and the
strong economic development of
their local markets. However, the
trend can also be attributed to
the assertive expansion of the top
multi-national consultancies into
new and prosperous markets in Asia
and Latin America. MBA graduates
hired by consultancy giants like
Accenture, KPMG or Deloitte, can
expect to either work predominantly
in emerging markets or travel
extensively to such regions.
Hiring trends in 2014
MBA hiring for the consultancy
sector remains high overall. As top
business schools report, a large
number of their MBA graduates will
aim to join a consulting frm upon
graduation. Chicago Booth, for
example, places up to 75% of their
MBA graduates in consultancy
and fnance jobs. Similarly, 41%
of INSEAD MBA graduates were
taking up jobs in the consultancy
sector in 2012 an increase from
39% in the previous year. Refecting
the rise of consultancy in the
Global South, INSEAD specifcally
notes a trend in a growing number
of their graduates heading for
the Middle East and Africa in
the pursuit of their consultancy
careers. This shift took place to
the detriment of Western Europe
in particular, where numbers fell
by 10%. Similarly, Kellogg reports
that the top six employers in 2012
were all consulting frms, with
McKinsey & Co leading the table,
followed by Boston Consulting
Group and Bain & Co. Overall, 37%
of the 2012 MBA cohort at Kellogg
went into consultancy.
Consultancy frms
targeting MBAs
The breadth and depth of skills
MBA graduates can offer to a
consultancy makes them such
desirable employees. MBAs are
confdent, fexible and have typically
been exposed to diverse cultural and
academic infuences and that is what
many consultancies are looking for.
As Kate Newton, head of
recruitment at Accenture UK
confrms: What we value in MBA
graduates is not only the generalist
knowledge and team working spirit
they bring to the table, but also
the ability to approach complex
solutions creatively and with a
dynamic approach. As Accentures
business activities expand, the
demand for skilled MBA graduates
continues to grow for Accenture.
What becomes particularly
important is the ability to work in
a global context.
Newton elaborates: what we need
in particular are professionals who
work well with teams, specifcally
global teams. The global outlook
which many MBA courses offer
to their students is a key factor in
hiring for the consultancy industry.
Nicky Winch, Head of Recruitment
at CapGemini Consulting in the
UK notes: MBA courses provide
students with the chance to think
about the global economy as well as
work alongside a truly international
mix of students from a diverse
range of backgrounds and cultures.
This means MBA graduates can very
often adjust and contribute very
quickly when joining a company
like Capgemini Consulting.
The focus on a good blend of
interpersonal skills with analytical
and quantitative abilities and
a global outlook make the MBA
graduate an obvious choice for a
consultancy company that relies
on both expertise and variability
in creating customer value. For a
number of the top consultancies, an
MBA is the minimum qualifcation
for entry into their frm and many
have specifc internship programs
for MBAs that foster their skills
and allow them to develop the
knowledge acquired in the
classroom, within a real-world
setting. At Bain & Co, MBAs join
the frm as consultants or summer
associates, for example, and get to
work on specifc client problems
over the course of the internship.
Deloitte provides specifc job
opportunities to MBA students
which gives them a chance to
develop their existing experience
or gain insights and experience in a
new sector. Programs like these not
only promote top MBA talent, they
also create important links between
academia and industry and allows
MBA students to develop a strong
and effective career network.
Elke Schwarz is director of
www.estonline.co.uk.
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 35
In our private lives as well as our
professional lives we have come
to rely on machines, electronics,
gadgets and apparatuses
with which we or organise
the minutiae of our lives.
From day-to-day activities like
writing emails, sending texts
or ordering supplies online, to
highly sophisticated medical or
military technologies, the tech
sector dominates the globe in an
increasingly interlaced manner.
Silicon Valley has long matured,
but technology giants, such as
Google, continue to fnd ever-
new and innovative ways to
cement their signifcance in the
technology sector.
Googles recent acquisition
of Boston Dynamics and
DeepMind, both frms engaged
in the development of Artifcial
Intelligence and robotics,
refects the drive for expansion
and growth within the sector.
Technology makes the world go
round and will continue to do so
in ever-more autonomous ways.
It is unsurprising then, that the
demand for MBA graduates has
soared within the technology
sector as start-up business
have matured and require more
sophisticated and complex
business approaches.
The global technology sector as
such is one characterised by a rich
diversity from the aeronautic
technologies to cloud technologies
to nanotechnologies. This breadth
makes it diffcult to assess the full
size of the global market. According
to Gartner, a leading marketing
research frm for the tech sector, the
IT spending in 2013 approximated
US$3.7 trillion. This represents a
4.2% increase from the previous year.
Worldwide spending on technology
was forecast to be around
US$666 billion in 2013,according
to Gartner, while worldwide
enterprise software spending will
have amounted to US$269 billion
in 2013. This is merely a snapshot
of the many industry segments that
are comprised in the technology
sector but offers an insight into the
fnancial potency of this industry
and the pace at which the sector
develops.
As is the case with many other
industries, the technology sector has
a growing stronghold in Asia and
other emerging markets. With big
US technology frms tapping heavily
into Asian and Latin American
markets, India is strong and so is
China. But unlike consulting the US
continues to be among the strongest
recruiters of MBAs, along with Asia,
Africa and the Middle East. As such,
the technology sector continues to
be a key driver for job creation and
growth and overall outperforms
many other industries in 2012 and
2013.
This is refected in the growing
interest in MBA graduates in the
technology sector, and business
schools across the globe have
noticed an increasing number
of their graduates entering the
technology sector upon graduation.
Indeed, technology, as an industry,
is among the fastest growing in
Soaring Demand for MBAs in
the Global Technology Sector
It has become a
truism that technology
is indeed omnipresent
in every aspect and
angle in our lives.
Without technology
in the widest sense
we could no longer
function, or at least not
as effortlessly and
effciently as we do
today.
Elke Schwarz
36 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
| Editorial
terms of MBA recruitment, along
with consultancy and fnance
two continually strong sectors for
MBA graduates. Harvard Business
School reports that 18% of Harvard
graduates in 2013 have headed into
the technology sector, a consistent
increase from 12% in 2012 and 8%
in 2010.
Many MBAs going into the tech
industry already have a background
in technology and seek to broaden
their general management skills, as
well as gain valuable interpersonal
skills and build networks in order to
progress from a technical position
into a managerial position. And
it is precisely this combination
that employers in the technology
industries and also other sectors are
looking for.
Kate Newton, head of recruitment
at Accenture UK is emphasising the
importance of a tech-savvy MBA
graduate: We need people who are
not afraid to deal with technology
in all aspects. While this does not
require a specifc specialism in
technology, it is important that
MBAs are able to be comfortable
with the ambiguities inherent in
new and emerging technologies
in all aspects of our business
segments.
The ability to understand
technological processes and logics,
paired with a generalist business
acumen, makes for a winning
combination for business across
the board not just technology
enterprises and will continue to
grow in importance as digital tools
invade the business environment,
giving rise to signifcant changes
in work processes, communications
and general outlook. Capgemini
is one of the companies at the
forefront in helping their clients
digitalise their processes through
consultancy and in this endeavour
is interested in hiring MBAs that are
technically savvy. As Nicky Winch,
head of recruitment at Capgemini
Consulting UK notes: With extensive
experience in understanding
the digital economy, Capgemini
Consulting is strategically placed to
help clients deliver better products,
services and business processes
through digitisation and is hiring
consultants with this type of
experience throughout 2014 and
beyond.
Given the strong growth and potential
of the market, it is not surprising
then that MBA programs catering
towards technology professionals
are gaining in popularity the world
over and many technologically-
oriented institutions are beginning
to incorporate MBA programs into
their program portfolio. Georgia
Techs Scheller College of Business
offers specifc programs that
combine both aspects. The EMBA
in Management of Technology, for
example, is tailored to provide
students with the ability to
identify emerging technologies
across multiple channels. Similarly,
Germanys renowned RWTH
Aachen provides its engineering
and technology students to gain
important insights into business
processes and practices by offering
a globally-oriented EMBA program.
Technology companies of all sizes
beneft from the skills a tech-
savvy MBA graduate has to offer
and look to their expertise in both
areas technology and business -
to professionalize their business
processes and make their products
more commercially viable in an
increasingly competitive and
fast-paced global market. While
salaries are not quite on par yet
with other top industries for MBA
graduates, such as consulting or
fnance, they are slowly but surely
increasing. Current salaries are at
approximately US$92,500 per year
for MBA graduates entering large
technology companies, and many
receive a substantial bonus in
addition to this base salary.
Any MBA candidate looking to
enter into a sustainable and
rapidly-growing industry should
take the technology sector into
consideration as a specialization
focus. Businesses around the globe
and in all arenas will continue to
rely on skilled professionals with
the audacity and ability to embrace
the continually new.
Elke Schwarz in the director of
estonline.co.uk
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 37
Two industries that have seen a
considerable increase in demand
for MBAs are the energy sector and
the pharmaceutical industries.
Both are heavyweights that shape
markets and have a considerable
political impact globally and make
for an exciting opportunity for
high-potential MBA graduates.
Energy
The energy industry is subject to
a transformation of impressive
scale. While energy demands
will reach unprecedented levels,
specifcally from China and India,
many changes in the industry are
afoot. Environmental governance
and climate change is the name of
the global political game the entire
energy sector is facing.Moreover, as
technologies for the production of
traditional and new energy forms
develop at lightning speed, the
industry as a whole and big player
companies must adapt to policy
and regulatory changes and fnd
fexible ways to remain competitive.
While the novel and somewhat
controversial oil production
practice of fracking is set to
reshuffe existing dependencies
on foreign oil on the global energy
market, particularly for the United
States, other nations, such as Brazil,
set their sights on a green energy
mix involving the development of
hydropower and other sustainable
energy sources.
What emerges is a division of
felds between traditional energy
companies focusing on oil and other
fossil fuels and new companies that
invest heavily into sustainable and
renewable energy resources for the
future. Fossil fuels will continue to
dominate the global energy market,
making up 82% of the world energy
mix. Global government subsidies
for this segment of the energy sector
have approximated US$544 billion
last year. In contrast, the renewable
energy segment only received a total
of US$101 billion from governments
around the globe. Nonetheless, the
renewable energy sector is expected
to double by 2035, if existing
policies are maintained, according
to the International Energy Agency
(IEA).
Big players such as Exxon Mobile
and new entrants in the industry
are competing untiringly to access
untapped markets, improve
competitiveness, reduce costs and
remain at the cutting edge of new
developments in order to stay at the
top in the industry. This, as Malcom
Riley at the Fuqua School of
Business notes, presents a unique
opportunity for talented MBAs.
Traditionally, MBA hiring has
presented a small segment of
overall employment for the energy
sector as a whole, but as companies
are focusing on improving their
performance and productivity
and seek to reduce costs in the
coming years, MBA skills will be
in unprecedented demand for the
sector. This trend is already refected
in recent MBA hiring. The Graduate
Management Admission Council
(GMAC) reports in its 2013 Recruiter
Survey, that, in comparison to the
previous year, demand for MBA
MBA Hiring Trends:
Up-and-coming sectors
The era of MBA
graduates solely
gravitating toward
consultancy and fnance
is slowly but surely
coming to an end. A
growing number of
highly dynamic industries
are increasingly looking
toward MBA talent to
expand their business,
streamline their costs or
develop new practices.
Elke Schwarz
38 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
| Editorial
graduates has soared by 11%. The
majority of companies hiring MBA
graduates are looking primarily for
employees with in-depth hard skills
in fnance, business development
and accounting in order to meet
their business goals for increased
productivity and reducing costs.
This development is also refected
in the 2013/14 QS TopMBA.com
Jobs & Salary Trends Report,
which highlights the energy sector
as one of the most dynamic MBA
recruiters with a 14% increase from
the previous year. And while the
energy sector is not traditionally an
industry chiefy sought after by MBA
graduates, this is set to change as
new and exciting alternative energy
providers expands their businesses
and require solid business acumen
to do so.
Pharmaceutical
Industries
Similar to the energy sector, the global,
regional and local pharmaceutical
industries are strongly entwined
with governmental policies and
regulations for the healthcare sector
and must remain dynamic in order
to thrive in an increasingly complex
environment. On one hand, the
industry is facing regulatory changes
at the national level, which require
companies to make adjustments to
products and services in order to
perform well. On the other hand,
pharmaceutical companies the
world over are facing considerable
image issues, following some major
Big Pharma scandals in recent
years. Harald Schwarz, Director at
ASSCOM.Schwarz, a consultancy
active in the pharmaceutical sector
in Europe, confrms: The pharma
industry has been characterised by
a high dynamism in recent years
as companies must adjust to new
regulations and practices that affect
the healthcare industry overall.
As governmental subsidies for
prescriptions decline throughout
Europe, the proftability for
the pharmaceutical industry is
negatively affected. Furthermore,
the sector suffers from probably the
least favourable images due to some
questionable practices and outright
scandals. Mr. Schwarz has worked
with some of the big pharmaceutical
companies in Europe, including
Glaxo Smith Kline and Roche, and
fnds that in order to maintain
the high levels of proftability, the
pharma industry must streamline
their processes and manage their
brands carefully. It is a proftable
but volatile market overall.
Nonetheless, the industry as a
whole has been tremendously
proftable and is set to continue on
this path of success. Globally, the
pharmaceuticals market is worth
a total of US$ 300 billion per year.
This number is expected to increase
substantially within the next three
years to an estimated US$ 400
billion. The global pharmaceutical
industry is highly consolidated with
ten Big Pharma companies, situated
primarily in the US and in Europe,
controlling more than a third of the
global market. The WHO estimates
that throughout the 21st century,
North America, South America,
Europe and Japan will account
for 85% of the global market in
pharmaceuticals.
As the global market changes,
however, pharmaceutical companies
are required to gradually adjust
from the old economic business
model based on Research and
Development (R&D), the protection
of patents and high-margin
production to a more technically
oriented service provision and
technological innovation. The
growing signifcance of biochemical
industries for the pharmaceutical
sector is a case in point. While
pharmaceutical companies like
Pfzer, Johnson & Johnson and
Roche are seeking to develop their
businesses, improve performance
and productivity, and improve their
brand image, specifc MBA skills
in business development as well
as marketing are in increasingly
high demand. Big pharmaceutical
companies are fostering MBA skills
by offering Leadership Development
programmes to high-potential MBA
graduates like Johnson & Johnson
or MBA Fellowships to encourage
people of the highest career
potential to complement their
medical or science qualifcations
and experience with a frst-
class business education, as the
Swiss pharma giant ROCHE does.
Salaries in the industry are highly
attractive for MBA graduates. The
QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary
Report 2013/14 reports salary
averages of US$100,350, which,
with an added average bonus of
US$22,700 comes to a proud US$
123,050 per year. While the GMAC
indicates that growth in demand for
MBAs in the pharmaceutical sector
spiked as strongly as in the energy
sector from 2012 to 2013, the overall
growth remains strong but steady,
whereby QS TopMBA.com indicates
that companies in Eastern Europe
and Western Europe indicate the
most notable increase in demand
with 33% and 10% respectively.
For high-potential MBA graduates,
both industries present incredible
opportunities in the near and distant
future. MBA candidates interested in
the global energy or pharmaceutical
sectors would do well to look into
MBA programmes that offer modules
engaging with energy matters or
healthcare issues to gain entry in
either one of these challenging but
exciting global industries.
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 39
Yet this years QS Top MBA.com
Jobs and Salary Trends Report
suggests the region could be on
the cusp of an MBA hiring boom,
following fve years of relative
stagnation. Following a growth of
6% in employer demand for MBAs
in the region in 2013, the report
predicts a massive 33% increase
in 2014, as the regions economic
recovery kicks into overdrive.
Poland and Bulgaria reported a
boom in opportunities for MBA
graduates in 2013, with several
multinationals hiring MBAs for
outsourcing operations in the
country. Russia has sustained
strong growth in MBA demand
throughout the recent world
fnancial crisis and is projected to
have a further surge in MBA hiring
in 2014, fuelled by the energy boom
and expansion of their fnancial
services sector.
The upshot is that as of 2014,
Central & Eastern Europe could
be set to rival Asia and the Middle
East as one of the worlds most
rapidly developing regions for
MBA employment opportunities.
Now could be a better time than
ever to consider studying at one
of the regions up-and-coming
business schools.
A Diverse Region
The Central and Eastern European
region offers a great deal of
economic diversity, as well as
opportunities for MBA students to
learn from business regeneration
as it happens.
While some Central and Eastern
European (CEE) countries are
surrounded by economic troubles,
others show great potential for
MBA students and graduates.
Some countries within the
region are comparatively healthy
compared to the rest of Europe
Poland for instance is benefting
from an increase in export
competitiveness brought about
by currency depreciation. Further,
this economy boost is likely to
reach other countries in the region
in the not-so-distant future.
As a result, cost-conscious MBA
applicants seeking to reap the
educational benefts of studying
business within a region currently
experiencing a huge need for
innovative and entrepreneurial
management thinking would
certainly ensure real-life industry
case studies on their doorstep as
businesses look to restructure and
emerge successfully into a rapidly
changing economic environment.
Around 200 business schools now
operate in the region, and although
the reputation and fame of these
schools are far from the notoriety
of their North American and
Western European counterparts,
this is something that is slowly
starting change.
Eastern Europe Set for
MBA Hiring Boom
Having established
itself as a healthy
market for young
business professionals
in the mid 2000s, the
past few years have
been tough for Central
and Eastern Europe, as
the regions economy
has felt the effects of
the Eurozone crisis.
Warsaw, Poland
| Regional Profle
40 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
International Students
Attracted by
Competitive Costs
Professor Witold Orlowski,
director of WUT Business School
suggests that one of the biggest
attractions drawing international
students to MBA programs in CEE,
is the competitive cost of programs
in the region.
Today, as they [business schools]
join the global game, they beneft
from a big competitive advantage.
In short, the best MBA programs
offered in the CEE countries are
of as good a quality as in the well-
established educational centers
in Western Europe, while being
signifcantly cheaper.
According to Ulrik Rasmussesen,
a Bucharest-based partner from
the executive search consulting
frm Pedersen and Partners, CEE
business schools are equipping
international students with the
business skills required within
multinationals or organizations
operating in the emerging markets
around the world.
While in North America and
Western Europe the MBA schools
have a long-standing history and
well-developed curricula, much
of the education is based on case
studies applicable to the countries
in these regions, but not necessarily
adequate for the realities of the
dynamic CEE markets.
However, Rasmussesen stresses
that business schools in the region
should focus on including more
practical experience in their MBA
programs, such as feld trips, help
with organizing internships and
meetings with top executives.
The knowledge is still very
theoretical, especially as many
of the professors are lifetime
academics, but not practitioners.
Salary Expectations
and Variations
MBA remuneration packages offered
by international companies in the
CEE region average US$84,344 per
year, compared to US$103,806 in
Western Europe, according to the
QS TopMBA.com Jobs and Salary
Trends Report 2013/14. However,
even though these differences are
quite striking, an MBA increases the
chances of putting you in a superior
league, as many multinationals
in the CEE region look for strong
business abilities and competencies
to meet their development needs.
As our head-hunting activities are
consistent in almost 15 countries
in CEE, the particularities of salary
levels are quite different from one
country to another, explains Oana
Datki, country manager for Romania
at ConsulTeam. In Romania or the
Balkans, an MBA is a plus, but it is
not automatically expected from all
top management candidates.
Salary wise, the differences
between a candidate with an MBA
and one without would be around
25% in Eastern Europe, says
Datki of ConsulTeam, a group of
companies providing recruitment
services, training and HR consulting
services, as a representative in
several CEE countries of global
consulting frm Mercer.
Nevertheless, dont expect to be paid
exclusively for the degree, no matter
how good the brand of the business
school you graduated from. The
MBA diploma must also be backed
with solid skills and experience.
We are not willing to pay a
premium for having an MBA per se,
nevertheless candidates holding an
international top MBA often have
characteristics that we consider
highly attractive... For this reason,
they are likely to receive attractive
offers, says Alessandro Trebbi,
head of human resources for the
international division at Enel,
an electric utility company, the
second-largest in Europe by market
capitalization.
While there are differences in
salaries between Eastern and
Western Europe, there are also
salary discrepancies that appear
within CEE, due to the different
stages of development of each
country, and economic variations
throughout the region.
According to the QS TopMBA.com
Jobs and Salary Trends Report
2013/14, Russian employers offer
the highest salaries in the region
for MBA graduates. The average
compensation packages for MBA
graduates in Russia stands at
US$90,600, far higher than those
offered to graduates in Hungary
(US$51,000), Ukraine (US$45,600), or
Kazakhstan (US$43,100). However,
the high salary level seems well
balanced with the cost of living.
Moscow, for instance is one of the
most expensive cities in the world,
ranking fourth among the 214 cities
covered by Mercers 2012 Cost of
Living Survey.
For the discerning international
MBA applicant, choosing a business
school in the CEE region to study at
could place them at the forefront of
business in a region that is rapidly
evolving.
Find out which CEE business schools MBA recruiters value the most.
Read the QS Global 200 Business Schools Report today!
TopMBA.com/global-200
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 41
For the last few years, India
has experienced an explosion in
employer demand for MBAs: up
43% in 2010 and 57% in 2011 and
16% in 2012, with an astonishing
29% growth achieved in 2013, in
line with our forecast. India has
now overtaken the USA in terms of
volume of reported MBA jobs for
fresh graduates.
Indian Institute of Management,
Ahmedabad is rated as one of the
33 elite global schools in this
years QS Global 200 Business
Schools Report, refecting its
excellent reputation among a
rapidly expanding market of
employers looking to India for
MBA talent. A further three Indian
schools are rated emerging
global: Indian Institute of
Management, Bangalore, Indian
School of Business and Indian
Institute of Management Calcutta.
This means India is home to four
of Asias top ten business schools.
If India has been arguably the
worlds most dynamic country
in terms of growth in demand
for MBAs in recent years, the
Middle East can claim to be its
most dynamic region. Employer
demand for MBAs rose by 21% in
2013, placing it just ahead of Asia
on 20%. Growth has centred on
the recovery in the United Arab
Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and is
forecast to increase by a further
13% in 2014.
Fast becoming known for its
business prowess, investment
banking opportunities and
entrepreneurial spirit, the Middle
East is looking to diversify its
economy away from a strong
India and the Middle East
Attracting both Local and
International MBAs
As well as being
areas undergoing a
period of transition,
India and the Middle
East are currently two
of the worlds most
dynamic MBA job
markets. The QS Top
MBA Jobs and Salary
Trends Report shows
that demand for MBAs
in both areas is
fourishing, with steady
growth in demand for
MBAs among local
employers in 2013
continuing a trend that
has been observed
over the past four
years.
Keisuke Matsumoto, Indian School of Business
Keisuke Matsumoto is a Buddhist
monk from Hokkaido, northern
Japan. Though perhaps not a typical
MBA student, Matsumoto believes
an MBA degree, coupled with the
cultural environment found in India
is the ideal combination for him.
The Indian School of Business
learning environment strongly
attracted me. It gave me an
outstanding opportunity to share my
learning experience with motivated
students and diverse faculty in
cutting-edge facilities. ISBs location
has a special importance for me.
I gave my son an Indian name.
India was the cradle for Buddhism,
as depicted in Herman Hesses
classic, Siddhartha. I was attracted
to Hyderabads multi-cultural
characteristic and the talents of ISB
students.
In the future, I want to develop
a special learning package for
Buddhist priests to acquire essential
management skills for the temple.
Among many specialist areas on
MBA programs, there are some
subjects of special importance
for them especially in the feld
of marketing and strategy. After
developing it, I want to share it with
other Buddhist priests through an
online education system. Apart from
that, I also think much of education
for young priests. I want to provide
them with opportunities to interact
with people outside the temple in
order to broaden their view and to
develop their social skills.
| Regional Profle
42 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
reliance on the extraction and trade
of natural resources. Although
business education in the Middle
East is still in the early stages
of development, countries such
as Qatar and the United Arab
Emirates are investing in attracting
management education providers
from abroad, to help train local
business leaders and future-proof
their economies.
The Middle East has been the
hottest region with growth of 21% in
MBA demand in 2012 and growth of
23% forecast for 2013, says Nunzio
Quacquarelli, managing director of
QS Quacquarelli Symonds. Growth
has centered on the recovery in the
United Arab Emirates and Saudi
Arabia.
Though the North American,
European, and to a degree, Asia-
Pacifc regions tend to claim the
international headlines in terms
of management education, both
India and the Middle East are
popular MBA study destinations.
Particularly attractive to those
originating locally, business
schools within the area are
gradually growing in international
MBA applicant popularity.
Indian Nationals
Staying at Home to
Study
Foreign students represent up to 6%
of the student strength at Indias
top business schools, so remain a
minority for the foreseeable future.
However, much international
experience is provided from Indians
living abroad that are making their
way back home in search of quality
management education.
Take the case of Chandrasekhar
Goda, who enrolled on the Indian
School of Business (ISB) MBA
program. An entrepreneur based
in Chicago, Godas company
provides supply chain management
solutions to the health care sector.
I was looking for a school that
matched my goals, explains Goda.
As I am from India, I was looking
at Indian business schools and ISB
was the perfect choice. Apart from
the fact that the school was located
in his hometown of Hyderabad,
Goda realized that an MBA degree
from one of Indias top business
schools would add an edge to
his rsum. Since I already had
a footprint in the United States,
I wanted a chance to further my
education in India at a time when so
much is happening in the economy.
Clearly the tide is turning. By
providing challenging education
and career opportunities to
individuals such as Beeson,
Gomez and Goda, Indias brain-
drain crisis, where much worry
surrounded talented locals
emigrating in order to further their
careers, may well be a thing of the
past, perhaps instead showing
signs of reversal.
International Schools
Coming to the
Middle East
London Business School,
Edinburgh Business School, Hult
International Business School,
and the University of Strathclyde
Business School, are just a handful
of the well-established schools
which have set up campuses in
the Middle East. London Business
School for example, has a campus
in Abu Dhabi.
However, none of these institutions
appear in QS MBA recruiter rating,
the QS Global 200 Business Schools
Report in their own right, as they
do not produce dedicated full-
time MBAs serving employers in
the region, and so are not included
in the research. The only Middle
Eastern school to appear features in
the Elite Regional business schools
category, Lebanons Suliman S
Olayan School of Business, at the
American University of Beirut.
Discover more about either MBA study destination
TopMBA.com/where-to-study/home
Bangalore, India
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 43
Just two of the 33 elite global
schools identifed in the 2013/14
QS Global 200 Business Schools
Report are based in Asia, compared
to 18 in North America and 13 in
Western Europe.
Yet while there is still plenty of
ground to be made up, Asia is
currently an exceptionally dynamic
market for MBAs. The 2013/14 QS
TopMBA.com Jobs and Salaries
Trends Report shows that during
the past three to four years there has
been dramatic growth in employer
demand for MBAs. Employers now
view the MBA as a more mainstream
qualifcation, rather than one that
is limited to a few exceptionally
qualifed individuals.
This trend has continued into
2014. There has been a remarkable
20% increase in employer demand
for MBAs in Asia in the past year,
compared to just 2% in North
America and Europe. Asian business
schools are becoming far more
internationally competitive, and
salaries are gradually equalizing
with those in the Europe and North
America.
The most notable difference
between studying for an MBA in
Asia compared to other destinations
is the business experience that
the region provides. Students
studying in Asia beneft from
frst-hand experience in Asian
companies, or multinationals that
are accustomed to working in the
region. Understanding the ethos,
values and methods of businesses
in the worlds fastest growing
region is a valuable commodity in
the international jobs market.
MBA Jobs and
Salaries in Asia
South and South East Asia have
excellent economies and are
demanding a lot of MBAs, says Scott
Goddard, director of Nottingham
Demand for MBAs Flourishes
as Asias Rise Continues
The rise of Asia has
been heralded for at
least the past decade,
but for much of this
period the regions
business schools have
remained frmly in the
shadow of the leading
programs in North
America and Western
Europe.
Anthony Chan, Chinese University of Hong Kong
My goal is to be at the top management
level of multi-national corporations.
While both my bachelors degree
and Masters degree are not related
to business studies, taking business
classes to equip myself is necessary to
achieve this goal.
The MBA offered me well-rounded
training and now I am able to perform
in different areas such as marketing,
sales and fnance. A successful leader
should be dynamic.
I always knew that social connections
would be the key element for my
career plan. By joining the MBA, I
am able to expand my network, so
although the tuition fee is expensive
and I have sacrifced a lot of family
time for the study, it is well worth it!
I wanted a reputable institute that
offers practical knowledge, but not
just a qualifcation. I wanted to learn
how to start up, operate and expand
a business; to raise funds and even
make the company a listed company.
All this requires knowledge of
business law, accounting, investment
management, six sigma, etc. After
comparisons with other institutes
in Hong Kong, I chose The Chinese
University of Hong Kongs MBA.
Tokyo, Japan
| Regional Profle social media |
44 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
University Business Schools MBA
program in Singapore. But, while
the same can also be said of China,
the salaries offered by Chinese
companies just dont meet the level
found in the rest of the region.
Goddard says that the market will
eventually mature. Right now
though, MBA holders will fnd plenty
of positions available but it will be
some years before the salaries catch
up with the demand.
Throughout the region, MBA job
opportunities continue to improve
year on year, according to the QS
TopMBA.com Jobs and Salary
Trends Report 2013/14.
MBA demand continues to grow
rapidly in Asia as the qualifcation is
embraced by employers, especially
in consulting and professional
services, manufacturing, IT/
computer services and micro-
fnance, says Nunzio Quacquarelli,
the reports author, and managing
director of QS Quacquarelli
Symonds. Employer projections
suggest that growth in MBA demand
in the region is set to accelerate
from 26% in 2013 to a remarkable
38% for 2014.
The QS TopMBA.com report shows
that across Asia employers are
continuing to embrace the MBA
qualifcation as they pursue
global expansion. The MBA is
in vogue. Asian candidates are
among the highest GMAT scorers
in the world, and are focused on
developing excellent technical
skills, often at the expense of
integrating fully into the social
aspects of the MBA.
But Asian recruiters are looking
for ambitious, well-rounded MBAs.
Amy Low of Visa International
in Singapore says, MBAs bring
intellect, a fresh approach and
strong determination to excel in
their delivery.
Yonsik Kim, staffng manager at ASE
Group in South Korea, says they look
for MBAs for their multi-lingual,
strategic management skills.
However, at a country level average
remuneration levels vary widely
across the vast region.
Asia-Pacifc is a large territory and
MBA salaries vary signifcantly
between countries, continues
Quacquarelli. For example, China
has typically reported much lower
MBA salaries than more mature
markets like Japan or South Korea.
Reputation of Asian
Business Schools
North American, European and
particularly well-established Asian
business schools still command
the affections of many employers.
It is likely that this trend is set
to continue, as the newer Asian
schools cannot yet compete with the
reputation of older establishments
elsewhere in the world.
However, many schools in Asia
are well-accredited and there are
opportunities to study an MBA at
Western business schools within
Asia. This offers students the
experience of the Asian business
world, whilst studying at world-
class institutions.
It is clear that knowledge of Asia will
become increasingly required of MBA
holders across the globe. Although
much of Asias markets are still in
development, the region is already
home to some of the most advanced
cities and best business schools in
the world, while also offering a low
cost of living for students compared
with the West. Taking this into
consideration, choosing a business
school in Asia could prove to be a
step in the right direction for many
prospective MBA students.
Differences in MBA specialization,
salary expectations and living
environment will continue to
differentiate countries within Asia.
But as a whole, it is unlikely that the
vibrancy of the region will dissipate
in the foreseeable future.
Discover more about the opportunities for MBA applicants,
students and alumni in Asia today!
TopMBA.com/business-schools/Asia
In alphabetical order, the elite global business schools located in Asia
Pacifc, according to the QS Global 200 Business Schools Report 2012/13:
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
INSEAD - Singapore
NUS Business School, National University of Singapore
Download the full report for free! Visit: TopMBA.com/global-200
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 45
I
n her new book Art Works: How creativity
empowers your business, Daniella makes
the subject of art as a tool for business
accessible to a mainstream audience. She
believes art brings a powerful process for
business because it offers us a unique doorway
to solutions. Daniella has found that art
connects us to our visions, perspectives,
emotions and teams by accessing our
subconscious. The methods used in her book
Art Works will particularly appeal to managers
and executives who are interested in using
personal development and innovative business
practices to motivate and empower their teams.
Daniella shares in her own words how she came
to understand the positive role creativity can
bring to the workplace.
Art & Business: A whole new world
When did the status quo become cookie cutter-
like? We speak about thinking out of the box;
however, when it comes to hard business
decisions there is a whole world of non-verbal
language to be explored. Somehow the message
that art is only for approved artists irks me. Who
are we not to be using our creativity in shaping
the world? Art is our birthright, not a luxury. Said
another way, when we dont tap into our creative
power we are limiting our businesses and
ourselves. We are born as unique individuals
and designed to connect with each other.
Somewhere along the path, too many of us
have been told that we are not creative, period.
We started to believe this judgment about the
right and wrong way of doing something. But
really: what is right? What is wrong? What is
ugly? What is beautiful?
Through art we can visually connect with
everything. We can connect with our vision of
our business. We can easily depict various
perspectives by using art. For example, imagine
the landscape of a blue sky versus one that is a
dark chocolate brown. Changing perspectives
allows us to problem solve for ourselves. We can
make choices by saying yes to that which
resonates and saying no to those aspects that just
dont fit into our picture. We can connect to our
emotions. Emotions are, in reality, energy in
motion. Connecting to emotions and perspectives
through art helps create transparency between
employees, customers and management.
Our subconscious holds the answers and
makes decisions for us all, often more than we
care to share. The senses are the conscious
language of subconscious. Thats right:
through seeing, tasting, smelling, hearing we
are receiving information from our
environment constantly. Even as you are
reading this! The elements are the vehicles of
our senses. In our body, all of the elements are
represented. Earth as the physical matter,
water as movement, fire as warmth and air as
oxygen. Creativity and art connects us to our
elements. Visual art makes this connection
visible. Dont miss out on your given tool to
access your subconscious knowledge and
awaken your senses through art.
Why is this relevant for my business? you
might ask. Because creative entrepreneurship is
the way to connect with that underutilized source
called intuition. Creative expression opens our
intuitive channels so that our answers naturally
show up, through our drawings, paintings and
sculptures. Our feelings get expressed, and we
connect to our power. This in turn empowers us
to communicate confidently, which attracts
meaningful coincidences to happen around us
and our businesses. We are in this new world,
ready to tap in to our intuition and visionary
business practices.
EXECUTIVE MBA Creativity

as a Tool for
Business
How creativity empowers your business now
more than ever By Daniella Rubinovitz
D a n i e l l a
Rubinovitz
is known as
the visual
d i a l o g u e
mentor. She
is passionate
a b o u t
e n a b l i n g
individuals and businesses to visually
express their visions and has developed
a proven system for using creative
expression as a tool for business.
Daniella has a collection of university
degrees including a BFA from Tufts
University in affiliation with The
School of Museum of Fine Arts, a MID
from Pratt Institute, an MBA for
engineers from Stevens Institute of
Technology, and a BAT as an Arts
Therapist from The College of Leiden.
She is also a licensed art therapist,
holds two United States patents and
received her coaching degree from the
Coaches Training Institute to bring her
back full circle into the corporate
world. To order Art Works: How
creativity empowers your business:
www.unleashavision.com/artworks/
about Art At Work Sessions for your
business: www.unleashavision.com/
artworkssessions.
46 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
ART WORKS The ideas behind
using creativity in business
As I show in my book, Art Works: How
creativity empowers your business, the process
for using creativity in business can be broken
down into four parts. First, we connect art
and business. The largest asset to any business
is its people. Getting in touch with our emotions,
such as empathy and antipathy, allow for a true
connection between team members, managers
and customers. We all experience emotions
inside and it is up to us how we want to bring
them out. When it comes down to it, we all know
how much trust plays an important factor in
business. Each participant of a project, from
our employees to customers, to the teams that
are working together on a project, need to trust
one another. As the expression goes: a chain is
only as strong as its weakest link. Emotions can
both strengthen and weaken these links. Art
can strengthen these links literally by
encouraging our life force to kick in. Life force
is energy. It gives that extra boost of inspiration
when energy is running low. This energy is not
to be taken lightly, especially when we know
that a lack of this energy causes burn-out.
The second step consists of discovering
how it all actually works. The essence of art in
business stems from arts therapy, which has a
strong root in anthroposophy. It may be
surprising for you to know that arts therapy is
based on scientific research. There is much
cause and effect relations versus a random,
"let me stick my finger in the air to come up
with the solutions" attitude. It is a deep, multi-
layered process that occurs when we start to
communicate with our art. When you
understand it, you are empowered to grasp how
art communicates with our subconscious. In
this process you will also gain insights into how
much we can actually see and learn through
images. Since art coaching is a process, rather
than a destination, it allows us to uncover and
release blocks as they come up. We become
wiser in knowing how to proceed further.
The third part of the process deals
with using practical exercises that you
can immediately apply to your business.
These are hands-on exercises. After years of
working closely with individuals and groups, I
noticed that there was a formula to merge the
creative process with our business needs. These
needs include: unleashing vision, gaining
perspective, brainstorming, accessing/releasing
emotions and strengthening teams. I noticed
that when following this framework, we are
able to translate the non-verbal skill of visual
art into the verbal nature of business.
The fourth part involves exploring
how you can keep this creative process
alive in your business. Following through
on action items is vital to keeping them alive.
You must begin to ask, Now that I got my
hands 'dirty', how can I keep the momentum
going? How do I follow through with my
process? Instead of this being a one time-
excursion into creativity, how can I integrate
art in my (professional) life? We need to
periodically relook at our ideas and see how
we have grown. Then we can adjust our
energy and actions to match our new perspective.
By condensing my knowledge into this
four step process, it is my goal to demystify the
workings of art as it applies to business.
Assisting my clients in understanding how the
art-coaching process works and then offering
easy-to-do exercises are essential elements to
making this happen straight away. Creativity
no longer needs to be, nor should it be, kept
out of the workplace; in fact for businesses to
continue to grow and prosper in todays rapidly
changing world, it is no longer an option.
EXECUTIVE MBA Creativity
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 47
I
n todays global business world, the virtual realm is as vital for career
advancement as the physical world. Connections are established,
fostered and maintained in both realms but it has become increasingly
important to be as savvy with ones online presence, appearance and
activities as it is to be able to network effectively face-to-face.
The online and offline worlds have also become intrinsically
connected. Contacts are often first established in the real world, but
cultivated and deepened through online platforms and networks. Given
the impact an effective online presence can have on your career, its now
essential for professionals to get it right, and this includes Executive MBA
candidates. Thats why weve come up with 14 ways to enhance your
online presence this year.
1. Identify your online networks
Research and get involved in appropriate online networking platforms.
As an EMBA student you might want to establish a presence on several
relevant platforms. For example, a professional network, like LinkedIn,
an academic platform, such as Academia.edu and other more job specific
platforms that might focus on specific regions or industries. Dont go
overboard with the number of online networks you have a presence on,
but rather select relevant ones that contain potential business partners,
joint projects or career prospects.
2. Manage your online presence
Establishing your online presence is just the start; you need to make
sure you manage it. Just like your hair or your wardrobe, never neglect
your appearance! If your profile is neither representative of you nor your
skills or it portrays a negative image, you would be better off without
one. Update your online profile frequently to make sure it accurately
reflects you in your professional capacity. It should be the best CV you
can offer.
3. Get active
Be proactive about making new contacts and connecting online with
them. That said, dont neglect your old contacts either. Keep the lines of
communication open at all times and pave the way for new ones.
4. Exchange information
Use your online network to give and take in order to build trust and stay
on top of industry information and news. This also gives you an
opportunity to show the extent of your expertise to your online contacts
and broader networks. Displaying the value you can bring to your network
will reap rewards in kind.
5. Organize your contacts
Keep your profile and your contacts in a tidy, easy to use, filing system
that works for you. Clutter makes life harder and that applies to the long
BY ANN GRAHAM
EXECUTIVE MBA Executives Online
Having a professional online presence is essential for career opportunities
these days. Improve yours with these top tips.
48 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
list of contacts you may find you have as part of your online networks. All
too often we click Accept without giving much thought as to what that
particular individual can add to your network. Give your profile a regular
spring clean to help manage your online network more effectively.
6. Dont blur the online profile lines
The lines of personal and professional online networks are becoming
increasingly blurred, but when it comes to your career you want to
ensure any prospective employers, business partners or investors see
your professional online profile. By keeping your personal network
private, this will allow you to cultivate your professional persona and
manage your online appearance more carefully.
7. Join Twitter; everyone is doing it!
Some networks that might fall into the in-between category of private
and personal spheres can be goldmines for career advancement. Twitter
is one such platform. While it may have a reputation of being a platform
for self-broadcast in 140 characters or less, it is often underrated for
making invaluable connections, gathering a wide range of important
industry information and demonstrating ones knowledge on a topic.
8. Mind your words
The absence of eye contact online
can lead many to say something
they wouldnt normally say in a face-
to-face situation. Treat the online
platforms as you would the physical
world. Its also worth being mindful
of the fact that the online sphere can
be open to misinterpretation. How
we write something isnt always how
someone reads it, so take care with
your prose.
9. Est abl i sh onl i ne
presence
Having an online presence will
mean you are at risk of so-called online trolls. Dont be tempted to
respond to everything you encounter in the online realm. Instead, focus
your time, energy and attention on engaging in interesting discussions,
exchanges of thoughts and transference of knowledge. In other words,
establish your online boundaries, whether you are discussing EMBA
topics or football scores.
10. Explore new online networks
The online environment is constantly evolving. Platforms come and
go and in this sphere, innovation knows no bounds. Develop an interest,
stay engaged with current developments and be open to new
opportunities to connect online. Google+, for example, is one of the
latest online networks that is proving incredibly beneficial to the
business savvy.
11. Maximise your online effectiveness
Make managing your online presence easy by downloading the relevant
apps. This will save you time and allow you to keep abreast of what is
going on in the network while on the go, rather than having to do so
during work or study hours.
12. Make use of all
online network features
Most sophisticated online networks
offer a range of features and almost all
professional and online networks
have specific news streams or alerts for
job searches or industry news. Make
the most of these features to enhance
your career.
13. Add an Executive MBA
to your online profile
Co n t i nu i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l
development is an essential element
to career advancement. The
Executive MBA degree has proved its
worth as a qualification for many professionals wishing to progress up the
career ladder, so why not start the process this year of adding one to your
online profile.
EXECUTIVE MBA Executives Online
BY ANN GRAHAM
list of contacts you may find you have as part of your online networks. All
too often we click Accept without giving much thought as to what that
particular individual can add to your network. Give your profile a regular
spring clean to help manage your online network more effectively.
6. Dont blur the online profile lines
The lines of personal and professional online networks are becoming
increasingly blurred, but when it comes to your career you want to
ensure any prospective employers, business partners or investors see
your professional online profile. By keeping your personal network
private, this will allow you to cultivate your professional persona and
manage your online appearance more carefully.
7. Join Twitter; everyone is doing it!
Some networks that might fall into the in-between category of private
and personal spheres can be goldmines for career advancement. Twitter
is one such platform. While it may have a reputation of being a platform
for self-broadcast in 140 characters or less, it is often underrated for
making invaluable connections, gathering a wide range of important
industry information and demonstrating ones knowledge on a topic.
8. Mind your words
The absence of eye contact online can lead many to say something they
wouldnt normally say in a face-to-
face situation. Treat the online
platforms as you would the physical
world. Its also worth being mindful
of the fact that the online sphere can
be open to misinterpretation. How
we write something isnt always how
someone reads it, so take care with
your prose.
9. Est abl i sh onl i ne
presence
Having an online presence will
mean you are at risk of so-called
online trolls. Dont be tempted to
respond to everything you encounter
in the online realm. Instead, focus
your time, energy and attention on engaging in interesting discussions,
exchanges of thoughts and transference of knowledge. In other words,
establish your online boundaries, whether you are discussing EMBA
topics or football scores.
10. Explore new online networks
The online environment is constantly evolving. Platforms come and
go and in this sphere, innovation knows no bounds. Develop an interest,
stay engaged with current developments and be open to new
opportunities to connect online. Google+, for example, is one of the
latest online networks that is proving incredibly beneficial to the
business savvy.
11. Maximise your online effectiveness
Make managing your online presence easy by downloading the relevant
apps. This will save you time and allow you to keep abreast of what is
going on in the network while on the go, rather than having to do so
during work or study hours.
12. Make use of all online network features
Most sophisticated online networks offer a range of features and almost
all professional and online networks have specific news streams or alerts
for job searches or industry news. Make the most of these features to
enhance your career.
13. Add an Executive MBA
to your online profile
Co n t i nu i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l
development is an essential element
to career advancement. The
Executive MBA degree has proved its
worth as a qualification for many
professionals wishing to progress up
the career ladder, so why not start the
process this year of adding one to your
online profile.
14. Take time to
switch off
Dont let online networks and
social media dictate the pace of
your life. Allow for time to be absent and get into a regular habit of
having a monthly or even weekly technology-free day. Not only is
this absence essential for your sanity, but it will make you, and the
platform, more interesting when you are online.
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 49
EXECUTIVE MBA Engagement
W
hat is it that makes the best companies rise above the rest?
Business evolution expert Karin Volo believes it is
engagement. In an exclusive interview with QS TopExecutive
Editor-in-Chief Dawn Z Bournand, Karin shares her insights and research
findings for top executives to understand the importance of this new way
of doing business.
In your new book, Engage!: Your Step By Step Guide To Creating
A Workplace That You, Your Co-Workers, and Your Customers
Love!, you talk about employee satisfaction. Can you explain a bit
more about what that means?
W
e actually talk about getting rid of employee satisfaction because
satisfaction is more about just being okay with everything
instead of being very passionate about it. A lot of companies do
these employee, or even customer, satisfaction surveys to make sure where
theyre at. Our philosophy, and what we talk about in the book, is really
about turning your employees and your customers into raving fans. And
a raving fan is not someone whos just satisfied. A raving fan is someone
who absolutely loves what youre doing and tells the world about it.
Have you found that this attitude of having raving fans directly
impacts on a companys successshort and long term?
A
bsolutely, because when youre looking internally into the
company, when the employees are raving fans, when theyre truly
engaged in what theyre doing, they are more productive. They
take less sick time, theyre healthier, theyre feeling better, and they are
basically not leaving as often so your employee turnover goes down. It has
a huge bottom line impact when you get your employees engaged.
When companies are focusing in on engagement and the culture of
the company, and really working to create an environment where their
employees can thrive, they will do better financially. This happens
because theyre shifting from being a profit-driven company to a purpose-
driven company which inevitably will take care of the profits. If youve
got employees that are doing really well and engaged and passionate about
what theyre doing, theyre giving better customer service, and theyre
going to have happier customers who keep coming back for more. It has
a positive snowball effect when you tweak this part and work on focusing
in on the employee engagement.
What is the thing that most surprised you in your findings as you
were doing research for this book?
H
ow many people are unhappy at work. To me, its a tragedy. Youve
got 71% of people who are disengaged or actively disengaged,
which means theyre really not happy. Theyre just going in and
punching their time clock, spending time there, but life is just way too
short to not be doing what you love to do.
If 40% - 50% of your waking hours are at work, and youre not happy
there, its going to have a significant impact on the rest of your life. Youre
not going to be a happy parent, or youre not going to be as happy in your
relationship and then that stress leads to health issues.
Stress is by far the largest cause of health costs in most countries
right now. Gallup has shown that around $300 billion per year in
health costs are spent for people who are dealing with stress and stress-
related illnesses.
With a number as high as 71% of people disengaged at work, what
can companies begin to do about that?
T
hose numbers are coming out of the US but Gallup has said its
pretty much across the globe. It may vary a little bit from country
to country but its pretty significant, how many people are unhappy
at work. And that just means weve got to do something.
Companies have a responsibility to create an environment where
people can thrive because people are spending their lives, investing their
time in coming in and doing work for this company. Well, why not create
an environment where they really love what theyre doing and theyre
really excited to get up in the morning and go to work?
An interview with Top Business consultant and best-selling author Karin Volo
on how to turn your employees and your customers into raving fans.
50 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
EXECUTIVE MBA Engagement
Youve spoken about this word, engagement. How would a
manager know that she has really sparked that in an employee and
that they really are engaged?
W
hen we (ed note: Karin and her husband Sergio) were writing this
book, we couldnt find a definition that really fit what we were
trying to describe with the word engage. So we thought, Well,
were writing the book, well go ahead and make our own definition, which
was more encompassing than what we could find out in standard dictionaries.
So for us, to be engaged is to have full attention, commitment,
enthusiasm, passion, and purpose for your work. Its to be whole-heartedly
involved in, and contribute positively to, an organization. When you think
about it, who wouldnt want to be engaged in what they are doing?
We talk about giving things our full attention but were so bombarded
and everyone thinks this multitasking is a great thing. Its not, because it
distracts us and it brings down our productivity so being focused and
having full attention brings you into the present and gives you the ability
to be much more productive and engaged.
For executives who are already in top management positions, what
can they learn from your book?
W
ell, the book is structured in two parts. In the first part we talk
about the global trends that are affecting everyone across the
globe in business: technology trends and demographic trends,
the millennium generation thats coming in to the workforce and who
has a very different way of looking at the world, and we also address the
huge talent mismatch in terms of people not getting trained for the jobs
that are going to be coming up.
We look at how our old ways of doing business, are very industrial-
based and how were shifting so quickly now because of technology and
were shifting into an era that we call Transformation Age, which is very
experiential. This new way of thinking and new way of doing business is
really all about connection. We were able to filter it down to five cultural
keys that companies who are doing really well, and have been over these
last few years, are doing differently.
And then the second part of the book is a step by step formula. These
are the things you need to work on in your company and if you do these
things, youre going to start to get engagement going in the organization.
So we have an entire formula people can follow.
Can an executive then apply this information to become a better
manager and a better contributor to his company?
Y
es, absolutely. Because when you understand the macro perspective
and whats happening on a global basis thats affecting the way we
do business, then you can go into the organization and implement
change for the good of the business and the people who work there.
Take Facebook for example, a lot of companies are struggling with
their presentation on Facebook (and in social media in general) and what
to do with that and how to have that presence. Well, its not going to go
away. Its only going to continue to grow and so one of the highest in
demand positions right now, where there arent fully trained individuals
out there, is a social media manager. How do you handle that?
Its a matter of finding the right skills and figuring out the way to do
the right type of engagement. Its a way to communicate to your customers
and to connect to the customers.
What were finding also is that, a lot of whats happening is being
driven by the consumer market so the first companies were seeing
responding to this are the B2C companies, the ones that are dealing
directly with the consumers. Theyre changing. Theyre listening to their
customers to see what they want and its coming to the B2B, the business-
to-business type, businesses that are working behind the scenes.
But the point is that there are these global trends and they are
definitely changing the way were looking at the world. Then taking that
into the organization, you can become a better manager by understanding
these trends and working internally to be able to respond and, I want to
say adapt, but I think the better word here is to evolve to bring the
company to the next level by figuring out how to take on this new way of
thinking, this new way of doing business.
So this new way of thinking and doing business is essential for
up-and-coming top executives of tomorrow, isnt it?
A
bsolutely, because the up-and-coming executives are the
leaders of tomorrow and when they embrace these concepts
and they embrace the trends that are happening and can work
with them instead of against them, thats whats going to elevate them
to be a great leader.
I understand you have a very interesting event coming up this fall
in Stockholm. Can you talk a bit about that?
T
his is actually an extension of the book so its called, Business
Building for the Future, and its all about how to create a
sustainable business that can be a force for good for the people,
planet, and profits. Its about how to really build a business that can thrive
going into the future. And we have great international speakers like
Richard Branson, Stedman Graham, Mark Thompson, Roxanne
Emmerichall who are New York Times best-selling authors, who are
going to be coming to motivate and empower top management of
European companies. Its September 34, 2014. And this is an event well
be doing on an annual basis. Its for top management and anybody can
get a ticket as long as theyre still available, by registering at the website
www.businessbuildingforthefuture.com
Karin Volo, an
e x p e r t i n
e n g a g e me n t ,
career, personal,
and organization
development, is
known as an
E v o l u t i o n
Exper t . Wit h
over 15 years
e x p e r i e n c e
wor ki ng wi t h
i n t e r n a t i o n a l
For t u n e 500
compani es on
two continents,
she has gained
insights on business building, cultural transformation
and high performance. Karin is also the cofounder
of Evoloshen, a company that helps transform
organizations into the most amazing companies
through people engagement and development. Karin
uses her professional skills and draws from her
personal experiences to help individuals and
companies thrive through difficult transitions and
maximize their potential. http://evoloshen.com/
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 51
W
hen the concept for the Executive
MBA (EMBA) first began back in
1943 at what is now known as the
Chicago Booth School of Business, the concept
was to allow executives to pursue further
education as they continued to work in their
executive roles. When EMBA programs first
began, most, if not all candidates were fully
sponsored by their companies as the companies
saw it as an investment not only in their employees
future but also the companys future. Times have
changed since 1943 and today many Executive
MBA candidates are finding that full sponsorships
are few and far between due to tightening budgets
and rocky economies. If executives want to
continue their education, they are finding that
often, they will be the ones footing the bill.
Career coaching services
Due to this fairly recent turn of events, employees,
even at an executive level, are feeling less obliged
to continue with the same company once they have
completed their EMBA studies. This then opens
the door to new career possibilities and
opportunities and leaves many participants
wondering what the next steps could be on their
professional path. Career services ,which were once
reserved for full time MBA students, are now being
modified to take into account the needs of
Executive MBA participants as well. These services
can include CV clinics, contact with executive
recruiters and some level of career coaching.
It is now more the rule than the exception
that an EMBA program will offer their students
career coaching services. And a number of the
Executive MBA programs such as Michigan
Ross Executive MBA even continue to offer
executive career coaching after participants
have completed their program, as part of the
alumni offerings. Career services offered by the
coach will often include:
Guiding participants in their career
management, determining their next steps,
and developing a career plan
Encouraging self-assessment through
questioning, exercises, and tests
Building on practical skills (CV writing,
motivation letters, networking and interview
role-plays)
Providing job offer evaluations
Listening to and assisting with the unique
concerns of each student
A new EMBA essential
Executive career coaching is becoming so
popular that many Executive MBA programs
are creating full coaching departments, or are
at least expanding on the coaching services they
already offer.
Schulich School of Business York University
recently announced the appointment of four
executive coaches from diverse backgrounds to
mentor and provide career advice to all students
enrolled in the Executive MBA, MBA, and
International MBA programs. We are a big
believer in career planning, says Rob Hines,
executive director of Schulichs Career
Development Centre. An executive coach will
ask you the tough questions about your plans for
the future. They wont let you off the hook.
In Fall 2012, Wharton established a full
coaching program for their MBA students: The
Wharton Executive Coaching and Feedback
Program (ECFP). Its mission is to enable and
support every MBA student in the pursuit of
deeper self-awareness and improved leadership
skills and to advance individual success and
team and community performance. The ECFP
is a unique opportunity for students to get
personalized one-on-one executive coaching
based on detailed feedback from peers and
former co-workers.
At EDHEC Business School, Executive
MBA program participants receive seven
individual, one-on-one coaching sessions to
help them clarify and reach their goals. An
Executive MBA program offers the ideal
moment for participants to develop or improve
their management and leadership skills, and in
turn creates the perfect opportunity to take the
time to clarify where they want to go next. They
can look at where to go from here in terms of
their personal development and career goals,
launch into a new field or industry, or take the
next step within an existing role. Taking the
time to reflect and act on career transformation
is key for participants to ensure an Executive
MBA helps them to achieve their objectives.
The value of a coach
Though coaching is no longer just for sports
stars or prestigious politicians, some in the
business world still question the value of
Executive Career Coaching. Fortunately, many
top business schools have clearly seen the
positive results for their participants and do not
hesitate to offer this service as part of their
program. As Marcel Kalis, head of career
services at the European School of Management
and Technology (ESMT) told TopMBA.com,
A career coach is there to help people to come
to the right decisions; they dont come up with
the answers. That is what students need to
discover for themselves. I would advise people
to speak with other candidates and to really
think about what choice they are going to make
regarding their MBA career paths.
The coach is not a magician, and he
certainly cant produce miracles. The effort has
to come from the student. I would advise
students to bring everything together, to sit down
with the coach and find out what it is that they
would like to do. Sometimes the coach can help
EXECUTIVE MBA Coaching

a new essential for EMBA programs
BY DAWN Z BOURNAND
CAREER
COACHING
52 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide
with their own network or by putting people
together. That can certainly ease the pressure
created by the job search.
Beth Weissenberger Co-Founder/Vice-
Chairman of the Handel Group agrees, They
have to want it. You cant coach someone who
doesnt want to be coached. Weve been
teaching at MIT for six years, and every single
year we do a year-long program; its a week long
program and a years worth of coaching, going
back every other week. From Stanford Business
School, to MIT, to NYU, at every school we
have been in, there was someone there who
knew of us and knew the difference that we
make in educating our graduate and
undergraduate students, and they invented the
class and invited us along.
Savvy business schools realize they need
to teach their participants to be ready for the
business world and that includes adding the
dimension called, for the human being. The
schools we work with know thats important.
They invest in teaching their students our
future leaders that humanity and being
remarkable, speaking the truth, and designing
your life, are important parts of becoming an
educated, authentic leader.
Career transition
Because self-funded executives typically have no
binding contracts to their current employer, they
will often use their time studying for an
Executive MBA as a launchpad for a career
transition. Their study time is used to gain clarity
on which new career path could be most
interesting and rewarding. This is where career
coaching can be most beneficial as executives
looking for a career transition are not always sure
where that transition could take them. In a
recent Forbes.com article, career coach Donna
Sweidan shared that there are a number of
assessments that can be used in career coaching
to help clients who may be in a career transition,
such as personality tests, interest inventories,
accomplishment exercises that identify what
people are most proud of and job-description
analyses that can pinpoint the kind of work and
workplaces that are the best fit for someone.
Even if a career transition is not the focus
for an EMBA participant, career coaching can
be beneficial for simply understanding how to
best take advantage of all the learning the
program offers and then implementing what is
learned back at work. It is for this reason that
most Executive MBA programs now offer group
and one-to-one career coaching for all students.
Having the opportunity to reflect on their
career path, analyzing where they want to go
and having a third party to share insights and
new points of view can be a powerful tool for
any successful executive.
EXECUTIVE MBA Coaching

a new essential for EMBA programs
BY DAWN Z BOURNAND
CAREER
COACHING
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 53

TopExecutive Guide www.topmba.com 55
O
ften referred to in regional terms as
one unitary area, Africa comprises 54
sovereign states and nine territories,
each of which has its own distinct histories,
traditions and practices.
In the post-colonial era, many African
nations have had to overcome internal and
external conflicts as well as political strife in
order to build better business environments and
develop stronger economies. Some have had
greater success than others.
Nonetheless, a growing number of African
countries have made significant forays onto the
global business stage and have begun to make
their mark in international trade. This has
created a burgeoning market for Executive
MBA programs.
Sustainable business education
South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Tanzania are
just some of the countries which have been
able to develop strong business networks as
foreign investments increase and technologies
become more widely available. The growing
middle class in sub-Saharan Africa has also
meant education has become more pertinent.
In 2012, The European Foundation for
Management and Development (EFMD)
convened its third annual conference under the
thematic umbrella of Sustainable Business
Education in Africa. Held in Nairobi, the aim
of the conference was to bring leading business
educators from Africa and the global EFMD
network together to promote and develop
adequate and sustainable business education
on the continent.
Western influence
The opportunity to offer business education to
African nations has attracted many Western
players. Henley Business School opened its
doors to the African market in 1992,
establishing a campus in Johannesburg. Jon
Foster-Pedley, dean and director of Henley
Business School, Africa says there is a massive
demand for educators in the region but many
who come dont understand the context. Yes
there is a demand for education here, but its a
demand for quality education, Foster-Pedley
says. We are an international, triple-accredited
business school and were committed to
developing that level of education for the
population here. African business school
candidates demonstrate the same intelligence
as those pursuing business education elsewhere
so we offer them the high standard of
education we offer all our candidates
around the world, he says.
Foster-Pedley believes there is
great potential for innovation in
education in Africa. We have a
massive amount to learn from
emerging economies. Here,
Africans are walking with a deeper
self-confidence about their ability
and thats going to change the way
Africa is governed. As schools, we
need to produce graduates who can
do the job, are pragmatic and action-
based. We ll see intelligent
collaboration between businesses and
schools as well as more online, blended
learning, he predicts.
Collaborating with communities
Henley is already leading the way in terms of
collaborating with its African community in the
form of MBAid, an initiative that sees students
assisting local NGOs. Its one of Henleys
biggest projects, says Foster-Pedley. Students
and alumni work with NGOs on different
elements of business such as fundraising, HR,
how to structure their board etc. It helps our
students to engage with business as something
that is embedded in society. This is incredibly
important for growing economies. To date
weve helped over 150 NGOs.
Its this connection with the region that has
been key to Henleys success in Africa. An
A Region
to Watch
Rich in culture, diversity and opportunity, Executive
MBAs are in demand in Africa By Ann Graham
EXECUTIVE MBA Africa

Africa:
54 QS Global Workplace Career eGuide

TopExecutive Guide www.topmba.com 55
EXECUTIVE MBA Africa
international university with a regional focus,
committed to delivering a high standard of
education in developing countries. Were an
interesting hybrid, Foster-Pedley says.
Distance learning opportunities
Since the early 1990s, Edinburgh Business
School (EBS) has also been delivering western-
style business education to Africa by offering
innovative postgraduate programmes which
cater to the demands and requirements of doing
business in Africa. To offer this program, EBS
makes its programs available through distance
learning, and also partners with African
education institutions to bridge cultural and
educational divides between the
continents.
Alick Kitchin, joint head of
Edinburgh Business School,
says the appeal of the African
market was the regions
significance on the global
st age. Africa is a
significant region of
the world, with a thirst
and commitment to
education and a
need for business
expertise and skills
for its growing
populations. Our
vision was to deliver
globally reputed awards
where students actually
live and work, so we have
a significant number of self-
study students, and some very
large and growing academic
collaborations in Uganda,
Swaziland, Zambia and Nigeria.
Overall, EBS has over 3,500 active students
on our postgraduate programs from across the
continent and over 2,000 MBA alumni who have
achieved a masters level award.
In the past five years, EBS has seen an
annual double digit percentage growth in
numbers for their programs, with particularly
strong demand coming from Zambia, Uganda
and Nigeria. Our programs are popular as they
offer applied business skills that equip managers
to run businesses and organizations across a
range of sectors, Kitchin says. We have seen
growth in the banking and finance sectors, IT,
oil and gas, as well as in small and medium-
sized enterprises.
Kitchin believes a key benefit of the EBS
programs is that students remain in place in
their communities and add value to the local
economies. So many schools believe in
bringing students to the UK or the USA for
their studies, which has, over time, caused
some of the best and brightest students to
remain outside their home countries, he says.
Gateway to Africa
Another school which has seen the value of
investing in the African region is CEIBS, the
China Europe International Business School.
I t s s i x t h EMBA cohort is
scheduled to start in May 2014 with participants
attending eight-day modules every two months.
One of the outstanding features of the
Executive MBA is that its a pan-African
program and recruits students from all over the
continent.
Victor Rutgers, Executive Director
Business for CEIBS Africa program says the
EMBA sphere in Africa is definitely growing.
Over the years we continue to see a significant
amount of inquiries coming in from various
African countries including Cote dIvoire,
Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana,
Rutgers says. Ghana has been dubbed the
Gateway to Africa by investors and expatriates
and has a great reputation for political stability
and rapid development. It is also one of the few
African countries that welcomes expatriates and
foreign students with genuine hospitality and
promotes freedom of expression. Whats more,
Ghana currently boasts modern infrastructure
and local organizations that run operations of
a global standard, which is always very
insightful for business students whom otherwise
believe Africa is still far behind. All of this
makes it an important region for EMBA
candidates to consider because of the numerous
business opportunities that are yet to be
ventured and the diverse international
networks that are to be penetrated.
Domestic education
on the rise
Although management
education in Africa is
still in its early stages,
there are a number of
top institutions and
business schools
which offer high
quality MBA and
EMBA programs.
The University of
Pretorias Gordon
Institute of Business
Science (GIBS) placed
70t h i n t he 2013
Financial Times Executive
MBA Rankings, while other
noteworthy EMBA programs are
offered by South Africas top
universities, including the University of
Ca p e To wn , t h e Uni v e r s i t y
o f W i t w a t e r s r a n d
and Stellenbosch University.
Manusha Pillay, marketing manager for
the Gordon Institute of Business Science
(GIBS) at the University of Pretoria says growth
in the EMBA sphere in Africa is exponential
with candidates from Africa seeking to pursue
suitably accredited qualifications. The GIBS
EMBA is a very attractive option for SADC
(South African Development Community)
candidates because its an internationally
accredited business school based in
Johannesburg, South Africas economic hub.
Its also a perfect match for these candidates as
our EMBA focuses on general management It
international university with a regional
focus, committed to delivering a high standard
of education in developing countries. Were
an interesting hybrid, Foster-Pedley says.
Distance learning opportunities
Since the early 1990s, Edinburgh Business
School (EBS) has also been delivering western-
style business education to Africa by offering
innovative postgraduate programmes which
cater to the demands and requirements of doing
business in Africa. To offer this program, EBS
makes its programs available through distance
learning, and also partners with African
education institutions to bridge cultural and
educational divides between the continents.
Alick Kitchin, joint head of Edinburgh
Business School, says the appeal of the
African market was the regions
significance on the global stage.
Africa is a significant region of
the world, with a thirst and
commitment to education
and a need for business
expertise and skills for its
growing populations.
Our vision was to
del i ver gl obal l y
reput ed awards
where st udent s
actually live and
work, so we have a
significant number
of self-study students,
and some very large
and growing academic
col l aborat i ons i n
Uganda, Swaziland,
Zambia and Nigeria.
Overall, EBS has over 3,500
active students on our
postgraduate programs from
across the continent and over 2,000
MBA alumni who have achieved a
masters level award.
In the past five years, EBS has seen an
annual double digit percentage growth in
numbers for their programs, with particularly
strong demand coming from Zambia, Uganda
and Nigeria. Our programs are popular as they
offer applied business skills that equip managers
to run businesses and organizations across a
range of sectors, Kitchin says. We have seen
growth in the banking and finance sectors, IT,
oil and gas, as well as in small and medium-
sized enterprises.
Kitchin believes a key benefit of the EBS
programs is that students remain in place in
their communities and add value to the local
economies. So many schools believe in
bringing students to the UK or the USA for their
studies, which has, over time, caused some of
the best and brightest students to remain
outside their home countries, he says.
Gateway to Africa
Another school which has seen the value of
investing in the African region is CEIBS, the
China Europe International Business School.
Its sixth EMBA cohort is scheduled to start in
May 2014 with participants attending eight-day
modules every two months. One of the
outstanding features of the Executive MBA is
that its a pan-African program and recruits
students from all over the continent.
Victor Rutgers, Executive Director
Business for CEIBS Africa program says the
EMBA sphere in Africa is definitely growing.
Over the years we continue to see a significant
amount of inquiries coming in from various
African countries including Cote dIvoire,
Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana,
Rutgers says. Ghana has been dubbed the
Gateway to Africa by investors and expatriates
and has a great reputation for political stability
and rapid development. It is also one of the few
African countries that welcomes expatriates and
foreign students with genuine hospitality and
promotes freedom of expression. Whats more,
Ghana currently boasts modern infrastructure
and local organizations that run operations of
a global standard, which is always very
insightful for business students whom otherwise
believe Africa is still far behind. All of this
makes it an important region for EMBA
candidates to consider because of the numerous
business opportunities that are yet to be
ventured and the diverse international networks
that are to be penetrated.
Domestic education on the rise
Although management education in Africa is
still in its early stages, there are a number of top
institutions and business schools which offer
high quality MBA and EMBA programs. The
University of Pretorias Gordon Institute of
Business Science (GIBS) placed 70th in
the 2013 Financial Times Executive
MBA Rankings, while other
noteworthy EMBA programs
are offered by South Africas
top universities, including
the University of Cape
Town, the University
of Wi t wat er s r and
and Stellenbosch
University.
Manusha Pillay,
marketing manager
for the Gordon
Institute of Business
Science (GIBS) at
the University of
Pretoria says growth
in the EMBA sphere
in Africa is exponential
with candidates from
Africa seeking to pursue
s ui t a bl y a c c r e di t e d
qualifications. The GIBS
EMBA is a very attractive option
f or SADC ( Sout h Af r i can
Development Community) candidates
because its an internationally accredited
business school based in Johannesburg, South
Africas economic hub. Its also a perfect match
for these candidates as our EMBA focuses on
general management with a specific focus on
dynamic markets and decision making.
As a region, Africa is seeking to develop
business education that fits the specific needs of
the rich cultural and historical traditions of its
countries. With this in mind, organizations such
as the Association of African Business Schools
(AABS) seek to foster an environment that
improves management education in Africa
and enhances the relevance and contribution
of business schools to African development.
It seems Africa is definitely a region
to watch.
QS Global Workplace Career eGuide 55

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