REGGIE GILYARD
Dean, Argyros School of Business and Economics, Chapman University
An MBA is more than a line on a résumé. It is an opportunity to truly accelerate people’s career by identifying and amplifying their individual strengths. An MBA is a commitment not only in an academic and career sense but also a personal commitment to create a foundation for excellence in everything one does.
MBA programs also provide the opportunity to build robust professional networks with high-caliber industry insiders. A 2012 alumni study by the Graduate Management Admissions Council found that three out of four employed alumni of the MBA class of 2011 report they could not have obtained their positions without their graduate management education.
At Chapman, we’ve also found that curricular and extra-curricular endeavors, [including internships and clubs], combine to create successful business leaders and high return-on-investment for our MBA graduates.
At the Argyros School of Business and Economics at Chapman University, we infuse value throughout our MBA programs to focus and cultivate our students’ passions, whether they be finance, international business, entrepreneurship, strategic management, marketing, some cross-discipline pursuit, etc.
GLENN WORTHINGTON
Dean, College of Business and Professional Studies, Brandman University
Certainly in today’s competitive job market, candidates who have earned an MBA have an advantage over peers that do not. In some cases it is a must-have.
The Department of Labor reports lower unemployment rates and higher weekly incomes for those who’ve earned a graduate degree in 2011. The return-on-investment of an MBA has varied, but its long-term value has never diminished. Ultimately it is an investment in [oneself].
Earning an MBA is an important step in one’s lifelong career journey, and the value remains, even though the immediate ROI might not be clear when the graduate walks across the stage in a cap and gown.
An MBA does not guarantee a specific career path for everyone, but what it does guarantee is a foundation upon which to build a stronger career. The [experience of earning an MBA] is just as valuable as the degree. While pursuing an MBA, our students are meeting other rising leaders in the classroom and developing a fantastic network of peers across a wide variety of industries. They can also tap into a vibrant network of fellow MBA alumni.
DAYNA PARKER
Chief human resources officer, Experian North America
The value of an MBA degree really depends on many factors: The person, the location, the job market, talent competition, field of interest, business climate, relevant job skills, experience and other factors that may contribute to one’s ability to capitalize on the hard work and expense of earning an MBA.
At Experian North America, we do believe there is value for job seekers earning an MBA.
Many of our business leaders have MBAs and understand the value derived from a strong foundation of learning in business school. Among our 6,000 U.S. employees, we also have many team members with advanced degrees that are critical to our success. While we believe that education is extremely important, we also place great value on job experience, leadership capabilities, values and innovation, among other important skills.
Our interest in MBAs and other degree programs is evidenced by the internal development programs we have, targeted to hiring and developing MBAs for future positions that require skills and knowledge learned in school, combined with the skills and knowledge they learn in the program and on the job.
In addition to our MBA programs, we have a tuition assistance program to help team members financially as they pursue their education, including MBA degrees. We strongly believe this is good for our team members and good for Experian.
While we value MBA degrees, it would be uncommon for us to hire someone solely because they have an MBA. Typically, a candidate would need to have relevant experience in addition to educational accomplishments. However, when there is tight competition in the job market, and all else is equal between candidates, an MBA may be the thing that gets you in the door or puts you over the top.
CRAIG DUPPER
Partner, Solis Capital Partners LLC
From what I see in the marketplace, for the private equity industry, an MBA is a “check in the box” requirement. A potential exception is someone who has a significant operational track record of success. I think another point would be that it’s important to attend a highly rated school, though it may not be an absolute necessity to be coming from a top-20 school if you’re going to be in a smaller regional firm.
For big private equity firms or investment banking jobs, holding an MBA, another master’s degree, or a J.D. was an absolute requirement. I still believe that to be the case.
The extent to which one would need an MBA depends on what level [of a job one is looking for]. I think it’s easier in general for someone to come into a firm as an analyst. If there’s a show of performance, you might not have to go back to business school.
At the end of the day, there are many ways to screen candidates—an MBA is one of them. It’s one of several factors. It’s not the “be all and end all” by any means. It’s an important screening and signaling tool for professionals in the private equity industry.
JAMIE EVANOFF
Senior Director, Human Resources, Ingram Micro
As the IT industry evolves, it becomes in-creasingly important to have strong business and leadership competencies. As hiring managers, we find that more and more people have augmented technical skills with an MBA to round out their business knowledge.
Here at Ingram Micro, we look for strong, innovative and entrepreneurial leaders that can provide vision and allow us to stay relevant and competitive in an ever-changing marketplace. As always, the value of an MBA depends on the individuals and how they can implement the skills they have learned. However, an MBA continues to open doors for people to grow their careers beyond a pure functional or technical competency.
