3 world-class EMBA programmes to save the world

With more experience, comes a greater calling to help the world tackle the grand challenges it’s facing today. There are 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), all of which are crucial in improving the world. They call for more than just the involvement of governments and civil society, but businesses as well, a task that senior executives and corporate leaders are up for — with the right know-how and experiences. 

A well-designed EMBA can provide these and more. Whether it’s to protect our planet, end extreme poverty, or fight inequality and injustice, these programmes are attuned to the evolving needs of people and planet. They are especially aware of the role businesses must play in building a more sustainable tomorrow. With renewable energy expected to overtake charcoal by 2025 as the world’s largest source of electricity and advancements in technology helping the blind see and buildings capturing, instead of emitting carbon, there are major opportunities for businesses to seize. 

To become a leader who can pursue social impact and engage with the SDGs, start with an EMBA from these business schools: 

TRIUM Global Executive MBA

Ranked as a top-tier Global EMBA throughout its 22-year history, TRIUM Global Executive MBA stands out for being a partnership of three of the world’s leading universities: NYU Stern, London School of Economics and Political Science and HEC Paris School of Management. It’s the best of many worlds — making it an ideal launchpad for business leaders to navigate an ever changing, unpredictable world. 

Now more than ever, senior executives need profound insights into decision-making contexts. The programme starts in LSE, with the module “Business in the Global

Political Economy.” Led by global academics shaping policy discourse, it offers TRIUM students a distinctive and captivating experience, unlike other Global EMBAs. An integrated curriculum not only covers global business from every angle but ensures TRIUM students are the first among their peers to understand the opportunities and risks of the current business world and that of tomorrow.

This prestigious programme is a valuable opportunity for senior international business leaders seeking to write the next chapter of their careers and build their global network. The cohort’s average age is 40, with 17 years of work experience. Across six on-site modules at multiple locations around the world over an 18-month period, participants can leverage each other’s experience as they explore the intersection of business, geopolitics, society and economics. The programme culminates in a Capstone Project, where participants apply what they learn to a real-life strategic opportunity, such as launching a start-up or social venture, or restructuring an existing business environment. 

“Participating in modules across significant global locations, such as studying Asian financial markets in Shanghai or entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley, greatly enhances understanding compared to a single-location programme. This approach offers invaluable insights and depth of comprehension,” says Franck Juhel, Class of 2018.  

China Europe International Business School

China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) is the top pick for global graduate education within Asia. For one, it is the first business school in the Chinese mainland to be accredited by the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). 

It is also ranked in the top 25, by the Financial Times, for its Master in Business Administration (MBA) for 19 consecutive years (2005-2023). In 2022, the Executive Master in Business Administration (EMBA) programme achieved a #2 worldwide ranking and stood as Asia’s top-ranked stand-alone programme.

Their MBA offers a China-focused module that allows you to study general business management, or you can concentrate on Finance, Marketing, Digital Business, or Entrepreneurship over 12 to 18 months. The EMBA programme develops widely applicable leadership and analytical skills in 20 months. Both programmes are delivered by faculty members from all over the world, who strengthen business insights with their global perspectives.

Students can access support and resources at the CEIBS eLab on the Shanghai campus, which serves as an incubator for entrepreneurial ventures. The MBA Entrepreneurship & Investment Camp and the eLab Incubation Programme are among the opportunities you’ll have to develop greater knowledge and skills in venture creation, investment, and digital technology. This eLab has birthed 100 business ventures so far, with more in the works. 

It’s a journey that’s led to all forms of success for its graduates. Recently, CEIBS Global EMBA alums were listed amongst Poets & Quants’ Best & Brightest 2023. “I applied to the CEIBS Global EMBA during the apex of COVID in 2020. I wanted to invest in myself during a time of great uncertainty, and I wanted to do so alongside students hailing from different industries and cultural backgrounds. I feel so fortunate to now be part of such a close-knit learning community which supports me as I navigate through the ups and downs of work and life,” says EMBA graduate Anita Jiang. 

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business

When it comes to education for the most seasoned of executives, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business leads the way. It has done so for over a century, with its suite of executive education programmes that fuse intellectual stimulation, great teaching, and cutting-edge research. 

These programmes — that offer the latest business knowledge and theory with practical real-world applications — are just what executives need to navigate the new world order. The Full-Time, Part-Time and Executive MBA programmes, for example, are renowned for empowering students to think boldly and make an impact. 

The best part? Each programme is tailored to meet specific professional goals — allowing students to pick according to their interests, aspirations and experience. 

Global exposure is part of the experience. Chicago Booth has three world-class campuses in Chicago, London and Hong Kong — each of which houses exceptional faculty who are leaders in their fields. Throw in a vast network of over 54,000 alumni across every corner of the globe and it makes for a business education worth investing in — and one that will generate value for years to come. 

“Chicago Booth combines a strong background in the disciplines with outstanding applied courses, which should serve students well throughout their post-MBA careers,” says Eugene F. Fama, Robert R. McCormick Distinguished Service Professor of Finance.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International