How an Executive MBA Program Can Prepare You for a Tech Career

Tech Companies need the broad skill set an Executive MBA program offers

The products and services tech companies offer are unique, but the positions they hire for are often the same as you would find at other companies. Tech businesses need great managers and senior executives to fill roles in sales, marketing, human resources, finance, supply chain management, and more. That’s why MBA holders are valuable at firms where business-oriented positions are plentiful, such as large firms or start-ups looking to grow and scale. While a background in computer science or software engineering helps in the tech world, it isn’t always necessary for those with MBAs. Many business schools are even helping fill that gap between business and tech skills by offering courses in coding and data analysis.

With this broad set of soft skills and hard skills, it positions EMBA graduates to succeed in tech and companies are able to find the versatile and fast-thinking senior employees they need. When asked whether business school graduates are well prepared to succeed in their companies, recruiters for the technology industry are very positive. Our survey shows that 61 percent agree that graduates are well prepared and 28 percent strongly agree, higher than every other industry except Finance/Accounting.

Wondering what else your graduate business education offers recruiters? Check out 3 Reasons Employers Value EMBAs.

An EMBA program is an opportunity to develop team building and networking skills

People skills matter in technology. The skill most in demand by technology employers is working with others, with 91 percent saying it is their most desired skill in employees. An EMBA helps meet this demand in various ways. For one, an Executive MBA program is an exceptional networking opportunity. Students get to meet others not only in their classes, but also through meet-and-greets and networking events.

The diversity of each cohort is also important. Students not only study alongside others who are interested in technology, but with those who have had diverse professional and personal backgrounds. The different perspectives they bring to the table help all students appreciate different ways of tackling new challenges, which is another skill that rapidly changing tech companies value.

Staying at the forefront of the latest innovations is necessary for a tech career

The tech world is a fast-moving one, so it’s important to stay informed about the latest developments and practices. An EMBA helps with this in a number of ways. For example, they structure the EMBA so that students can study part-time while maintaining their careers. That’s an important factor for anybody who is an executive business program candidate is already in the tech sector. Given the pace of change in technology, taking two years off for school could mean missing out on important developments within the industry. That’s a sacrifice EMBA students do not have to make.

At the same time, since students will learn about new business practices, they’ll be able to incorporate those practices into their careers in tech. An EMBA is an opportunity to discover what works best for other companies—such as thorough case studies, company visits, and lectures—and take a big picture approach to business and industry. That’s a valuable insight that can be easy to miss for those who are not in school and focused only on their day-to-day careers.

Want to get into an Executive MBA program?

Find out how an Executive MBA Test like the Executive Assessment can help.