HR Execs Make The Case For The MBA

ABLE TO CONNECT THEORETICAL MODELS WITH REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE

For employers, MBAs also bring the best of two worlds: Theoretical understanding and real world experience. For starters, points out Cindy Scharringhausen, senior vice president of human resources at Camden, MBAs can identify trends and pitfalls before they take a toll on a company. “One of the key advantages for candidates with an MBA is their diverse business knowledge gained from studying the impact of actual business decisions in real organizations…understanding how real organizations successfully overcome challenges helps these candidates…find innovative solutions.”

Many MBAs have also worked five to ten years before returning to school. As a result, they can draw upon their work experience after graduation. “Many MBAs change the direction of their careers from finance to marketing or engineering to product management — which makes them well-rounded candidates,” says Amy McKee, senior director of talent acquisition at Auto desk. And this gives them a decided advantage in hiring. “…not only are they fluent in the language of business,” declares USAA’s Mark Reid, “they have networked with and had exposure to real business situations and challenges. This, combined with the opportunities to work with fellow students from across industries, experienced faculty, and established business leaders creates a very attractive candidate.”

In fact, this experience, tempered with academic know-how, creates a devastating one-touch punch for MBAs. “Having an MBA is so much more than a few additional years of education,” writes Sandy Hynes, vice president of people at Opower. “Candidates with MBAs stand out because they are able to take theoretical knowledge and apply it to real business situations, enabling them to get up to speed and deliver results more rapidly, which is what top companies need to compete globally.”

MBA TRAINING SHARPENS DECISION-MAKING

Still not convinced that an MBA is a good investment? With analytics starting to drive decision-making as much as finance, an MBA trains professionals to use data to spot risks, flaws, and opportunities.  “What can give MBAs a ‘leg up’ is the analytical lens they’ve honed in business school,” writes Jen Slaski, director of communications at Spiceworks. “Specifically they ask important ‘look before you leap’ big picture context questions to really understand a situation or opportunity before jumping to an assumption, answer or plan of action. Inspiration, gut instinct and risk definitely always need to be alive and well for innovation to happen, but the way a typical MBA mind instinctively informs decisions with data can help ensure businesses are taking ‘smart risks’ that are directionally sound.”

In fact, HubSpot’s Kate Burke touts these abilities as “a hybrid skill set we need in spades as we grow and scale globally.” And she isn’t alone. “When employers see a candidate with an MBA,” shares Tracy Coté, senior vice president of human resources at Genesys, “they assume that person has been trained to think critically about business in a financial context, as well as having been trained to solve business problems, and in business, that’s an advantage!”

FLEXIBILITY KEY TOO

Obviously, training students on proven leadership and decision-making models is one advantage. But it is also bolstered by the experienced network that MBA graduates can call upon when troubles arise. “Through studying for an MBA,” KPMG partner Patrick Newton observes, “you become part of a great network of professionals and you constantly challenge yourself with the newest methods of problem solving. These things together give you a great overview of the business world and a certain receptiveness to changes in the business environment.”

And an openness to change is critical to Julie Hodges, senior vice president of human resources and diversity and inclusion at Disney Parks and Resorts. “We find that MBA graduates joining Disney possess a passion for our company, brand and unique experiences, and they offer a wide range of business knowledge and intense enthusiasm for what is possible. Their ability to handle complex business situations and capacity to adapt and be nimble in a rapidly changing global environment has been an asset for us.”

Bottom line: The MBA is still an asset that employers covet. And for good reason. “An MBA shows the commitment that candidates make in their personal development and education,” says Michael Geary, vice president of human resources at the Kiewit Corporation.”Specifically, it should propel their critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities, and help them build a sophisticated network of relationships that can assist them forever.”

To read MBA@UNC‘s blog, click here.

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