As the world is shrinking, at the same time business enterprises are expanding. They are hoping to capture new markets worldwide. Students wishing to become a part of this explosive growth are looking at Global MBA degrees as a way to learn the fundamentals needed for internationally facing careers.

The Global MBA Program

While the standard MBA (Masters of Business Administration) has been the de rigueur study course for those aspiring careers in finance and business, adding the ‘global’ element is relatively new. How do the programs differ? The Global MBA not only teaches the core tenets of business study, but adds elements like cultural and social awareness, one or more semesters abroad, usually in emerging economies. During your semester overseas, you are likely to be assigned to one or more companies in a position similar to a conventional internship in the U.S., where you’ll be exposed to the particular industry as well as significant cultural differences in the way business is conducted differently than in Western countries. Generally, a mentor will be assigned to guide and counsel you through the experience.

Further Differentials

A significant difference with Global MBA programs is that they attract students from all over the world. Having an extremely diverse peer group of students from other countries exposes the potential graduate to daily conversations and ideas of how business is conducted in different territories. Classrooms and study group dialogues will not be limited to conducting business in one particular country, but will present a wider set of viewpoints.

Curriculum

Global MBA programs often include areas of study not present in traditional MBA courses, including, but not limited to:

• Global Environment – Management techniques for problem solving
• Moral Reasoning – Dealing with the ethics practices of different cultures
• Critical Thinking – Analytic tools understanding and usage
• Teams – Forming and using diverse teams for problem solving and planning
• Communications – Basic communications and cooperation with colleagues from different cultures

Some programs include courses in international entrepreneurship. Some Global MBA grads choose to take their education and practical experience to create new businesses in emerging economies.

Job Outlook

According to Business Week, the job outlook for MBA grads in general, and Global MBA grads specifically remains strong. The number of companies planning on hiring MBAs has increased over the past several years, and an MBA degree is almost a certainty of higher starting pay than for those with mere undergraduate degrees.

The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics shows strong growth for top executives. Hiring is expected to increase geometrically as the economy continues to improve.

Hot demand will come from a wide variety of industries worldwide, with entry level jobs at lower management positions plentiful in the near term, depending upon your chosen area of concentration. Your chances for early hire and advancement will be enhanced by bringing and refining a mastery of at least one other language.

Related Resource: Executive MBA

Action Plan

With knowledge of the outlook for the job market for Global MBA grads, a commitment to the segment of business you wish to pursue, choosing how and where you receive your degree is the next rung on your ladder to life success.