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Koreans first were introduced to the concept of intensive business education for managers in 1995. With the establishment of The University of Chicago GSB campus in Singapore in 2000, the idea of a global Executive MBA has attracted more interest as noted in an article in Seoul’s Weekly Donga. Two prominent Korean business leaders are graduates of Chicago GSB. The Vice Chairman and CEO of LG Phillips, Goo Bun Jun, '82, attended the full-time program, and Janice Lee, ’04, CFO of Hanaro Telecom, attended the Singapore campus.
The article provided important information about the programs. One of the advantages for managers is the focus on business knowledge that they can employ on the job. In the article, Ms. Lee described how while working for Volvo she had a restructuring project that was problematical. Using what she had learned from a business model of Daimler-Chrysler’s restructuring, she completed the project successfully. Lee explained “an EMBA is sometimes very helpful when you need advanced management skills”.
International schools such as the GSB also offer students access to a wide network of contacts. Many managers stay in touch with their fellow students long after graduation. Lee and a current GSB student, Michael Kwon, both are in contact with colleagues who can exchange helpful business information. “Foreign EMBA graduates do not forget to call me whenever they visit Korea” on business says Lee. Kwon uses instant messaging to chat with other EMBAs.
Kwon used that network in a recent business deal where a Chinese lawyer in his EMBA class was helpful in getting the contract signed. He is also working on a Chinese project that came through another of his fellow students.
In fact, a strong network is one of the key factors in evaluating a program says the Weekly Donga. They point out the degree itself is not as important as demonstrating the program has added to the manager’s ability to contribute to the company. The quality of the faculty and curriculum should be primary considerations in choosing an EMBA program.
Learn more about the Chicago GSB’s Executive MBA program.