Articles
MBA and Executive MBA Programs Improve Strategic Thinking and Support Business Development
Annika Rautakoura
Aalto Executive MBA (EMBA) is one of Europe's leading Executive MBA programs. It holds the 'Triple Crown' of accreditations – the three most respected international accreditations, AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS, granted to only around 1% of the world's business schools – and is ranked among the top 100 programs worldwide.
The Aalto EMBA program helps you develop a strong professional network and accelerates your career progression. It boosts the key knowledge and skills relevant for individuals with significant professional work experience to succeed further in senior leadership roles.
The program focuses on the four core business areas of strategy, leadership, finance, and marketing, with special emphasis on strategy and leadership in a global context. Strategy is approached from a variety of perspectives with an emphasis on inventive strategies and novel business models. Leadership covers a range of themes from self-leadership to leading and inspiring others.
The program diploma is granted by Aalto University School of Business.
The next Aalto EMBA in Helsinki program starts in October 2023. The application period ended on August 25. In case you are interested in applying for the next program and starting studies in October, kindly contact Eila Lindroos, eila.lindroos@aaltoee.fi, soonest.
100% of participants* would recommend the program
The Aalto EMBA program truly expands one’s understanding of the business world, and the new insights are highly applicable.
*Respondents to program feedback questionnaire
Most Satisfied Participants in the Nordic Countries
Aalto EMBA program participants’ overall satisfaction (score 9.54/10) is the highest among programs in the Nordics, 5th in Europe, and 21st globally.
Financial Times EMBA Ranking 2022
Graduate on Schedule
Our graduation rate is 99%. The flexible yet structured program design, together with strong support from the EMBA team, enables you to successfully combine highly demanding career responsibilities with intensive studies.
Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking
In 2022, the Aalto Executive MBA ranked 49th in Europe and 88th overall in the prestigious Financial Times’ annual global ranking. Aalto EMBA program participants’ overall satisfaction is the highest among programs in the Nordics, 5th in Europe, and 21st globally. Around 4,000 EMBA programs are offered around the world, with only the top 100 making it into the Financial Times ranking. The Aalto EMBA is the only program offered by a Finnish university to have successfully entered the ranking.
The Financial Times ranking assesses 16 categories, including the versatility of the program, faculty qualifications, participants' career progress, salaries, and achievement of personal goals. The ranking is based on assessments and information collected from participants and statistical data provided by the schools. The ranking survey is sent to EMBA program participants three years after their graduation.
The Financial Times has published the FT Executive MBA ranking since 2006, with only minor modifications made to the ranking criteria during this period. Alumni salary and salary development have always been weighted significantly heavier than other criteria. Over the years, 200 different programs have been featured in the ranking, but only 22 have been included every year since 2006 – Aalto EE's program is proud to be one of these.
QS Global EMBA Ranking
In 2023, Aalto Executive MBA was ranked 28th in Europe and 66th overall in the QS Global EMBA Rankings. QS Global EMBA Rankings is EMBA's world ranking of the best universities in the world, provided by Quacquarelli Symonds and published annually since 2017. In 2023, around 200 programs were included, with only the top 100 making it into the ranking.
The QS EMBA Rankings combine input from thought leaders in business and management alongside the perceptions of global employers who recruit from the world’s best EMBA programs and is further enhanced by program-specific indicators.
The essence of Aalto Executive MBA is transformation. The program is designed to enhance the participants’ personal skills and competencies as leaders and individuals. The modules also strengthen the participants’ strategic thinking thus increasing their understanding of why businesses need to transform and how they themselves can become drivers of organizational transformation.
The Aalto Executive MBA program modules are prepared and presented by a world-class faculty from Aalto University and renowned business schools across the world. In addition to their academic qualifications, our instructors are both excellent teachers and have significant business experience in various organizations. Presentations and assignments encourage participants to link the academic input on the latest business and management theories with their professional experience in organizations and to reflect upon their own views and practices.
The Aalto EMBA is designed to maximize interaction and participation. The approach focuses on integration of theory and practice and is adjusted to take differences in learning styles and preferences into account. A variety of methods facilitate learning, including lectures, presentations, group discussions and projects, simulations, real-life case studies, and encounters with business leaders. Activities draw upon the wide experience of participants, who represent different industries, functions, and educational backgrounds. Each module includes assignments designed to help participants, and faculty see whether they have achieved the learning objectives.
In addition to globally relevant content, the Aalto EMBA provides participants with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of different business cultures, to gain new perspectives on global commerce, and to expand their international network. Elective study tours abroad contribute to developing cross-cultural competence. Aalto Executive MBA participants also benefit from the elective study module offering from our international partner schools’ EMBA programs.
We are first and foremost driven by the impact we can have through our programs – on participants, their organizations, the academic community, and society at large. The participants benefit from a goal-oriented and comprehensive learning experience with proven impact on both the individual and the organization. We nurture and develop the knowledge and skills of individuals, foster self-confidence, and build individual learning paths and meaningful careers. We also do our utmost to ensure that our participants create the best sustainable business networks.
The Aalto EMBA program is designed to enhance the participants’ personal skills and leadership competencies. The modules also strengthen the participants’ strategic thinking, thus increasing their understanding of why businesses need to transform and how they themselves can become drivers of organizational transformation.
The Aalto Executive MBA is designed for professionals with significant work experience – typically 15 years or more.
The program is best suited for talented professionals with strong management and leadership experience, steady career progression, and curiosity to learn more. Candidates who are looking to take their organization to the next level will find true value in the holistic overview the program offers for business management.
Profile of Aalto EMBA in Helsinki 2019-2022 Participants
Educational Background
234
Participants
Gender
42
Average Age
16 years
Average Work Experience
19
Different Nationalities
To fulfill the requirements for the Aalto Executive MBA diploma, participants must successfully complete studies worth 90 ECTS credits, including some international elements. Studies include 12 core modules (52 ECTS in total), two compulsory projects (Business Strategy Project, 11 ECTS, and Self-development Process, 4.5 ECTS), and elective modules worth a total of 22.5 ECTS (typically, one elective module is worth 4.5 ECTS).
The Aalto Executive MBA in Helsinki is a two-year program starting in October. The program has a modular structure and follows a six-week learning cycle. Modules are typically run once a month with contact learning sessions on Thursday from 10:00 to 18:00, Friday from 8:30 to 17:00 and Saturday from 8:30 to 16:00. Each module contains a written pre-assignment and a take-home assignment.
Pre-module period of three weeks
Individual preparation
Three-day module
Intensive contact learning session with instructor and peers
Post-module period of three weeks
Take-home assignment
The Aalto EMBA program includes 12 core modules, with the 12th an entity consisting of the Orientation, Aalto Executive Summit, and Capstone. The core modules are designed to provide participants with a wide understanding of the different key areas of business, and participants acquire skills that are essential for any leader. The core modules are building blocks of the EMBA program and help participants to integrate knowledge in the various management disciplines with hands-on practice. All these topics will be approached and discussed from the point of view of leadership and strategy.
Aalto EMBA participants can choose from a wide variety of elective modules:
The Orientation and Capstone Module kicks off and wraps up the EMBA studies. The program objectives and participants’ personal learning goals are outlined in the Orientation at the beginning of the program, while the learning outcomes and benefits of the studies are assessed in the Capstone. This core module strengthens the program’s emphasis on strategy and challenges participants to integrate learnings from different areas of the program.
The Aalto EMBA program includes a Business Strategy Project (BSP), a consultancy project carried out in a small team with the final aim of developing an analytical solution or tool for a concrete strategic business challenge faced by an organization. The project aims to utilize the insights gained during the program, with project groups organized to maximize the use of the individual competencies of their members. Skilled academic tutors from Aalto University help the teams develop an update on the state-of-the-art in academic research related to the project topic.
The Self-development Process (SDP) is a fundamental part of the Aalto EMBA; it supports you in the process of personal development as a leader and as an individual throughout your studies and way beyond. It includes self-steered studying, peer coaching, facilitated group workshops, and one-to-one coaching with the support of a professional instructor.
Although optional, international study tours are an important part of the Aalto Executive MBA program. An Aalto EMBA study tour is designed to offer in-depth understanding of a chosen theme relevant in the local environment and typically involves a five-day study period abroad.
World-class faculty from, for example, Stanford and Yale, are guaranteed to provide interesting academic instruction. Other components of a study tour such as company visits and campus tours, as well as fun extracurricular activities, bring the finishing touch for a comprehensively superb experience.
Aalto EMBA graduates agree that the program develops strategic thinking by providing new knowledge and tools that can be applied immediately in practice. Just as important, you will gain insights into becoming a world-class leader – skills that never lose their relevance and which will be extremely valuable along your future path.
The annual Aalto Executive Summit brings together Aalto EMBA and MBA participants and alumni from around the world. During the Summit, you will learn about cutting-edge Aalto University research and innovations on current topics while enjoying a unique opportunity to meet business leaders and network with Summit participants.
All graduates automatically become members of the Aalto EE and Aalto University alumni community. Aalto EE and Aalto University continuously arrange events, company visits, and meetings with fellow alumni. With more than 19,000 alumni worldwide, Aalto EE provides a valuable network for you to connect with your fellow alumni. We offer you access to the latest knowledge and an extensive global business network.
The Aalto EMBA program starts in the fall, but you have the opportunity to complete some elective modules before the official start of the program. There are a number of modules available monthly in our ongoing MBA programs that you can choose from. The completed modules and study credits will be included in your EMBA studies.
This way, you can get a feeling for studying in the program and can complete some of the required modules before the official start of your EMBA program, and you will also gain some flexibility in tailoring your EMBA study plan and schedule.
Featured Insights
If you are not sure about meeting some of the requirements, please contact the Aalto EMBA admissions team.
Start your Aalto Executive MBA application process by completing a short preliminary application. After completing the form, our program team will contact you to provide more information about the program and guide you in the application process.