So, Leonardo studied a Master’s degree in Taiwan and later an MBA at France-based ESSEC Business School. “I had the opportunity to study in Paris and Singapore, “said Leonardo, who graduated from ESSEC’s Global MBA program last year. “This is the most valuable thing – the opportunity to be with different kinds of cultures, and understand the difference between economies, to perform business in those regions.”
Global MBA students spend six weeks at the school’s Singapore campus, take a week-long field trip to an emerging market, and spend another 4-5 weeks on a consulting project in another emerging country.
“I felt I needed this academic requirement to be able to have exposure to higher positions within the organization,” said Leonardo, who now works at big-four accountant KPMG in Singapore.
He added: “One of the key drivers that helped me to land the job was my international exposure; studying in France and Singapore, as well as the accreditation the MBA gives my CV.”
An MBA with a global edge offers employers something extra, and can help you stand out from the crowd. Leonardo is one of a legion of MBA students who are studying abroad to give their careers a kick.
The majority of MBA students apply for courses outside of their home countries – with America, France, Spain and Canada the most popular options, according to the Graduate Management Admission Council.
The Asia Pacific region is the most popular destination, with 29% of European employers expecting to place MBA graduates there, while 17% anticipate placements in the Middle East or Africa and 15% in Latin America.
ESSEC’s Global MBA is based in France, but 80% of the students are international, said Claire Gaudissart, the program’s career development manager.
“Companies with international interests and development plans will particularly value MBAs with international experience and training, so they offer particularly good employment opportunities to MBAs with global ambitions,” she added.
However, the country students chose to study in plays a big role in determining their career path. Clare said: “[They should] consider the country or region where they want to work, potential obstacles like language or visas, whether their intended career responds to the needs of companies located there, and the strength of their school’s reputation and alumni network in the area.”
Lesley Green chose ESSEC over United States-based schools to develop an international career. “Working in Chicago, I knew in order to change scenery and get out of where I was stuck in my career I’d have to do something drastic,” she said.
Lesley had been working as a sales and marketing coordinator for a US energy company but wanted to develop an international career elsewhere. After graduating in 2012 she landed a job at Hybris Software in Munich, Germany.
Lesley thinks an MBA degree is beneficial for making a geographical career change. “It says to people that you’re willing to try new experiences, branch out, work with new cultures, and see and do things things you’ve never done before,” she said.
She added: “The world today is so small and there are so many opportunities for growth and job changes, you really have to be on your toes.”
One of the biggest benefits of ESSEC’s program is the consulting project which MBAs must complete outside of France. “The project in south Africa is what made the MBA stand apart from all the others I looked at,” said Lesley, who consulted Backsberg Estate Cellars, a top-ten wine producer in Cape Town. “It offered hands-on experience.”
Matthias de Larminat enrolled on ESSEC’s Global MBA after a lengthy career with the French military. He planned to take up an officer's position but after graduating last year he began a career with CMA CGM, the world’s third largest container shipping group, in Gabon, Central Africa.
He completed his consulting project in Djibouti, on the border of Ethiopia, with financial firm FDED – Economic Development Fund of Djibouti. “You feel you’re not a part of France, you’re in the world. The MBA is giving you the tools to have a global picture and think globally,” said Matthias, who previously worked as head of real estate finance for the French Department of Defense.
He was determined to make an international and vocational career change. He said an MBA gave him the self-confidence to make the switch – “especially if you want to switch from a very specific background”.
He added: “People need a warranty to say: he’s reliable. I really believe my MBA has given me this tool.”
But business schools have a wide variety of students – even those that don’t offer trips to other countries. “During that year you spend a lot of time... meeting different kinds of people,” said Leonardo. “In my case I think this networking experience helped me to land the job.”
Career development manager Claire thinks that you should chose a business school based on these factors: “An MBA can be an excellent tool to open doors, build a network, and gain exposure to a new business environment that will help [you] launch an international career.”
Whichever country or business school you study in, you need to utilize its strengths. “You need to utilize what your advantage is, and without experiencing new things and being open to trying a new project [you won’t],” said Lesley.
“When I look at my resume now I see I’ve studied in three different continents and worked in another three. It’s a really great thing to have,” she added.
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