If you’re looking to join a top MBA with face-to-face learning, you’ll often need to take significant time out of work or have at least five years of work experience.
However, there are alternative degree options that can level up your skill set and advance your management and leadership knowledge at an earlier stage in your career.
Warwick Business School (WBS) has created a new two-year program called the Accelerator MBA. Launching in March 2024, it’s aimed at early and mid-career professionals looking to progress to leadership roles or transition from specialist technical roles towards management.
Here are five ways an MBA aimed at those earlier in their career can prepare you to become a global leader.
1. Gain experience in a hybrid, dynamic environment.
Today’s world increasingly relies on technology and connecting with colleagues and clients through digital means.
Working in an era of digital connectivity means that global business leaders need to be skilful at virtual communication.
The Accelerator MBA at Warwick Business School provides a space for students to practice this skill. It's delivered in a hybrid format with 80% in-person learning and 20% online learning. There are also two digitally focussed electives you can choose from, Digital transformation and Big Data & Business Analytics, where you can uncover the trends, business models, and strategies to help you thrive in the digital economy.
Degree programs that provide in-person learning options allow students to connect with peers in a more personal way. These sessions can also form the basis of quality networking time.
Sarah Jackson is the Alumni and MBA Careers Manager at Warwick Business School.
“Students will be looking at high-performing teams and how mindset and understanding others’ communication styles can drive successful and happier teams,” she says.
2. Engage with business world experts in the dynamic city of London
The new Accelerator MBA will be based in the iconic Shard building, allowing for a bird’s eye view of London’s global business center while students learn from leading academics and senior businesspeople, known as Professors of Practice. Accelerator MBA students will benefit from their board-level management experience, a global network of business connections, and direct experience in developing successful careers.
Students can also network with WBS alumni who can offer personalized advice as well as connections with top companies.
“The CareersPlus and Employer Relations team work with Alumni Engagement to cultivate a wide alumni network. Alumni are often invited to networking events, which may include panel events with industry leaders and alumni guests,” says Sarah.
WBS has over 56,260 alumni from 171 countries who can guide you through your journey and help advance your career.
3. Receive personalized career guidance
While networking and skill enhancing courses are beneficial, career guidance and support are essential to accelerate your global leadership career.
The Leadership Accelerator module is unique to this MBA, and blends theory with careers interventions and practical application, to develop students’ leadership skills and acumen
Sarah discusses the comprehensive nature of the careers team and the personalized support the Accelerator MBA provides.
There are several topics discussed in the Accelerator MBA career workshops, including an exploration of the self, knowing your own values and motivations; career transitions, including resumes and cover letters; crafting a sustainable career; inter-cultural awareness; interview skills; and salary and benefits negotiation.
Career coaches are available on-demand in bookable individual appointments.
“These sessions will be mainly student-led, with the coaches using a mix of directive and non-directive styles to support students in identifying strategies for career planning and taking the next steps in their career progression,” she says.
4. Elevate your technical skill set
To develop as a business leader early on in your career, you need a stellar set of business skills.
To help students advance their skills, the Accelerator MBA offers theoretical and practical courses that allow MBAs to develop their managerial and leadership potential.
The first two modules are Organizational Behavior and Strategic Thinking, where students will look at the organization, its place in society, and the people in it.
Next, students will cover the core activities that make up the key functions of an organization: Operations Management, Corporate Reporting and Decision Making, Financial Management and Marketing.
The final two required modules, Leadership Accelerator and Innovation and Strategic Entrepreneurship will arm students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead an organization.
Students can personalize their MBA experience by selecting four elective modules that align with their goals.
Elective modules are undertaken alongside the Executive MBA and Global Online MBA students, providing another opportunity for Accelerator MBA students to widen their network.
One practical experience where students can apply their learning is the client-based consulting project, which develops students’ practical skills in stakeholder management and influence.
“The team works with over 200 employers, several of whom have offered opportunities for MBA students to conduct consulting projects with them. Some of these organizations offer fast-track opportunities for Warwick MBA students,” Sarah explains.
5. Gain global exposure
To advance a global business career, it’s important to increase your global network and better understand global companies.
One of the ways that the Warwick Accelerator MBA helps students achieve this is through offering opportunities to complete a required overseas elective module with a partner institution such as SDA Bocconi in Italy and Nova School of Business in Portugal.
Studying for an overseas business course is a great way for students to boost their knowledge of business operations in different countries or cultures, which will be crucial to becoming a successful future business leader.