The best thing about the EMBA programme is that it makes you not only a learner but a practitioner, says Shraddha

The reason to choose the Executive MBA (EMBA) programme was to develop my skill sets in a T-shape i.e. to strive to become an expert in at least one area but also be capable of developing other domain knowledge. The ultimate goal was to increase my employability quotient and be open to more opportunities where my skills could be put to use.

In order to effectively reshape business operations, people need to be generalised specialists—another term used to describe T-shaped people—which means that one should have a depth of knowledge in key areas of expertise as well as a broad understanding of skills that are needed for any business. Being a computer engineer, I could have stuck to my expected core competencies, but I was looking to grow myself horizontally and that’s where the ambition of an MBA came in.

SP Jain School of Global Management is one of the best colleges in Dubai as it offers a world-class campus, opportunities to learn from industry experts, and has faculty from different parts of the world. Also, they offered weekend classes, which was the perfect fit for me as I am a full-time working professional.

I worked on brushing up my math skills, general knowledge and took mock IQ tests online to prepare for the entrance exam. However, the executive MBA does give more weightage to work experience and that worked in my favour.

Pursuing the EMBA was a big decision for me because the programme demands full attention, and managing classes and a full-time job along with a family and children is extremely challenging. SP Jain provides a highly disciplined course structure where attendance is compulsory, and exams and projects are taken very seriously.  It required me to become very effective with the management of my time.

One of the best things about the EMBA programme is that it makes you not only a learner but a practitioner, The vast gamut of subjects that are taught and offered as part of the course, help provoke the mind into thinking.

The Problem at Work (PAW) assignments were an interesting part of the curriculum that helped students to apply their knowledge and not remain confined to just theoretical knowledge.

In order to form my T-shape, the subjects that helped broaden my knowledge horizons were Digital Marketing, Project management, Business Analytics, Strategic Innovation and Operational Excellence. Also, all the simulation courses that compel you to act as if you were a CEO or CFO through role-playing in a gamified environment help to learn effective decision making.

I also liked the executive accelerator pathway programme which was quite useful and the Toastmaster, which helped students to build confidence and enhance their public speaking skills.

There was a great sense of camaraderie among classmates and my network today is filled with smart, hard-working and intellectually curious friends and peers.  During my time there, I learned to make true connections with people and not just have them on my contact.

At SP Jain, I learned how to think on my feet and make optimal decisions with limited information, while overcoming complex problems

As a future career goal, I would like to focus and apply my skillset to improving customer experience and product management. Because, at the end of the day, a customer always comes first in any business

About the author

Shraddha Kulkarni is a certified PMP (Project Manager) and PMI-ACP (Agile Practitioner) with more than 16 years of experience spanning in different countries like India, USA, Bahrain, Australia and UAE. She is an alumni of SP Jain School of Global Management. Shraddha enjoys working in agile, fast moving environment. She is also involved in coaching, mentoring and blogging, and providing consultancy for technical and functional software projects

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha