Executive MBA - A dynamic programme for a changing world

Discover what’s new

Professor Martin Butler, Academic Director for the MBA, explains why now is the right time for our Executive MBA programmes to evolve. He also discusses what’s changed in the new programmes – including a greater focus on leadership and entrepreneurial thinking, more opportunities to specialise and more ways to grow your network.

An Executive MBA that inspires agile, entrepreneurial leadership

In a dynamic world, up-and-coming professionals need programmes that are capable of flexing to address rapidly emerging technologies and societal needs.

Our evolved Executive MBA provides consistent core subject areas – including finance, people, marketing, leadership, strategy and digital transformation. And it delivers them with a golden thread of entrepreneurial mindset, agile leadership and Vlerick’s signature hands-on approach running through them.

It can also rapidly adapt to include business-critical topics, as we see them emerging on the horizon.

Martin says: “We redesigned our programme to give us more room to address the critical topics facing business today and in the future. 

“We’ve streamlined our core courses so we can build a dynamic elective portfolio. This gives us the flexibility to add electives based on what’s topical – without impacting the core programme. And it gives our participants more electives to choose from and more opportunities to specialise.”

A refreshed format that builds the DNA of a leader

Our new Executive MBA is designed to transform you into a leader who thinks differently and inspires positive change. Who can make the most of opportunities. And who can tackle challenges now and in the future.

It does so by prioritising leadership and developing an entrepreneurial mindset -all of which culminates in a consultative project.

Running alongside core courses and electives, these tracks on leadership and entrepreneurial mindset empower you to discover your own personal approach, spark your entrepreneurial mindset – and give you the confidence, skills and tools to take the leap in your career.

“What this approach does,” says Martin, “Is provide a common thread through all topics, from start to finish. You’re not jumping from finance to strategy to marketing. Instead, you’re developing an entrepreneurial mindset and leadership skills across all these critical domains.

“We start with leadership. We gather data on your strengths and areas of development at the start of the programme. Then we design a personalised journey that will shape you into the entrepreneurial leader our world needs.

“After six months, you transition to the entrepreneurial mindset track. We know entrepreneurship comes in many forms, from launching your own business to driving initiatives within your organisation. So what we focus on is entrepreneurial thinking and ways of working that you can apply in any professional context.”

New format, new opportunities to network

But this is not all. Our new Executive MBA gives you even more opportunities to connect with professionals and expand your network across the globe.

Martin says: “The traditional MBA approach is to arrange events by cohort – which means participants network within classes. Vlerick has always pushed beyond this – and now we are taking this approach even further with regular, MBA-wide events including all cohorts.

“We’re also actively forging partnerships with business schools elsewhere in Europe. This will significantly open up networking opportunities. Participants can opt to follow some electives at other schools, and we’re inviting participants from these schools to join us at Vlerick. These open electives are a great way to create wider and more varied professional networks – and give our participants exposure to diverse industries, sectors and cultures.”

How can you participate in our new Executive MBA?

The Executive MBA is an 18-month transformational journey which gives you three ways to study:

• In-person – Executive MBA
• Blended – European Executive MBA
• 100% online – Online Executive MBA

Whichever option you choose, you’ll take part in 11 core courses on business fundamentals – and you’ll deepen your knowledge of specialist subjects through five electives. If you want to, you can choose to specialise even further in either digital, entrepreneurship or strategy.

And remember, running alongside your core courses and electives, you’ll join your fellow participants on the highly interactive Leadership development and Entrepreneurial mindset tracks.

And you’ll finish your programme with your Knowledge-In-Action project – an action-oriented, practical and measurable project. In it, you take on a strategic challenge in your own organisation or for a company that could be anything from an NGO through to a large multinational corporation.

Take the leap with our new Executive MBA

If you’re ready to become a leader who’s capable of inspiring positive change and growth in an ever-changing world, our new Executive MBA can empower you to get there.

“An MBA is not fairy dust,” says Martin. “You can’t sprinkle it around and instantly become a leader.

“But it’s an accelerator. If you’re destined to become a leader, you’ll get there without an MBA – maybe in 10 or 20 years. But an MBA gives you the tools earlier on in your career. If you’re an entrepreneur, the MBA is a safe space to test and develop your business idea before you take it into the real world. It’s a place to get insight into different careers, broaden your network and be part of the global business community. If this sounds like you – join us, develop the DNA of a leader and take the leap.”

Keen to learn more about our new-look Executive MBA?

Get in touch with our MBA Admissions team. Book a call >