A CEO’s job is never easy, but leading organisations through inflationary spikes and economic uncertainty takes the challenge to a different level. Not only must they keep tabs on cashflow and ensure profitability, but they also need to prevent employee churn and act as a beacon of hope for those who stay.
This unique combination of challenges has got many CEOs rethinking their approach to leadership and considering whether they need to invest in executive education. A survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) found that nearly half of all executive MBA programmes reported a significant increase in applications in 2020. This trend continued at a slower pace in 2021, with 33% of executive MBA programmes reporting a bump.
But is an MBA the right choice, especially when there are so many examples of successful CEOs who have forgone graduate education altogether? How do you decide what’s right for you when time is tight and the stakes are high?