3 Key Benefits Of An International MBA—According To MBA Graduates
Gautham Reghu Ganesh chose the Global MBA at ESSEC Business School where he studied in both Paris and Singapore
These MBA graduates chose the Global MBA at ESSEC Business School to experience studying in both Paris and Singapore. Here are three benefits they gave of choosing an International MBA
An MBA can help you take your career to the next level and learn new skills. It can also be a chance to travel around the world, understand different work cultures, and build a global network.
For Eddie Jian Luo and Gautham Reghu Ganesh, an international MBA was the best option to help them get the most out of their studies. That’s why they opted for the ESSEC Global MBA: a bicontinental program taught in Paris and Singapore. Here are three reasons why they would recommend a cross-continent MBA.
1. Diverse expertise
Choosing a bicampus MBA means experiencing multiple learning environments, and developing a wider understanding of global business.
At ESSEC, the Paris campus offers participants an insight into business in Europe, and the chance to specialize in strategy and digital leadership, as well as the luxury brand management major which is exclusive to the campus. In Singapore, participants may also specialize in strategy and digital leadership, while the campus has more of a focus on innovation and technology, and a curriculum covering case studies in Asia.
For Eddie, an ESSEC Global MBA alum who took up a role with Internet company Xiaomi Technology in Paris after graduating in 2020, this helped him develop more diverse expertise.
“Each campus has its own benefits which helped me have a more global and holistic view of business,” he says.
This global understanding of business helps ESSEC graduates move around during their career, and 42% of graduates change countries after completing the course.
Gautham has lived and worked in Singapore, France, and Germany during his career. Before his MBA he worked at automation technology supplier Festo, in a technical, project manager role. He used the ESSEC MBA to pivot within Festo, now working as a key account manager covering their wider business.
He found the diverse approach to learning on the course helpful. While studying in ESSEC’s Paris campus, he tasted the high life while attending evening events, drinking champagne and mingling with professionals from the luxury sector.
In Singapore, he was exposed to regular talks from individuals at huge multinational companies like Google and SAP, as well as entrepreneurs behind local startups.
“It was a good decision to experience both campuses because they both offer completely different experiences, so it was a very interesting switch,” he says.
2. A large and diverse network
The opportunity to expand your network is a major reason for enrolling in an MBA, and studying in multiple campuses across different countries means even better connection opportunities.
The ESSEC Global MBA cohort is made up of 94% international participants, the 11th highest in the world according to the Financial Times 2021 rankings. The school also ranks highly for the number of international faculty on its staff.
“Because of the bicampus experience I was able to meet all course participants, so I met lots of diverse people with diverse backgrounds,” says Eddie.
“The diversity of the cohort was one of the highlights of the MBA.”
Gautham also feels that working with a variety of different people is a useful learning experience.
“You might all be given the same task, but how people approach it differently is interesting and it all comes down to your background and the experiences you’ve had,” he says.
When they graduated, Gautham and Eddie became part of the 62,000 strong ESSEC alumni network, which can be tapped into when it comes to finding clients and new international opportunities.
Studying in two countries also means exposure to different groups of professionals during guest lectures and other networking events. The ESSEC Talent Center schedules regular events, fairs, and company visits on both campuses, including a careers fair, which was attended by companies like Uber and TikTok in 2021.
With access to a wider group of professionals, participants can get a deeper insight into companies which can help them make their career choices.
“I could talk to different people who have experienced various aspects of a company and different industries and see what was the best fit for me,” says Gautham.
3. Experience a variety of cultures
In today’s workplace, different cultures are interacting more and more, enrolling in an international MBA can help you navigate this landscape by giving you an understanding of multiple cultures.
“If you want to learn about being international you have to be international; you have to travel and really experience a place by being there,” says Gautham.
“The possibility of experiencing both campuses on the ground makes a big difference.”
Gaining this cultural exposure also helps ensure that you are making the most of your investment. Enrolling in an MBA program can be costly, the average total cost of a place in a top MBA program in our 2020 Cost of MBA Report was $168,000.
For that money, you want to be sure you are getting the most out of your experience, and studying in more than one campus can mean better value for the price.
“An MBA is a big time and money investment, so you have to do your utmost to get the most out of your experience,” says Eddie, “that’s why I decided to have the bi-campus experience.”
There are more than 50 nationality in the grade, so there are opportunities to interact with people from all around the world. In terms of academics, the BBA course offers diverse courses for the 1st
Student
Verified
6/04/2022
On Campus
Creativity, adaptability and entrepreneurship
The Master in Management program at the ESSEC Business School allows the students to choose their courses accordingly to their preferences and their professional targets. We can also go through international exchange and take part in internships with companies that are also partners with the school. The school is also next to the city of Paris.
Prithwiraj
Verified
17/11/2021
On Campus
Top business school in France
Doing PhD in essec took some time, to be precise about five years. But the experience was very good and cost effective too. There are opportunities for the student for teaching assistantship and that helps both financially and in career. In the final year I could manage to teach marketing to M1 students and this helped shape my career
Student
Verified
30/10/2021
On Campus
Great college
The program is well suited for early professionals with an engineering degree preferably or a degree in economics. I would suggest taking the ceasure irrespective of the experience level as it helps you take your time to adjust to the job market.
Student
Verified
30/10/2021
Blended
Good school in France
I am currently enrolled in M2 in Essec business school. I am specialising in marketing management. The Grande Ecole programme is valued in France and my school ranks very high up. There are a lot of opportunities for internships and CDD.
Student
Verified
9/02/2020
The program curriculum
BBA program. The program is really practical and useful, provide us many international opportunities. Like internship and humanitarian experience, and the flexibility is also really cool, we can choose different campus and tracks as we want.
Véronique
Verified
11/12/2019
International Course
This school is very international and business oriented. Highly recognized by the companies The campus has been renovated and is very functional and modern from now on. Excellent atmosphere. Reputation of essec is a plus
kevin
Verified
11/11/2019
Friends, Career opportunities.
The program I did gave me the opportunity to start in Singapore. I got the chance to know all the students that started there and we bonded and made some friends for life. The career opportunities that ESSEC also gave me were unbelievable.
Student
Verified
25/09/2019
Practical and useful
I think the best thing about Essec is that it's not focusing on academics rather it emphasizes on future job mindset and professional experiences..
The classes are interesting and we have plenty of workshops attributing to different sectors..
The campus is very nice with a good cafe and wonderful library.
The only problem is the location of the campus. It's quite far from Paris.
Kartik
Verified
14/02/2024
On Campus
Amazing experience! Must try
I think its a very amazing school with great and experienced faculty. Also the alumni network is very solid and useful. The school has a great balance of studies and work experience which is really essential for a student.
Ali
Verified
28/05/2024
On Campus
GBBA: Diverse, Enriching, and Career-Boosting
My experience at ESSEC Business School has been outstanding. The Global BBA program offers a rich academic curriculum and diverse learning opportunities. I appreciated the chance to study on different campuses, including an international exchange, which broadened my perspective. The social environment is culturally diverse and vibrant, enhancing both my personal and professional growth. The administration is attentive, constantly offering new academic and student life opportunities. The campus facilities and classrooms are excellent. I highly recommend ESSEC for its excellence, global exposure, and career opportunities.
Maximilien
Verified
5/06/2024
On Campus
ESSEC BS BBA REVIEW
The English track BBA program at ESSEC is simply exceptional. Courses are taught by internationally renowned professors who are experts in their field. The subjects taught cover a wide range of disciplines from marketing to finance, strategy and entrepreneurship. The English track is a major asset because it allows you to develop perfect mastery of professional English, essential in today's globalized business world. Some students love student life at Essec, which is one of the best in France, but it all depends on taste.
Clément
Verified
14/06/2024
On Campus
Great program, incredible school
I love almost everything about this school, from the student life to the academic program and the opportunities it provides.
I'm currently at the Paris campus, in Cergy, and I'm really enjoying it.
The BBA program is very rich and diversified, you can start with geopolitics and then finance, what I mean is that there's a great balance between the subjects in this program.
I was also lucky enough to spend a semester at the Singapore campus, and I loved that experience on the other side of the world.
ESSEC is also known for its dynamic and rich student life, with access to several parties a week and the various associations within the school.
If I could recommend just one school, it would be this one - I'm 100% satisfied.
Rayane
Verified
21/10/2024
On Campus
Great experience
First of all, what I appreciate the most is the academic environment. The courses are extremely stimulating and are taught by high-level professors, often experts in their field. The diversity of subjects offered, ranging from marketing to finance, including entrepreneurship, allows you to acquire a complete and versatile education. The group projects, although sometimes stressful, are also an opportunity to learn to work in a team, which is essential in the professional world. One area that I feel could be improved is the management of student events. Although many activities are organized, I have noticed that some events can lack organization or communication, which can frustrate those who want to get involved. Better coordination between the different student associations and the administration could really improve the overall experience.
