Hi,

I am Malik, 36.5 years of age, having over 13 years of full time job experience in the fields of accounting, audit and finance. Have done B.Comm, ACCA (UK), CPA (US). Currently I am a CFA candidate. Also preparing for GMAT.
My future goal is;
1. To develop career in Financial Sector and Financial Consultancy & Strategic Management;
2. To strengthen my Business insights and nurture leadership skills, innovation.
3. Ultimately to build a rewarding career.

I can take a Career Break and join Full-Time MBA in 2014. I have done lot of web based research about all the major Canadian MBA programs and short-listed following schools;
1. Richard Ivey
2. Rotman MBA
3. Sauder UBC
4. HEC Montreal
5. Alberta Business School
6. Schulich (But not accredited by any of AACSB, EQUIS or AMBA)
But I am afraid that my age will be an issue to join a Full Time program. Also I got similar confirmation from Ivey for their full time program. As far as EMBA is concerned I am more convinced by the IVEY EMBA program structure and found it better over all the other Canadian EMBA programs.
Should I join Full time or EMBA and which business school??
I am open to any location and looking for the best possible option, considering MBA a life-time investment.

Will appreciate your valuable comments for the right program,
Regards,
Malik

If you want to make a major career shift, then you should look carefully at full-time programmes both inside and outside Canada. The best fit for your background are the Sloan Fellows programmes, at the MIT, Stanford and London business schools. After that, the Rotman MBA is the best choice by far.

EMBA studies would be part-time, and for that you should really aim at the very best programme you can. Look at the Queens-Cornell EMBA, the Schulich-Kellogg EMBA, the Rotman one year EMBA and the Ivey EMBA. The other schools are really on a much lower level.

Sir, Personally I love LBS, INSEAD and US Top Tiers as mentioned above, actually I have Canadian PR status so I have to fulfill the residency requirements, also in future I want to settle in Canada/North America region.
With my age of 38 years by next year will I be able to get into Rotman with competitive GMAT? though I don't have career break. My target GMAT is 700+.

I will prefer Full Time MBA and really don't want to go for part time executive MBA, that will be the only last option. IVEY full time is out of question now as I got negative response from them because of my age. Sauder and Alberta they don't have age issues. Sauder (UBC) also claims very successful MBA with distinguished career paths??

I have submitted my Resume for pre-assessment at Rotman. What do you think is there any chance? Otherwise I will have to wait to enter top Executive MBAs either in US or LBS, INSEAD etc.

Appreciate your valuable comments.

regards,

Asjad

Dear Sir, you have opened a new avenue of opportunities for me in the form of Sloan, I was unaware about this side, I am researching on that and looking for my suitability for the suggested programs. Will be great for your response on previous post. Thanks a lot.

Hi Duncan,

how do you look at Rotman Omnium Global Executive MBA and Rotman Executive MBA, which one is better of the two options?
regards,

Asjad

I think the Rotman-only programmes are better for you because they involve more face-time in class. It seems to me that you're interested in building your functional finance skills too, so maybe you should look at the part-time MBAs at Rotman as well as the EMBA. Their morning and evenings part-time MBAs are really excellent, covering the same core curriculum in the first three semesters, but also offering three further semesters of electives to allow you to really master finance at the leading edge.

Thank you very much for your guidance, I am really impressed by Sloan Fellowship programs, I have done reserach on that since you highlighted those. But due to my recent immig requirements I can't do that, Therefore I am thinking on an option that I do Ave. cost Full time MBA now(HEC Montreal,Telfer MBA etc.) and save money. then go for either LBS MSc or any of other two schools (MIT or Stanford) after 3 years.

Need your comments on this plan?? Otherwise Rotman will be the plan of action
regards,
Malik

If your focus is in Canada, then I think the part-time MBA at Rotman gives you a stronger national network and better education than you'd get at HEC or Telfer. Is your focus on the francophone region? Perhaps then HEC is the right choice.

In future I am interested to work in Canada and middle east region.

Furthermore with cost savings at the moment, I can go for Sloan Fellowship Program after 3-4 years.

Hmmm. Are you able to travel? Maybe the LBS EMBA in Dubai? Omnium might also make sense...

I am working in Dubai for last many years. But have to move now. Actually I want to go for Top full time programs only but with my Age of 37 it seems difficult. Anyhow i will try for Rotman full time program 2014. That's why Sloan Fellowship program really attracted me being full time and with experienced fellows.

Also look at the Nanyang Fellows programme.

Hi,
Can you rank Canadian schools in terms of building Personal Development and Leadership skills expertise? Also appreciate comments for any alternative programs regarding the same.

For that you'll need something with lots of time in groups. A business school may be less effective for that than a community organisation or voluntary group like the Scouts or the YMCA, which are often looking for adult volunteers.

The top-full time MBAs will all be great for this, especially the longer programme which have more team work. In terns of exec ed, here are some suggestions:
http://business.queensu.ca/executiveeducation/programs/leadership.php
http://www.edwards.usask.ca/programs/bas/Open%20Enrollment%20Programs/Effective-Executive.html
http://www.commerce.usask.ca/programs/bas/Open_Enrollment_Programs/Team_Leadership_Skills_for_Project_Managers.html
http://www.uregina.ca/cce/career-development/institutes-partnerships/sihl/program-content.html (designed for healthcare people but look at the content!)

Sir I got some positive feedback about following Full time programs, based on initial assessment of my Resume, for 2014 intake;

1. Queens FT MBA program(Business Week # 1)
2. Sauder UBC (FT 57)
3. HEC Montreal
4. Alberta Business School

Other options will be Executive MBA either Rotman or QC. Appreciate your comments based on my profile.

Hi Duncan and Others,

After my initial communication with the schools, I have 05 options for full time programs;

1. Queens MBA
2. Sauder UBC
3. University of Alberta
4. Haskayne Business School
5. IVEY executive MBA

Rotman Executive MBA requires 1 year management exp in Canada so opted out, while IVEY executive MBA is also available
I am planning to work in Alberta, which program should I go for??

Executive MBAs are not full time MBAs.

Generally, I think you can trust the rankings of Canadian schools. If you're looking at full-time programmes, then Queen's and Sauder are probably the better.

Agreed, Executives MBAs are not full time, sorry for writing in that, I just wanted to say I got positive initial feedback from IVEY about their Executive MBA eligibility.

Hi Malik,

Did you make up your mind on these MBA programs? I'm considering many of the same ones as you, but I'm torn between doing a 1-year and a 2-year program!