The insider perspective of business school alumni is a great resource for executives considering EMBA studies. But how to maximise the benefits of networking?

The insider perspective of business school alumni is a great resource for executives considering EMBA studies. But how should you speed up your research and maximise the benefits of networking?

Professionals with over five years of managerial experience have a lot to factor in when it comes to evaluating the benefits of joining an EMBA programme and selecting the right one. The EMBA experience goes beyond gaining an MBA degree and a professional network to boost career prospects and competitive advantage. In addition, senior managers focus on personal development, leadership growth, and building a stimulating network of peers that will enable them to become the visionary business leaders they aspire to be.

How to approach top business school alumni

With technology at your fingertips, you can start by exploring social networks. Before any event, connecting with alumni via LinkedIn or a school’s alumni portal is often the most direct first step – many are receptive to a brief message from a prospective applicant.

Still, there is nothing quite as useful as a face-to-face discussion. One of the most natural ways to contact alumni is to join business school networking events. They can take various forms such as an open day on campus, a school presentation in major cities around the world, or business education events featuring alumni. Take every such opportunity, as they are always valuable learning experiences even if initially you might only be considering one particular school. Note that many such events now take place virtually or in hybrid format, which has expanded access considerably – a school you hadn’t considered attending in person may be just a video call away.

How to make the most of networking

What questions should you ask Executive MBA alumni and when should you resort to the admissions directors instead? How should you navigate through personal stories of past experiences and the latest developments in the business school world? What is the best way to sift out the valuable information from all the advice, opinions, and suggestions?

These tips will enable you to make the most of your time during networking events with Executive MBA alumni.

#1. Understand individual perspectives

Alumni speak from their own personal experience and whatever they share should be taken with an understanding of their perspective and context. Actually, understanding the rationale behind what each of the alumni liked or disliked in their EMBA is the really insightful part of the conversation. This will help you realise what matters most to you and introduce you to EMBA features you had not previously considered.    

In addition to individual meetings, alumni panel discussions enable you to compare alumni perspectives on the same question, and also to benefit from the questions of other executives considering EMBA studies.

#2. Benchmark and get to know your peers and competitors

Networking events are not just about meeting alumni, but meeting managers just like yourself as well. This environment will give you a feel for what the EMBA classroom might look like, who your peers might be, and who your competitors for admission are.

Of course, you can also take the opportunity for executive networking beyond the EMBA focus of the events. What all of the participants will share is a willingness to learn, grow, and challenge themselves, and this alone makes the community a very worthwhile one to tap into.

#3. Look into what drives successful executives to go back to school

At EMBA events you will hear a variety of reasons from business school representatives, alumni, and participants for considering EMBA studies. Alumni will speak from personal experience about their career progression and personal transformation. Your fellow prospective EMBA applicants will give you a feel for what the latest business challenges call for in terms of skills, mindset, and knowledge to acquire in business school. In today’s environment, AI disruption is one of the most frequent motivators – executives increasingly turn to EMBA programmes to understand, lead through, and harness the opportunities of technological transformation.

#4. Explore how EMBA studies affect your personal discovery and leadership growth

At the stage of transition to senior management positions in the corporate world or a shift to entrepreneurial business ventures, executives are much engaged with their growth. They already have a lot to build on and are looking for ways to refresh, recharge, upskill, unleash blocked potential, and find the way to do what they truly always wanted to do.

What triggered and nurtured personal transformation in business school is a very impactful story to learn directly from those who have already lived it.

#5. Get a feel for what it takes to make the most of the EMBA experience

You have had so much success and achievement so far, so many lessons learned and challenges overcome. You feel you are ready for whatever comes your way – and in many respects, you are. Even so, the demands of an EMBA programme are frequently underestimated by even the most experienced executives.

Actually, there is a lot to take care of in advance, before day one in business school, so that you can succeed during your studies. So, get all the advice available from EMBA alumni, and do not forget to ask what they would change if they were about to start the programme.

#6. Enquire how your life and career will change after EMBA graduation

The EMBA is a truly transformational experience. Discover all its aspects though the stories of the people you meet. Delve into what it is that you should take the initiative for and how the business school can guide you; how to work for your post-graduation career while still at school, and how to keep in touch with your EMBA community after graduation.

Finally, how does life change after EMBA graduation? Should you take a break before you plunge into the next big endeavour? And how will you restore your work-life balance once the studying is behind you?

#7. Learn more about the culture in the business school

Just as organisations have internal culture, every business school and even programme has its own specific environment. What is it? Will you fit or will you be challenged? What is it that you prefer and what will work out best for your personal development and career goals?

Those who have lived in the business school environment for a year or two can best describe what it feels like day to day – whether the culture is collaborative or competitive, whether communication between students and faculty is formal or informal, and how that shapes the overall learning experience.

#8. Find out how peers and faculty interact

Part of the business school culture is the communication style and the interaction between peers in class and professors. This will be your direct learning – but also support – environment. Think of your preferences and the most effective way in which you learn and perform and then discuss with alumni whether you can find what you need in their business school.

Consider the full picture – how sessions are delivered (in-person, online, or blended), how individual vs. group performance is assessed, and how the community connects outside the classroom.

#9. Discover how work-life-study balance is mission possible

Although EMBA programmes are delivered in a format and schedule that enables executives to work and study, one of the biggest challenges of EMBA participants is to keep up with all their responsibilities.  Although you will certainly be committed to your studies, you should not deprive yourself of your healthy habits and important relationships.

Find out from alumni how you can prepare for this in advance by negotiating with your employer and family. Take advantage of all the tips and advice they share. Get the details on the programme schedule, academic calendar, travel intensity, out-of-class time needed for preparation, etc. It is also worth asking specifically about international residency requirements, as some programmes now offer reduced-travel or fully regional cohort formats – an important variable for executives with limited availability for extended travel.

#10. Discuss the pros and cons of employer sponsorship

Employer sponsorship can be a great option for funding your EMBA studies but it comes with strings attached. Learn more about how alumni decided to fund their studies and how effective their strategy was in the long term. It is very much worthwhile discussing with them how they measure the Return on Investment (ROI), as usually they go beyond figures and opportunity cost. It is equally useful to ask about the specific terms of their sponsorship agreements – many employers tie funding to retention clauses or “returnship” commitments. Understanding those conditions in advance can shape your decision significantly.

#11. Alumni cannot tell you everything

After gaining insight into the EMBA experience from insiders, you should also find out the latest programme features. At this stage, admissions directors are the best source of advice. They can help you understand how each EMBA programme fits your career and personal development goals. So be ready with your wish list and dream career plan, and initiate the discussion.

Finally, admissions directors are there to make sure that, once admitted, you can succeed. They are not gatekeepers, but rather your partners to help you build an application that reveals all your potential. Take advantage of their advice on your application profile and how to improve your chances of admission. Where possible, share your CV or LinkedIn profile ahead of your meeting so they can tailor their advice to your background.

Last, but not least, admissions directors can inform you about the business school funding options. This will help you diversify your funding sources and optimise your ROI, especially if you can have access to scholarships – free money that you will not need to work for, nor pay back with interest.

You now have eleven solid reasons to take every opportunity to network with executive MBA alumni.

Originally published: 12 December 2018

Updated: 20 April 2026