Executive MBA Program Blog

One of the most frequent questions we receive from Executive MBA (EMBA) prospects has to do with the required capstone project, a five-to-six-month client consulting project that teams complete in the final two semesters of the program.  The interest in the capstone lies mostly in its novelty.  While most EMBA students have strong functional expertise in one or two areas, few have had the opportunity to own and manage a major and messy project with multiple deliverables. 

The Choice:  Teams get to choose from among a wide variety of projects, recent examples of which include identifying the three best cities for a company expansion, analyzing the viability of a proposed market diversification initiative, an opportunity assessment for a specific technology, and a market entry recommendation for a foreign firm planning expansion into the U.S.  

When I initially heard the details for my three day EMBA orientation experience, I was more than a little skeptical. It was hard to imagine what could possibly fill three full (and I mean full) days that couldn’t be done in much less time. Not to mention, it’s difficult to think about disconnecting from your routine, taking time off of work, and being away from your family mid-week. By the end of the first day I knew I couldn’t have been more wrong.

There was truly not a moment of the orientation experience that wasn’t completely necessary and beneficial in countless ways. On a practical level, getting all of our accounts set up and ready to go helped us to be prepared for the weeks to come with the materials we will need and the ability to use the technology we are being given. We were able to experience our first class, led by a phenomenal instructor who managed to hold our attention for hours at a time and challenged us to think and discuss in ways I suspect most of us hadn’t had the opportunity to do in a long time. I think we could all have happily spent another three days just finishing some of the engaging conversations we started during this session.

Gaining admissions to the Online Executive MBA Program at RIT, and attending the 3 day orientation experience was one of the most rewarding things I’ve done. I knew that I was going into a jam-packed, back to back experience for 2.5 days. What transpired in those two full 14 hour days and one short 8 hour day was completely unexpected.

Though it was a high intensity experience, all of the information was precisely delivered and more than palatable, despite the robust content. There was a combination of what to expect in the program and how to properly prepare for what’s coming. In addition, we had team building activities, courses, and homework. We went over an explanation of available resources, technology setup, and enjoyed group dinners in the evenings. All of the activities were engaging and presented in an entertaining way.

Not Your Average International Trip

The Executive MBA international experience is more than an international trip. You are immersed in  the culture of a new city, where traditions and general business practices may seem unusual or even exotic. That is one of the exact reasons we select the locations we do — to create a transformative experience for our EMBA students. In addition to company visits, tours, and presentations from senior management, your team will serve as a consultant to an international organization, applying your knowledge and expertise to a specific client project. This trip is like none you have experienced before. 

Not Your Average International Trip

The Executive MBA international experience is more than an overseas trip. You are immersed in  the business world and culture of a new city, where traditions and general business practices may seem unusual or even exotic. However, that is one of the exact reasons we select the locations we do — to create a transformative experience for our EMBA students. In addition to company visits, tours, and presentations by senior management, you will also serve as a consultant and subject matter expert, applying your knowledge and expertise to specific client projects. This trip is like none you have experienced before.