The interior of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C.
In a moment defined by economic uncertainty and a tight job market, professionals are turning toward pursuing executive MBA programs. Fresh data from the Executive MBA Council (EMBAC) shows that there’s been a recent jump in EMBA applications.
Given today’s economic climate and evolving job market, leaders are seeing the moment as an opportunity to sharpen their skills, reposition themselves, or prepare themselves for the next major shift in their industries, says David Smith, EMBA academic program director at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.
WHY MORE PROFESSIONALS ARE CHOOSING AN EMBA
Carey is seeing a surge of professionals eager for a new chapter, Smith says, including those recently laid off from federal or government‑contract roles. In the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore region, there’s no shortage of professionals who come from these organizations.
“Those in the workforce are likely thinking ‘This is a good time for me to focus on myself and pursue this degree to make a change in my career,’” says Smith. “Some of these professionals have the time now. This is their opportunity.”
The EMBA leadership team at Carey has also seen a shift in why students are enrolling. Overall, their goals have changed. Traditionally, students come to the EMBA program seeking to develop the necessary skills to help them climb the corporate ladder, Smith says.
Carey Executive MBA students will thrive, with access to a global network of alumni and professionals, beginning in the heart of Washington, D.C.
“Now, we are seeing more people changing roles entirely rather than upskilling,” he says.
While some do stay with their current company and upskill, more frequently Smith is seeing executive students leaving corporate roles in pursuit of entrepreneurship.
PREPARING EMBAs FOR AN AI-DRIVEN FUTURE
Interwoven into this wave of career reinvention is another pressure point for today’s EMBAs – the wave of AI changing professions – and whole industries. Leaders across industries are grappling with the realities of how this is affecting the workplace.
“People have different comfort levels with AI,” Smith says. “Some leaders aren’t comfortable using it. There’s a lot of uncertainty and unknowns, but most recognize that employees to become comfortable using it.”
Industry leaders must understand this technology if they want to keep pace with the rest of their fields, he says. The risk of falling behind or out of touch could cost them their jobs.
“The rapid change produces some anxiety around the integration of AI,” Smith says. “These executives are trying to determine how much time and resources they should invest to stay competitive.”
Carey’s program was built with all of the above in mind. It offers courses focused on learning the ins and outs of AI tools, and ones that integrate AI in industry‑specific ways.
“At their level, they aren’t going to be coding – but they need to be familiar with the technology and processes behind these tools to be able to have informed conversations,” says Smith. “It’s important that we design the curriculum specifically for their needs, keeping in mind their future.”
A PROGRAM BUILT TO EVOLVE WITH ITS LEADERS
With the motivations behind pursuing an EMBA established, Sheila Mahony, director of executive MBA programs at Carey, explains how the program is designed to support these EMBAs’ goals.
“Our team is confident in the curriculum, but the design isn’t necessarily rigid,” Mahony says. “As we receive feedback and the needs of our students change, we’re ready to make necessary shifts.”
Inside the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C.
When it comes to those navigating career changes, Carey is ready to support their EMBAs from the get-go.
“One of the things I think is appealing about our program is the focus on coaching,” Mahony says, adding that their prospective EMBAs have been buzzing about the idea of having such a high level of personalized support.
Another superpower of the university as a whole is its expansive alumni network. There are more than 260,000 JHU alumni worldwide, many of whom are still very active at the university. Bringing those leaders back to speak with executives in the EMBA program is a priority; leadership says the alumni are more than happy to be involved.
IMMEDIATE RETURN ON INVESTMENT
Those in the Carey EMBA will be able to feel their investment paying off immediately, Mahony says.
Students can connect with Carey grads in every field imaginable. “The ability to connect our students to this network has its own value proposition itself,” she says.
That value shows up not only through the network, but also through the structure of the program itself. “We’ve designed the curriculum to be immediately applicable with real-time impact,” Mahony explains.
With monthly residencies running Thursday through Saturday, the goal is for every one of the EMBAs to be able to show up fresh to work on Monday with new insights and ideas. This degree really brings value for both the executive students and the companies they are working for.
Looking ahead, Mahony hopes that their incoming class will have ample amounts of curiosity and keep an open mind to the possibilities the degree can bring.
“Your EMBA is an opportunity to drill down on what you want – but it’s also an opportunity to also look around and see what other career options are out there,” encourages Mahony.
Challenges, she says, are not obstacles but catalysts for growth. “If they can approach challenges with that kind of a mindset, I think that our students will have a really positive experience. That kind of a mindset will take them far.”
For those interested, the program is actively accepting applications, with the final deadline approaching on May 15.
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