EMBA: Kellog-WHU vs Kellog (standalone) / INSEAD

Question

Hi guys,

I am from Georgia (country), living and working in a consulting firm in Germany and planning to do an EMBA in the next year. I am kind of puzzled and my question(s) might seem odd, but I have heard different opinions whether:

a) Kellog-WHU EMBA has the same (perceived) value and will potentially render similar benefits as the EMBA programme run independently by Kellog business school (to put in another terms, will WHU increase or decrease value / potential benefits of the programme, considering that I will most likely continue my career in Germany)?
b) Would you prefer INSEAD EMBA to the one offered by Kellog-WHU?

I understand that there are a bunch of factors that have to be considered, but I merely need to know your general personal preferences / "feelings" with respect to the above mentioned programmes.

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Kvirik

MBAPrepCoach · Answer

Hello  Kvirik , who are the sources of your opinions?

I feel this all relates to location and if you plan to continue in Germany, WHU makes sense. There will be fellow alums there you can connect with. Are you aware that EMBA is part-time? So, you need to be fully employed and I imagine it might be easier to work out Kellogg-WHU than Kellogg EMBA in the US (at least, for Chicago, however Kellogg Miami EMBA meets once per month.)

I think INSEAD EMBA sounds like an equally viable idea however really, I would survey fellow executives where you live in Germany. It's very well ranked.

If you feel that you might move on from Germany, in Asia, Africa, MENA or Europe especially, or NYC, then INSEAD EMBA might make more sense.

Kvirik · Answer

Dear Farrell,

Many thanks for your feedback - very much appreciated.

To your questions:

- The sources of my opinion are my current and former colleagues (peers as wells as Partners), friends and alumni of WHU, Frankfurt School, etc.
- I am very well aware of the entire structure of the programme as well as of the rankings (FT, Economist, Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, etc.)

I did not want to overload my question with the details, since I more needed people's opinion how these schools / brands are perceived by recruiters, company executives, etc. I do understand that Kellog-WHU is the most viable option, but considering that I have already been graduated from WHU and in terms of connections it will not bring that much, I need to know (disregarding all practical/geographical factors and assuming that I will be able to study in Chicago, France, Oxford or wheresoever):

- Whether Kellog alone / INSEAD / Oxford Saïd will look "stronger" in my resume than Kellog-WHU?
- Why is it better to get an EMBA from INSEAD rather than from Kellog-WHU, if I decide to continue my career in the US? Will not M7 will make more difference rather than INSEAD (although I totally understand that it is very highly ranked and considered as one of the best business schools in the world)?

Thanks a lot once again.

GyanOne · Answer

Hi  Kvirik

Our thoughts on your query:

a) Broadly, yes, it would. Given your work and future career in Germany, the Kellogg-WHU program would in fact be a recommended option. 
b) Yes, would still do that, but would encourage you to reach out to people from your sector and if possible, your company (current or former employees) who have seen the impact of the INSEAD EMBA first-hand on their careers. INSEAD certainly is the top school in the region, so would recommend it as a better brand and enabler than Kellogg-WHU (assuming you have an option to go to either).

Kvirik · Answer

Hi  GyanOne ,

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Would you have the same position when it comes to the comparison between Kellog-WHU and Oxford Saïd?

Thanks again.

All the best,
Kvirik

GyanOne · Answer

Not quite. Oxford is unlikely to have the same reach in Germany, especially post-Brexit. Kellogg-WHU may be a better bet there.

Of course, apart from the advice here, you should reach out to alumni of all programs as well and see as well.

Feel free to come back with more queries here.

Kvirik · Answer

@GaynOne, lots of thanks for your advice, very much appreciated.

tiffanysotosaenz · Answer

What did you decide at the end?

MBAPrepCoach · Answer

If you plan to stay in Germany his program and IESE germany campus are both great; if you plan to move around INSEAD
GEMBA is probably better. that said I have a former client in this WHU program and quite happy with it, and he is in Paris. But I think he is going more for the learnings than the network.

EMBA: Kellog-WHU vs Kellog (standalone) / INSEAD

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