Graduating EMBA 2010 Class Votes with Their Dollars

Every graduating class is special, but I owe special gratitude to EMBA 2010 for being the FIRST CLASS AT VANDERBILT WITH 100% PARTICIPATION IN THEIR CLASS GIFT. The EMBA 2007 Class made it to 98% giving--a previous Vanderbilt record. Leave it to EMBA 2010--always ready for any competition--to beat that record. Even more telling: 36 of 46 graduating with the MBA from our Executive Program contributed significantly at the Owen Circle level of giving. What motivated them to this generosity?


In short, they are big believers in the quality of our strategy curriculum. The class gift will fund an endowment for our Strategy area. The students felt this was such an important part of the curriculum--in many cases the emphasis on quantitative courses leading to intense strategy assignments and the strategy client project were the reasons they chose Vanderbilt. The strategy program is a year-long sequence of courses (15% of the total program coursework) beginning with Business Strategy, followed by a Strategy Project for a real client company. As one member of the class put it when asked the single greatest strength of the program: "The focus on strategy--how everything aligns to strategy--is the differentiator." We didn't disappoint: Business Strategy Professor Brian McCann won the teaching award at graduation, and 88% of the class was extremely satisfied with the program's impact on their ability to think strategically.

What are other favorite things indicated in anonymous satisfaction surveys as EMBA 2010 completed the program?

90% of the class was extremely satisfied with their Negotiation course

85% -- extremely satisfied with accessibility of the faculty

78% -- extremely satisfied with their Transforming the Organization course

78% -- extremely satisfied with the degree to which the program enhanced their understanding of the global marketplace

76% -- extremely satisfied with the logical sequencing of EMBA courses

75% -- extremely satisfied with Vanderbilt's standards of performance

73% -- extremely satisfied with the applicability of the courses to real business situations they are facing
71% -- extremely satisfied with the Strategic Alignment of Human Capital course

71% -- extremely satisfied with the amount of team work

71% extremely satisfied with their study group (C team).

This generosity of giving and of satisfaction with the Vanderbilt EMBA experience is underscored by the fact that they paid their own way (only 20% of those surveyed had 100% company sponsorship).

In a way, they voted with their dollars twice--with the decision to enroll and with the decision to become alumni donors. They continue to be the best ambassadors for the EMBA experience by recommending their friends to the program. I am left asking, "What else can I do to help you now?" I thank you, EMBA 2010, for your thoughtful responses to our survey, and for your leadership and friendship moving forward. Here's to you with a few of my favorite photos from graduation...we miss you already, so visit often!