In today's rapidly evolving, technology-driven global economy, choosing an executive MBA is one of the most critical career decisions professionals can make. Across sectors, there is a growing demand for leaders who combine domain expertise, cross-functional business understanding, digital fluency, and the ability to navigate rapid transformation.
According to Krishnendu Dasgupta, Senior Vice President and Head of Marketing at Tata Play, “In the last 10 years, the way organisations look at candidates for leadership roles has changed. Beyond functional knowledge, organisations look at the ability to solve complex problems and succeed in uncertain, unstructured environments.”
As companies adopt AI-led workflows, expand globally, and face economic uncertainty, professionals with deep functional knowledge find themselves competing with peers who possess broader managerial capabilities. For working professionals seeking to upskill and gain multiple perspectives required for senior-level decision-making, a part-time Executive MBA is an ideal choice.
The Skills Gap Challenge
The Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights that the skills gap is a major barrier to business growth amid evolving global macrotrends, with 63% of employers acknowledging it as a key challenge to future-proofing their operations. Years in a function build depth but not breadth. For example, a finance leader promoted to CFO must command operations, people strategy, and board-level communication simultaneously. A supply chain head stepping into a business unit role needs P&L ownership and cross-functional decision-making that their previous role never demanded. This gap between specialist mastery and general management fluency separates capable professionals from effective leaders.
What Participants Look for in an Executive MBA
Yukti Sehgal, a CA and Director at Surya Telecom Private Limited, already in a leadership role, decided to pursue an Executive MBA to bridge the gap between functional expertise and decision-making with a general management perspective. She says, “Joining PGPGM (Executive), the on-campus, weekend programme at SPJIMR has been the best decision for me. Practical insights and high-calibre faculty gave me a new lens to view the business.”
An executive MBA helps mid-career professionals develop cross-functional leadership skills that experience alone cannot provide. Rishabh Sharma, working with Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., believes that doing an Executive MBA enabled him to move from a sourcing role to Department Head (Corporate Strategy).
How to Choose an Executive MBA Programme
Programme Structure and Flexibility
Balancing work, academics, and personal commitments for two years is challenging. An Executive MBA should be comprehensive yet structured to allow you to give your best to both. Weekend sessions are easier to manage than weekday evenings and let executives enjoy the on-campus experience without taking leave from work.
Curriculum Relevance and Pedagogy
The B-school curriculum should keep pace with the rapidly evolving business environment. In addition to incorporating emerging concepts, focus on application is crucial. The most effective management programmes transcend theoretical frameworks and emphasise experiential, application-led learning. Neha Markanda, Chief Business Officer at Sharechat, opines that “For leadership roles, skill development and behavioural aspects are very important, in addition to updated conceptual knowledge. An Executive MBA should encourage First Principles thinking and ability to manage disruptions.”
Prof Preeta George, Associate Dean of Executive Education at SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), stresses the importance of application-oriented learning, highlighting that “The unique programme design of the 2-year, AICTE-approved Post Graduate Programme in General Management (PGPGM-Executive) involves on-campus sessions on alternate weekends followed by application assignments on the intervening weekends, helping participants absorb and parallely apply their learning on the job. Most of our faculty bring extensive industry experience into the classroom, and the same faculty teach at both the Mumbai and Delhi campuses of the Institute.”
Faculty and Reputation of the B-School
Executive MBA programmes derive value from renowned faculty who are attuned to industry realities and can connect academics to real-world business situations. Institutional accreditations, industry recognition, and rankings are also important considerations. In addition to global accreditations, regulatory approvals from AICTE ensure wider acceptability. SPJIMR has been awarded the global triple crown accreditation (AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS). SPJIMR is also ranked among the top 5 B-schools in India as per the MBA Universe ranking 2026, and its PGPGM (Executive) programme is recognised by AICTE.
Alumni of the Programme
Alumni profiles and career trajectories are good indicators of programme quality and impact. A strong alumni network can provide significant career benefits in both the short and long term. Programmes such as PGPGM (Executive) showcase how executive education in India meets the aspirational needs of experienced professionals by combining academic rigour, workplace relevance, and flexibility. Dhawani Khatri, Sourcing Specialist at Ralph Lauren, credits PGPGM (Executive) with strengthening her leadership and problem-solving skills. Shashank Parini feels his move to a Senior Consultant role at Ernst & Young reflects the learnings he gained from PGPGM’s faculty, contemporary curriculum, and highly experienced peers in his cohort.
For professionals wanting to move from functional expertise to enterprise leadership, a suitable executive programme can serve as a catalyst for long-term career growth.
Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan (S P Jain Institute of Management and Research) by Times Internet’s Spotlight team.
