Executive MBA
Proven to be the best Executive MBA Program in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore region, the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business wants to prepare you to lead fearlessly. With classes beginning in January, the Smith EMBA emphasizes personalized executive coaching to hone the leadership skills you need. Your career coach will partner with you to develop a compelling narrative and strategic networking plan to rise through the ranks, shift career direction, or make a difference in the world—it all starts with a Smith EMBA.
Executive MBA Career Coaching and Curriculum
Our career curriculum has been strategically designed to help you build your Executive MBA career portfolio and to offer opportunities for you to practice storytelling, networking and interviewing techniques. Smith's Office of Career Services (OCS) will lead you through the process of a network-based Executive MBA career advancement campaign. Through hands-on learning and interactive experiences with your cohort-mates, you will consider your interests and motivators, your value and how to narrate your next-level career story. To further support your growth as an executive, coursework devoted to executive communication is also integrated into the academic schedule.
Core
The core career development curriculum is comprised of six experiential mastery sessions, offered throughout the 17-month program to assist you in network-based Executive MBA career advancement campaign.
| Phase | Month | Core Activity |
| 1 | Residence Week |
Office of Career Services Overview |
| 2 | Apr | Learn more about your interests, skills and motivators through the Career Leader Assesment |
| 3 | June | Your value proposition/narrating your next-level career story |
| 4 | Sept | Networking at the next level |
| 5 | Dec | Developing leadership and executive communication skills through improvisation |
| 6 | Apr | Interview prep for interviewees and interviewers |
| 7 | June | Creating an impactful LinkedIn profile |
Additional Opportunities to Engage
As you refine your career strategy and find your Executive MBA stance, EMBA Alumni Panels and OCS Super Days provide opportunities for you to gain additional career and industry-specific knowledge and connect with the Smith network.
| Month | Additional Opportunity |
| March | Working with Executive Search Firms |
| May | EMBA Alumni Panel & Reception |
| Fall | Marketing Careers |
| Fall | Finance Careers |
| December | EMBA Alumni Holiday Networking Happy Hour |
| Winter | Analytics Careers |
| Winter | Consulting Careers |
| TBD | Workshops devoted to topics such as career transition, serving on a non-profit board are also offered throughout the program. |
The Coaching Partnership
Your career coach is dedicated to meeting you where you are in your career journey and facilitating your way forward through our co-active approach to Executive MBA career development. The term 'co-active' refers to the fundamental nature of a coaching relationship in which the coach and coachee are active collaborators. We are prepared to lead you through the steps of developing a network-based Executive MBA job search, beginning with understanding your value and learning how to narrate your next-level career story. The coaching relationship is confidential and tailored to your specific needs in order to aid you in reaching your highest potential.
Coaching Hours and Scheduling Appointments
Our EMBA Career Coach, Rachel Loock, strives to provide maximum flexibility to accommodate our working professional students' busy schedules and career development needs. Coaching appointments (either in person or via phone) may be scheduled during lunch on Executive MBA Fridays and throughout the week. Please contact Rachel Loock at rloock@rhsmith.umd.edu to schedule an appointment at your convenience.
Career Conversation Topics
| Career coaching is not just for those seeking new jobs. Your coaches are here to assist you with all your career development needs, whatever they may be. Career coaching is coordinated closely with the executive coaching provided throughout the program. Topics can include: |
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Career coaching conversations often reveal the fuller dimensions of the individual, allowing him or her to be more present in conversations. Conversations about shared interests and professional value can create a space for relationships that are more multi-dimensional and often springboard to further introductions. Strategic networking that invests in mutual interests, shares and creates value has professional benefits beyond the more transactional conversations focused on job connections.