I would like to open up a dialog concerning a topic I’ve had on my mind for a few months: How late in a career is it too late to go back to school for an MBA or an Executive MBA?
An EMBA is a personal topic I’ve pondered for a few years. I regretted not doing this when I was younger, but I didn’t have the means or access to more elite schools that I do now. I was also raised in a family that was extremely risk and debt-averse.
I’m now ten years away from the average retirement age in the US, and I have the means and the access to schools thanks to a fulfilling career in the Housewares Industry.
Many of you also know me to be a person who is rarely satisfied while also approaching everything I do with a high level of commitment, motivation, and drive. While most see the last years of a career as a way to walk off into the sunset, these years scare me. They scare me because I’ve never been one to stop pushing forward.
I’ve battled my relentlessness over the years when I have navigated stages in life where I’ve become bogged down, and I don’t feel as though I am making progress or moving forward.
I’m always driven to improve my knowledge base while adding skills. This drive is something I have always shared with my teams, especially when I was Managing Meyer Corporation US. When looking for promotions, I used to tell my team that they shouldn’t sit and wait for an opportunity to come by.
I pushed them that they should always be working to improve their resume and themselves by learning skills like public speaking or negotiation. I pressed them that getting a promotion was not just sitting by, waiting, and hoping for the best, but waiting with the best possible preparation for the next level and waiting as complete and ready as possible to sell themselves on why they would be the best choice. It is a relentless pursuit that never ends, no matter your age.
With that, I come back to the topic of how late is too late to continue an MBA or EMBA and what do you collectively believe the benefits can be at this phase of a career?
I’ve been looking into schools and have narrowed my potential list to two EMBA programs in the top ten in the US because I want more than just the degree; I want it from the right institution that will carry weight. Would this add weight to an Executive CV with thirty years of experience?
Another point that must also be considered is the return on investment. While younger executives can see a significant jump in salary, I would not expect this to significantly affect my salary. Where I see the return for myself is the long game.
There is no way I see myself just walking away into retirement, and Adjunct work at the college level could be an incredibly rewarding sunset on a successful career. Over the last five years, I have had opportunities to lecture at the University of Georgia, the University of Virginia, and a few other smaller schools. Working with students to share knowledge and experience has been extremely gratifying.
Back to the question: How late in a career is it too late to consider an EMBA/MBA?
Please keep all debates respectful of each other but keep them brutally honest in their thoughts and opinions. Thanks in advance to all who take time to consider the question.
S. Darrin Johnston is a C Suite Management Executive in the housewares industry.