Securing Your Employer’s Approval: An EMBA Admissions Officer Shares Insights and Considerations

When I first connect with a prospective student, I have the pleasure of sharing the many exciting aspects of our MBA for Executives program and helping them delve further into our application and admissions processes. While most of our application requirements are straightforward, one step can sometimes feel daunting: negotiating time away from the office and ensuring the full support of your employer and work team.

Ensuring your employer is fully aware of the commitment you’ll be making to the EMBA program is crucial to your success once admitted and enrolled. From start to finish, our program requires you to be on campus for 61 working days over the span of 22 months, with four in-residence weeks and class weekends on Friday and Saturday every other week. Once you’ve decided to apply, you should begin conversations about this commitment as early as possible to safeguard you from any hiccups or surprises.

The Employer Approval form within the application is relatively simple to complete. Within your application, you provide the name and contact information of the person signing off on your attendance. If you are invited to interview, our system generates an email to that person. However, making this request of your employer may require a more nuanced discussion and some additional preparation and effort on your part. Here are some insights and advice on this important part of the application process to consider prior to approaching your supervisor:

1. Solidify your “why.” Consider sharing how the application process has affirmed your short- and long-term goals and has helped you gain clarity of purpose in the work that you do. Reflecting during the application process is immensely useful, and taking time to outline your personal and professional goals can be empowering as you prepare to share your plans with those on your work team (and all who support you in other aspects of your life). Pro tip: Once you’re in the thick of student life, returning to your reasons for applying in the first place can be a good grounding exercise, fortifying you as you work through the rigors of the program.

2. Timing is everything. While I encounter many prospective students who are determined and confident in their decision to pursue an EMBA application in time for our next round deadline, a fair number of potential applicants express uncertainty around the question of “when?” Only you can determine what timing is best for you, but here are some factors to consider: First, consider our admissions timeline as it relates to your personal and professional one. Each year, we offer three application rounds for classes that start in July of the coming year. Next, map out how much time you’ll need to prepare for a preliminary conversation with your employer. Factor in the possibility that you may need to connect with your employer more than once, perhaps to discuss upcoming work projects and to begin identifying a short list of who on your work team might take the lead when you’re out of the office.

   While being prepared for this conversation is important, delaying it can make for an awkward situation if you receive an invitation to interview and did not notify your employer before the employer approval email arrives. An informed and prepared supervisor will be in the best position to receive and submit this form.

3. Set the stage. Workplace dynamics can differ greatly amongst applicants to the EMBA program. Some work in tight-knit teams, while others work for larger organizations or perhaps in a hybrid or fully remote setting. Whatever your circumstances may be, scheduling time to discuss your plans with your employer is essential. Undoubtedly, you’re both very busy! Finding a dedicated time to offer context around your decision to pursue an EMBA and offering a clear request for support is ideal in helping them to see the benefits this program can offer their organization. Be prepared to discuss the time commitment with clarity and honesty, and to address their questions relating to the logistics of how you will divide your time.
4. Connect with like-minded colleagues. Pursuing an EMBA in an executive format has become increasingly popular, and there are likely peers within your organization or network who have completed a similar program. Schedule time with them to discuss your interest in this path. Learn about their experience and ask what value the degree added to their life, both personally and professionally. Ask how they prioritized commitments to family, community, outside interests, entrepreneurial hustles, and their careers alongside the rigors of business school. It may also be helpful to hear their tips on gaining employer approval and how they managed to remain productive, effective, and high performing while in school. All of this will be helpful as you plan.
5. Identify the unique value proposition. An EMBA will offer a myriad of benefits to you on a personal level, but it surely doesn’t end there! Your EMBA can provide a great deal of value to your work team and organization as well. One especially appealing aspect of the program is that you are able to immediately apply classroom lessons in your workplace. Research the learning outcomes from SOM’s unique integrated core curriculum and areas of focus, investigate faculty and their research, and identify resources and opportunities through the Yale network that relate to your employer’s objectives. Ultimately, how will the knowledge, skills, and insights you gain allow you to improve your organization? What courses will you take to enhance your leadership skills? Let your employer know the value and return on investment that an EMBA would offer, for you and your company.
6. Stay open to what’s next. Going through the process of gaining employer approval can provide clarity of purpose and expand your network, leading to new possibilities. Much can be learned from those who came before you—colleagues who have accelerated their careers within the organization, created allies in support of continued education, and transitioned into a rigorous and intense educational opportunity. Some applicants have found unanticipated funding through benefits policies within their organizations. For others, the initial conversation has created an opening for broader negotiations that may lead to partial or complete financial sponsorship. For those who have come up against some resistance, it can be valuable to understand the culture of their organization and receive valuable feedback toward a future application. Stay curious and keep an open mind!

Our admissions team counsels many applicants through this process, and we work diligently to provide up-to-date information and support to all prospective students. If you have questions regarding the employer approval process, please reach out and connect with a member of our team at emba.admissions@yale.edu. If you are considering applying to the program in the near term, we invite you to complete a pre-assessment to help you determine if the EMBA program at SOM aligns with your aspirations and career evolution.

I wish you the very best as you prepare to sit down with your supervisor. You’ve got this!

Best wishes,

Emily Whitehouse  
Associate Director of Admissions, MBA for Executives