Executive MBA

Push your boundaries and your leadership to the next level

duration16 or 20 months
languageEnglish or Spanish
locationOnline & Madrid or 100% Madrid
intakeTwo intakes: September & April
MODE OF STUDYPart-time
FORMATBlended & In Person

Executive MBA

The Executive MBA is a unique curated learning experience for mid-career executives who aspire to lead in the C-suite and beyond. Designed to build upon your track record success, the program is a transformational journey that leverages your strengths, experiences and ambitions to propel you to the pinnacle of your career. ​

The program is tailored to you. It will push you to deepen your understanding of who you are, how you lead and what you want for your future, equipping you with precisely what you need to become the most impactful version of yourself. It puts in place the learning experiences, game-changing moments and expert coaching to help you reach the top—and stay there. ​

Structured to be both highly integrated and practical, the Executive MBA combines individualized guidance, advanced business theory, leadership development and a parallel series of hands-on Business Sprints, where you will tackle real-world scenarios and apply your learning to produce tangible results. Reflection Lounges after each sprint help embed the knowledge gained, while our Board Readiness module equips you with the tools and understanding to navigate boardroom dynamics and confidently lead in any situation, critical to any C-Level position.​

Want to know more?
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    Executive MBA Program Specialist

    Schedule a personal consultation call with our Program Specialist and solve all your questions!

    Ready for your next step? ​

Program Overview

Tailored to your needs

The Executive MBA is designed to fit with your career, no matter how busy your schedule. That’s why the program is offered in two different formats: Blended and In-Person. No matter which option you choose, you’ll get access to the same world-class teaching and curated learning experience.​

Executive mba

Program Structure
IE student with black sweater

The Executive MBA is a unique program designed for professionals with aspirations to the C-Suite and beyond. The EMBA is offered in two different formats: In Person, which features classes on Fridays and Saturdays at IE Business School’s Madrid campus, or Blended, combining live online lectures, forums and consultative group work. In addition, face-to-face periods, known as Bootcamps, and three additional weeks* offer the perfect opportunity to enhance your professional development and expand your global network. 

With an emphasis on equipping you with the exact skills, tools and behaviors demanded by today’s fast-changing business world, and mastering their application in specific, highly relevant contexts, the Executive MBA is a transformational learning experience designed to help you realize your personal and professional ambitions. 

*The face-to-face residential periods are a key element of the Executive MBA experience and are highly recommended.

A man in a blue shirt is leaning over a table during a discussion with colleagues in an office setting.

BUSINESS SPRINTS

Business Sprints are a key component of your learning in the Executive MBA. Running throughout the program, these practical modules will see you take on real-world challenges for leading brands, giving you the chance to gain invaluable hands-on experience. Working on a current problem faced by the company, you’ll provide real-time solutions that will be applied directly to the issues at hand.

You’ll work with diverse teams and hone your leadership, decision-making and problem-solving skills to develop solutions to complex problems in a variety of operational areas. Guided by our expert faculty and leading business mentors, these learning experiences will see you apply the skills and behaviors you gain during your studies, cementing your progress to the next best you.

Highly practical, outcome focused, and reflecting the most pressing challenges faced by businesses today, Business Sprints epitomize our commitment to ensuring our graduates become the most impactful version of themselves – and represent an unparalleled opportunity available only at IE Business School.  

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PERSONALIZED GUIDANCE ​

One-on-one coaching from top business leaders​

Extraordinary Leader: partnership with ZengerFolkman and  IECA.​​

​Throughout the program, you’ll work with a personal executive coach. First, you’ll together convert your objectives into a Personal Development Plan. Your executive coach will then oversee your journey through regular one-to-one sessions, ensuring that the plan is working for you and strategizing the best steps you can take to further heighten your impact. A career coach with expertise in your field will also guide you through the program, offering personalized, industry-specific advice.

Is the Executive MBA right for you?

    • LEADERS WHO WANT TO DRIVE CHANGE.

      The Executive MBA is designed to produce the next generation of business leaders – executives driven by purpose, with the tools and impact skills to drive change in the business world for a better future.​

    • LEADERS WHO WANT TO EVOLVE TO STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE.

      In a fast-changing digital era, continuous self-transformation is the only way to futureproof your career – and that’s the ethos that underpins our mission: to facilitate your journey to becoming the next best you.

    • LEADERS LOOKING TO REALIZE THEIR C-SUITE AMBITIONS.

      Making your mark in the boardroom takes vision, insight and a complex balance of skills. The Executive MBA combines cutting-edge teaching with practical experience, giving you vital exposure to the inner workings of a company board.

    • LEADERS LOOKING TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP.

      For high-potential managers or directors with a track record of success in their chosen industry, the Executive MBA is the ideal way to reach the highest levels of leadership. Our world-class faculty with real-world expertise will help you build on your success to realize your ambitions.​

    • LEADERS WHO WANT TO EXPAND THEIR GLOBAL NETWORK.

      At IE Business School, you’ll come together with leaders and senior executives from a variety of industries. Offering abundant networking opportunities and lifetime access to a 70,000-strong alumni community, the Executive MBA is the ideal environment in which to broaden your professional footprint.​

    • LEADERS SEEKING PERSONALIZED CAREER TRANSFORMATION.

      Our unique approach provides a program tailored specifically to your needs, ambitions and career goals. With a personal executive coach, individual development plan and a faculty ready to guide you on your curated learning experience, this is a program centered wholly on you.​

  • The Executive MBA at IE Business School is designed to be a watershed experience in both personal and professional terms, and executives from across the world join us with a variety of goals in mind.  ​

    • ENHANCE YOUR SKILLS, ADVANCE YOUR CAREER

      According to Fortune Magazine, applications to executive MBA programs have grown by 68% over the last decade. Why? The desire to enhance management skills and the opportunity to network are the top two motivators cited by alumni worldwide, according to the Financial Times. Also among the top reasons cited were the desire to increase earnings and improve the chances of a promotion. Research from the Executive MBA Council (EMBAC) found average compensation increased 14.7% while enrolled in an executive MBA program – with The Economist reporting salary increases of up to 51% in the three years after graduating. At the same time, 36% of respondents reported receiving a promotion during their period of study.

    • EXPAND YOUR GLOBAL EXECUTIVE NETWORK

      According to EMBAC, the average executive MBA student is 39 years old with 15 years’ work experience (and nine of those in management), making clear the opportunities that exist for networking with top-level professionals from within your industry and beyond. As the Financial Times puts it: “Building a high-level network is an important part of the EMBA experience.”

    • EMBRACE NEW OPPORTUNITIES

      In pursuing an executive MBA, you’ll find challenges and successes in equal measure, but whatever your motivation for enrolling, the journey will be rewarding in more ways than one. In the words of one Forbes contributor, summarizing their own experiences of an EMBA program: “The MBA should teach you more than just technical business skills, it should open you up to new opportunities and uncover talents and interests you did not know you had… The executive MBA is a great experience, which will give you skills, introduce you to new friends and open new career doors.” 

Leadership in the Executive MBA

Executive Spotlight Series

We'll support you as a lifelong learner with exclusive master classes and VIP speaker events tailored for Executive MBA students and alumni. Each session is followed by a networking cocktail with the speaker and your colleagues, creating valuable connections. Stay updated on the latest in business, technology, and more—all included with your program at no additional fee.

GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE BEST​

As a part of the IE University community unlock a world of exclusivity and immerse yourself in elite gatherings with top-notch visionaries from diverse fields. Experience unparalleled opportunities that define success. Join us in shaping the future of education and leadership. Be part of more than a community—be part of a global movement at IE University!

  • Play

    Francis Ford Coppola - Film director and screenplayer

    Francis Ford Coppola, the American director, producer and screenwriter, who is regarded as a cinema legend, was the guest of honor today at IE University. Ford Coppola shared his vision of the future and discussed with Diego del Alcázar Benjumea, CEO of IE University, the enduring importance of the arts and humanities in a world where technology is redefining our way of living at 'The Next 50' ceremony.

  • OpenAI CEO Sam Altman at IE University
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    A Conversation with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and creator of ChatGPT, at IE University

    Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and creator of ChatGPT, has shared his vision on the challenges and opportunities of Artificial Intelligence, in a meeting with IE University students. The event took place at the IE Tower auditorium, during Altman’s brief visit to Madrid. More than 600 students, professors, entrepreneurs, investors, technology experts, and business executives were present. Altman pointed out that ChatGPT will be the "most enabling technology that humanity has ever seen."

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    Pablo Isla - Former CEO Inditex and José Maria Álvarez-Pallete - President of Telefonica

    Pablo Isla, Chairman IE International Advisory Board and former CEO Inditex, interviews José María Álvarez-Pallete, President of Telefonica. In the IE Tower Auditorium, students are invited to join. Here, they have the exclusive opportunity to watch the interviews and pose questions to Pablo Isla and the guest, creating a dynamic and interactive learning experience.

  • Play

    Ana Botin- Executive Chair at Banco Santander and Allen Blue - VP Product Management and Co-founder at Linkedin

    Our first episode came out on April 6th, and it's called “Forces of Change,” featuring Allen Blue, VP Product Management and Co-founder at Linkedin, and Diego del Alcázar Benjumea, CEO at IE University, along with Ana Botín, Executive Chair at Banco Santander. Watch it now!

Class profile

  • 12
    years of experience
  • +28
    nationalities
  • 36
    Average age

MEET OUR CURRENT STUDENTS AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY

Get to know the stories of our alumni

Executive MBA almuni are changemakers equipped to bring positive leadership to their companies and industries. Read their stories below to discover how the program has shaped their careers - and what studying at IE Business School could do for you.

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    Volodymir Stipakhono

    Executive MBA Alumnus at IE Business School

  • A woman in a patterned dress is speaking and gesturing with her hands in an office environment.
    Play

    Natasa Biscan

    Executive MBA Alumna at IE Business School

  • A woman with red hair sitting on a couch in a room beside an antique wooden table and a lamp.
    Play

    MARISSA JURMARK

    Executive MBA Alumnus at IE Business School

OUR FACULTY ARE HERE TO GUIDE YOU

MEET THE EXECUTIVE MBA VICE-DEAN LUCIA EGEA

 As the Vice Dean of Executive MBA programs, Lucia is dedicated to guiding leaders in discovering their purpose and creating sustainable, long-lasting business models. With over 20 years of international corporate experience and a passion for finance, she excels in solving complex problems through a blend of analytical thinking and creativity, fostering positive disruption in the process. In her role as an adjunct professor, Lucia enjoys teaching financial reporting and analysis, as well as entrepreneurship, across various programs within IE University. Her boundless curiosity and energy drive her to be a lifelong learner, with interests spanning futures design, human-centered approaches and digitalization. Lucia holds double cum laude degrees in business studies from Spain and the UK. She also has an Executive MBA from IE Business School, for which she was named the top student in her cohort.

Black and white image of a smiling woman with arms crossed, standing in front of a sign that includes the word 'EXECUTIVE'.

THE NEXT BEST YOU 

Our mission is to help you become the next best you: a leader driven by purpose, equipped with the skills, behaviors and mindset needed to achieve your career goals and overcome the challenges that await. With a focus on making you C-Suite ready by teaching you to balance between exploiting your existing competencies while simultaneously exploring new opportunities, the Executive MBA is a journey of transformation that starts within; a journey that rewards tenacity, dedication and hard work; a journey that creates leaders ready to shape the future of business.

  • YOUR CAREER 

    Now is the moment to build on your current career success and push it to the next level. We’ll work with you to understand your strengths, ambitions and objectives, then create a career development plan tailored to your needs. From learning to balance the competing demands of the present and future to maximizing growth opportunities, our practical teaching and expert coaching will help you grow resilient, responsive and bold in your career choices and get to where—and who—you want to be.

  • YOUR IMPACT 

    No matter the strength of your skillset or the breadth of your experience, to succeed at the highest levels of business, you need to be able to make things happen. But impact is not a matter of intangibles—it’s about how you think, how you act and how you embrace technology. We’ll equip you with the thinking, behavioral and digital skills you’ll need to thrive in a C-Suite environment.

  • YOUR PURPOSE 

    Business has the potential to address today’s most pressing social issues, but lasting change requires individuals with the passion and skills to lead confidently. We put your sense of purpose at the heart of your career path, helping you become an executive who can drive change that matters. Guiding you to develop a spirit of collaboration for a greater purpose, you will cultivate a global professional network and create new sources of value for your business, now and in the future.

OFFICIAL DEGREE

Students must meet the following conditions and requirements to be officially enrolled and entitled to request the official university degree upon completion of the master program. If educational prerequisites are not provided and/or if the requirements are not met on time, the student will not be able to request the official university degree as issued by the Spanish government. In this case, the studies will not be official under Spanish educational regulations. 

Join our Executive master in Business Administration events

Regulations and quality

Learn more about our regulations and educational quality in Madrid and Segovia.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • The next best you is a fundamental concept at IE Business School, whereby we focus on helping you analyze the current you, determine your career objectives and desired impact as a leader, and equip you with the skills, mindset and tools you need to reach your full potential.

    Our approach is personalized and tailored to each individual student, rather than employing a one-size-fits-all method. We offer a range of guidance, options, and support throughout the program to help you identify and refine your strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations. We provide a wide variety of workshops, mentorships, career advisors, industry connections and extracurricular activities to help you develop the skills, abilities and insight you need to succeed.

    This personalized approach sets IE apart from other leading universities. Not only does it set you up for greater success, but our approach is valued by recruiters seeking graduates who have undergone this transformative process and received a highly personalized education.

  • Students can choose between two formats:

    Blended: This option combines online conferences on Saturdays (you can choose from the following slots: morning, 11:00-14:30h CET, or afternoon, 16:00-19:30h CET) with three residential periods in Madrid, one off-site residential period in Segovia, and two optional international residential periods.

    In-Person: This option combines in-person classes at our Madrid campus on Fridays (16:00-21:00h CET) and Saturdays (9:00-15:00h CET) with three residential periods in Madrid, one off-site residential period in Segovia, and two optional international residential periods.

  • The length of the program depends on which format you choose:

    Blended Format: 20 months.

    In-Person Format: 16 months.

  • The In-Person format of the program is available in Spanish.

    The Blended format is available in English.

  • The Executive MBA is an official degree recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Education and you will receive a Master in Business Administration.
    Please note that students must fulfill the requirements found on this link to be able to request the issuance of the official university degree upon completion of the program. If educational prerequisites are not provided and/or the requirements are not met on time, the student will not be able to request the official university degree as issued by the Spanish government. In such an event, the studies will not be official under Spanish educational regulations.

  • The Executive MBA program includes two optional residential weeks which offer a unique chance to gain a global perspective on business in leading international destinations. The Global Immersion Week and The Global Network for Advanced Management place an emphasis on meeting fellow execut ives from around the world, while exploring different business practices and cultures – providing the ideal opportunity to enhance your professional network.