The LMU Executive MBA – A True Partnership

From Dr. William Lindsey, Associate Dean and EMBA Program Director.

I’d like to offer my warmest congratulations to our graduating class of 2009. It has been a privilege for my colleagues and myself to lead you on your personal journey towards an Executive MBA qualification here at LMU. We have watched you grow and witnessed your transformation into confident leaders, armed with a real understanding of what you are capable of achieving.

This is always an exciting time of year for us as we reach the stage of finalizing enrollment for our new class, beginning in Fall 2009. One of the most common questions I hear over the course of the application procedure is “how do I measure the value of an Executive MBA?”

My answer tends to deal with more than just the cold hard numbers reflecting material benefits. Yes, I can point to recent EMBA Council surveys, which show that LMU EMBA graduates reported salary increases of 21% while earning their degrees. And that by the time they graduated, 43% had received promotions. But equally these figures reflect only one side of the ROI coin. Dig deeper into the survey and the feedback from alums regarding the real value of our program is their own personal development and professional growth that stand out – the increased self-confidence, the courage to step out, and the growth in strategic perspective.

Their responses lie at the heart of our mission for the Executive MBA. The program is structured to help our students become not just better leaders but better people. The learning experience is guided throughout by an outstanding faculty of highly effective educators and practitioners who are dedicated to producing well-rounded, principled individuals, confident in their leadership skills. Your education with us develops into a true partnership between faculty, teacher, students and peers.

It is a partnership that we seek to continue and deepen even after graduation. We look to go beyond providing just the traditional alumni programs and aim to support and forge a much more productive relationship that can actively contribute to our program improvement. Our alumni serve as consultants on program components, such as real-life company business consulting projects. They also act as guest speakers and instructors, and have the opportunity to audit courses provided by the College of Business Administration. EMBA alumni are also invited to attend the program’s international and domestic trips.

Program alumni have also been responsible for setting up entrepreneurial support groups that run alongside the Alumni society. One such grouping, the Mastermind Forum, was formed by Kelly Watson, EMBA Class 2006. The group began during Kelly’s time with the program, when a number of like-minded entrepreneurs came together with the aim of developing their individual business plans and holding each other accountable for results. The group helped Watson, now founder and president of Career Partners, launch her business and a total of three of the original members have now started or bought their own businesses. Five years on, the group continues to go from strength to strength, meeting on a monthly basis and attracting members from an increasingly wider base of program graduates.

Our engagement with students, alumni and faculty enables us to strengthen our bonds with our alumni and allows them to stay connected with the program. It is this emphasis on a lifetime of partnership that reflects our commitment to the core program ideals of personal and professional growth and demonstrates what sets the LMU EMBA program apart from others in the field.

Should you be interested in learning more about us, I am always available for an informal chat. You can email me at wlindsey@lmu.edu or call direct on 1-877–LMU – 8585. I look forward to hearing from you.

Bill Lindsey, Ph.D

Be more than an exceptional leader. Be an exceptional person.

Our final on-campus information session for the Fall 2009 recruiting period will be held on Saturday, June 13th from 10.00am until Noon. We invite you to join us and members of the Executive MBA Alumni Association for an informal introduction and discussion to our unique program.

Click here to reserve a place or for more information, visit our website .

Promotions and Appointments

Congratulations from all of the LMU faculty and staff to our EMBA Alumni and current students who continue to excel in their careers:

Wilson E. Castellon, CPA-PFS (EMBA 2008) - promoted to Chief Financial Officer, Latino Family Institute, Inc.

Dean Calvo (EMBA 2008) – is Assistant Vice President Finance & Administration and Assistant Treasurer at Claremont Graduate University.

David Starr, (EMBA 2007) – is Director of Business Applications at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Mahdi Aluzri (EMBA 2005) – has returned to the City of Beverly Hills as Assistant City Manager.