Santa Clara Launches Inaugural Executive MBA Industry Group
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Santa Clara University recently launched its Executive MBA Industry Group to solidify the program’s visibility, quality and brand reputation.
The inaugural Executive MBA Industry Group members includes:
- Gautam Aggarwal MBA ‘04, Chief Marketing and Product Officer, Bidgely,
- Sophie Ames, SVP & Chief Human Resource Officer, Veritas Technologies, LLC
- Carolyn Crandall ‘86, Chief Deception & Chief Marketing Officer, Attivo Network, Inc.
- Gene Domecus EMBA ‘05, Chief Finance Officer, Peerspace
- Martin Juarez EMBA ‘08, VP of Operations, Gigamon
- Paul Kagoo, VP, Corporate Strategy, Western Digital
- Anthony Vitale MBA ‘11, Chief Information Officer, Keypoint Credit Union
“We intentionally formed a diverse Executive MBA Industry Group with complementary educational backgrounds and cross functional expertise to help us develop innovative leaders and entrepreneurial executives who can shape Silicon Valley’s future” shares Kumar Sarangee, the program’s Director.
The 20-month Executive MBA journey goes beyond the traditional “lecture and learn” format to include experiential learning such as executive-led professional communication sessions and leadership exercises; simulations in crisis management, mindfulness, product development, innovation and change management; bootcamps in analytics, technology management and law.
The Executive MBA Industry Group has deep connections to Silicon Valley, prolific industry experience and proven track records of success in established companies as well as start-ups that will open doors and create a valuable and stimulating student journey.
“What’s unique about this industry group is that we sought to have both alumni and non-alumni participate since we value Silicon Valley experience and perspectives from a variety of viewpoints,” explains Toby McChesney, senior assistant dean of graduate business programs. “What is clear though, is this group’s passion to support SCU, enhance the program and brand reputation and engage our alumni community,” says McChesney.
The newly re-designed program is ranked 13th in the nation, according to US News & World Report and the program reached new heights with its nearly fifty percent female class enrollment. Learn more about our Executive MBA program.
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As tech companies grow, they need talented people who can help them negotiate the transition from the two-guys-in-a-garage stage to the phase with the sprawling office parks and C-Span depositions. For these ever-changing needs, MBA candidates can be a perfect fit for the newest tech jobs.
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Continue reading…The Heart of Entrepreneurship, at the UC San Diego Rady School of Management
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Continue reading…Top 5 Paying MBA Careers: Finance
Finance, no surprise, is an extremely popular field among MBA graduates. According to Payscale, finance is 4.7 times more popular among MBA graduates than other fields. The reasons for this are rather uncomplicated: its pretty lucrative.
The starting median salary for those with up to five years of experience is $62,100. After ten years, the reported median salary jumps to $120,000; a 93 percent increase. Given that it is finance, the bonuses that employees can earn are massive, making the field even more lucrative.
With such high salaries and the prospect of massive bonuses, those interested in finance might be curious about what the best positions are for them. These can vary by company, experience, and location.
Companies Recruiting Finance MBA Graduates
The firm you work for can affect how much you make. Larger firms tend to offer more than smaller houses. The following are the top five employers in terms of average salary for those with an MBA in finance.
Morgan Stanley: $136,500
Deloitte: $132,656
Microsoft: $123,684
Amazon: $123,678
Citigroup: $121,346
Finance MBA Experience
As one might expect, the more experience one has in a field, the higher their salary will be. According to Payscale, this is a breakdown of average salary based on years of experience.
- Up to 11 Months: $58,517
- 1–4 Years: $65,589
- 5–9 Years: $86,086
- 10–19 Years: $113,775
- 20+ Years: $135,016
Finance MBA Location
Along with company size and experience, location is the other major determinant of salary for finance MBA graduates. Given the fact that finance tends to be centralized in major cities, it is reasonable to assume that the largest salaries are to be found in cities with large, well-populated metropolitan areas. The following are the five cities where MBA graduates can earn the most.
- New York, NY: $120,962
- Los Angeles, CA: $111,727
- Boston, MA: $109,490
- Chicago, IL: $108,421
- Houston, TX: $101,643
For finance savvy MBA graduates, New York City offers the best average salary opportunities in the United States.
Top Paying Finance Careers
While there are many careers from which a finance MBA can choose, the following offer the highest salaries. To maximize a potential salary, one should consider the variables mentioned above when searching for a position.
#1: Vice President, Finance ($135,000–$195,000)
As a vice president of finance, your primary responsibility will be to direct finances and coordinate the budget. The VP of finance also sets goals and oversees lower-level employees in the financial department. Other responsibilities include engaging in accounting, operations, and finance management.
Common tasks include the following:
- Ensuring company financial plans are carried out
- Coordinating, preparing, and reviewing annual reports
- Directing accounting operations
The average salary of a VP of finance is $134,919. In addition, MBA graduates can earn an average of $24,430 in bonuses, $24,566 in commission, and $8,757 in profit sharing. The salary on this job can raise these numbers higher depending on where one works. Look for these positions in the following cities, where you can earn more than the average:
- San Francisco, CA: 28 percent more
- Los Angeles, CA: 16 percent more
- Boston, MA: 15 percent more
#2: Finance Director ($110,000–$160,000)
Finance directors are responsible for managing the goings on in the finance department of the company. In addition, effective finance directors can see problems and risks and design necessary solutions as needed.
Common tasks include the following:
- Overseeing the preparation of regulatory and financial reporting as required
- Developing policies and procedures to control and report financials
- Managing budget, forecast, and accounting preparations
The average salary of a finance director is $111,384. MBA graduates can expect to earn an average bonus of $18,556, $33,000 in commission, and $5,113 in profit sharing. According to Payscale, the following are three highest paying companies for this position:
- Nike: $150,000
- Lilly: $130,000
- CBRE Group: $128,000
#3: Investment Banker ($99,000–$207,000)
As an investment banker, your primary responsibility is to grow wealth for your clients. This can be through either strategic investing or raising capital. Investment bankers look through all of the financial information of a company to develop the best strategy for addressing its concerns and reaching its goals.
Common tasks include the following:
- Constructing financial models to aid in transactions and communications
- Performing valuation analyses
- Conducting industry and company research
On average, you can expect to earn an average of $98,831 in salary. Investment banking is rather lucrative, so it is not impossible to double your salary in commission alone. However, because if this, the salary scale can widely vary. The average commission for this position on Payscale is $90,000. To make that possible, you’ll need to go to a city where capital generation is needed. These three places pay more than the average, according to Payscale:
- San Francisco, CA: 52 percent higher
- New York, NY: 12 percent higher
- Dallas, TX: 5 percent higher
Investment bankers would do well to look into a career in the Bay Area. San Francisco-metro investment bankers make nearly 50 percent more than the national average, according to Payscale data.
#4: Finance Manager ($90,000–$124,000)
Finance managers are expected to watch departmental budgets. Their primary responsibilities include making financial forecasts for their company, working with other departments to establish future budgets, and keeping excellent track of the money going in and out of the company.
Common tasks for people in this position include the following:
- Identifying areas for cost reduction
- Providing analyses to the operations team
- Preparing informational analyses
Given the importance of this position, MBA graduates who pursue it will be compensated well. The average salary for a finance manager is $89,636. In addition to the base salary, an MBA graduate can expect an average of $9,959 in bonuses, $25,006 in commission, and $3,982 in profit sharing.
Because this position is so important, companies are willing to pay excellent candidates well. The following offer the three highest average salaries according to Payscale:
- Boeing: $119,000
- Amazon: $112,000
- Johnson & Johnson: $111,000
#5: Portfolio Manager ($84,000–$140,000)
Portfolio managers are responsible for investing their clients’ money, whether those clients are businesses or individuals. They work to get the highest return possible for their clients’ money.
Common tasks for this position include the following:
- Consulting with clients to develop investment goals
- Reporting on investment performance
- Managing portfolios to maximize returns
Portfolio managers earn an average of $84,443, with $10,274 in bonuses, $10,113 in commission, and $4,000 in profit sharing. According to Payscale, these positions tend to be centered in financial institutions and investment firms.
The following three banks offer the highest average salaries to their portfolio managers.
- Blackrock: $115,000
- S. Bank: $99,000
- Citizens Financial Group: $97,000
Top MBA Recruiters: IDEO
If you’re interested in international design and consulting, IDEO (pronounced eye-dee-oh) should be on your radar. Launched in Palo Alto, CA in 1991, the company is known for using design-thinking methodology to design its products, services, environments, and digital experiences. They’re involved in a wide range of consumer products (toothbrushes, computers, personal assistants, etc.) experiences (non-traditional classrooms), as well as management consulting and organizational design.
Known for designing the first manufactured mouse for Apple, IDEO leads the way for human-centered design. As their website says, “IDEO has long been at the forefront of creating change through design.” Continue reading…
