Rockhurst University | Learning, Leadership and Service in the Jesuit Tradition

The Executive Fellows MBA program design is premised on the idea that the important skills and attitudes of excellent managers and leaders is learned through development rather than taught. Thus, program design emphasizes development activities that cut across a set of more typical business courses. Development specifically addresses self-awareness, interpersonal skills, conflict management, and decision-making skills so that the leader can be an effective agent of change.

General managers must also develop the ability to identify business opportunities in context, bring people together, and create and implement plans. Rockhurst Executive Fellows students also engage in a rigorous course-based curriculum in traditional subjects including accounting, finance, marketing, strategy, competitive analysis, and supply chain. Thus, students get a balance among the key learning areas of skills and knowledge—personal and professional development.

Business Knowledge and Skills – Functional areas of business that tend to be knowledge-based or focused on discrete skills related to this functional knowledge.

Personal Development – Awareness regarding personal and interpersonal skills. Development of the individual to know themselves better and to understand, enhance, or overcome their personality and behavioral tendencies is the focus of personal development. This type of learning can be applied to professional development contexts, but is focused primarily on understanding the individual.

Professional Development – This is about planning and implementing change in your team, division, company, and/or community, through managerial/executive mindset. This is about bringing people together, developing plans, and exploiting opportunities in the context of real managerial situations. In addition to specific knowledge (e.g., planning), professional development helps students learn appropriate attitudes related to general manager expertise.

Self-Directed Learning: The Executive Fellows program puts the student in control of much of their learning, especially regarding development. Specifically, the EMBA provides explicit supports such as peers, coaches, mentors, and faculty advisors, enabling students to learn according to their own individualized development needs.