Roadmap Academics

The executive MBA program that’s gone global

UM is the only school in the U.S. to offer the Global OneMBA Program, a global executive MBA program offered in partnership with renowned business schools around the world.
oneMBA

Rachel Silverstein, executive director and waterkeeper of Miami Waterkeeper, recently spoke with OneMBA program participants at the Storer Auditorium.

After more than 15 years working in the banking industry, Paula Osorio, a Park University undergraduate and current vice president of the digital division at BAC Florida Bank, found herself wanting to further develop her skills to keep up with her advancing role within the organization.

“I am so proud of BAC’s growth and how they’ve supported me throughout my career, so I want to continue doing everything I can to take my division to the next level,” she said.

As it turns out, BAC Florida Bank has agreed to be acquired by Banco Bradesco, one of Brazil's largest banks, and Osorio is staying on board through the transition.

“As we merge with one of the largest banks in the world,” Osorio said, “I’ve realized that having a global MBA would be beneficial in order to stay competitive in the field.”

While considering MBA programs, Osorio explored options at the University of Miami Business School and saw a complete match with the Global OneMBA Program because of its global reach and approach to hands-on learning.

"I immediately felt a connection to the prestige and network of professionals I would be exposed to at the University of Miami," she said. "The program feels so complete. You get to travel, learn from other professionals, other universities, and interact with other cultures. This is exactly the type of experience that I was looking for to bring back to the bank.”

Osorio is one of the first students to enroll in the Global OneMBA Program at the University, which starts its inaugural class on September 20.

OneMBALast year, the Miami Business School joined the Global OneMBA consortium as the new American partner, succeeding the role previously assumed by the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School.

“When the U.S. is looking inward, we at Miami Business School proudly reaffirm our commitment to global dialogue and mutual support by joining the OneMBA family of schools,” said John Quelch, dean of Miami Business School.

“The Miami Business School’s participation as a member of the OneMBA program is a demonstration of both the strength and global reach of our institution,” said Lourdes Dieck-Assad, the University’s vice president for hemispheric and global affairs. “By partnering with prestigious international institutions in providing a truly global business educational experience, Miami Business School is implementing a vision for developing a generation of global business leaders and delivering the University of Miami as the hemispheric university.”

The OneMBA program is ranked as one of the top executive MBA programs in the world by the Financial Times, so its addition to the University of Miami portfolio will enhance the international reputation of the University.

“We have always been great admirers of this program because it really fits the University's strategic goals, and it’s also well aligned with the international and hemispheric goals of the school,” said Patricia Abril, vice dean of graduate business programs at Miami Business School. “When we heard they were looking for a new U.S. partner we immediately put our hands up for the selection process.

“Now, we are introducing a new level of meaningful international collaboration that we had never seen at the business school before. We are in the trenches with these schools as full partners. And we’re very proud of that,” she said.

As equal partners of the consortium, UM has a unique opportunity to discuss international mega-trends and collaborate in developing a business curriculum design across five continents.

“That know-how will naturally spill into our other existing programs and instantly makes us more international,” added Abril.

Designed for business professionals who live and work around the globe, OneMBA brings together students from five premier international business schools for a curriculum that focuses on mastering the global business environment and management challenges specific to doing business in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Among the partner schools are EGADE Business School Tecnológico de Monterrey (EGADE Business School) in Mexico, which is also a member of the Hemispheric University Consortium created by UM, Sao Paulo School of Business Administration - Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV-EAESP) in Brazil, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) in the Netherlands, and School of Management at Xiamen University in China.

“The program appeals to experienced, dynamic, business leaders who are looking to supercharge the internationalization of their careers. It’s meant for the executive who is looking to move to a multinational organization or the executive who is looking to become more culturally agile,” Abril explained.

The 21-month program requires students to work in global teams at their respective school and also come together as a cohort for four week-long global residencies held on four continents. They will visit regional and multinational companies and attend lectures by local executives, entrepreneurs, public policymakers, and professors as an experiential way to understand different perspectives on doing business.

“There are three main features that differentiate this program from everything else we offer at the business school,” explained David Major, assistant professor of professional practice in global business strategy and director of the OneMBA program at UM. “Students will be traveling every six months to complete their global residencies, work in global teams with executives who are diverse in cultural, academic and industry backgrounds, and take unique courses with a curriculum that has been highly coordinated throughout the world.”

For more information about the program, visit https://www.bus.miami.edu/academic-programs/mba-masters/onemba/index.html