The Adaptive MBA
Business schools have revamped MBA programs to meet the changing needs of entrepreneurs and other non-traditional students.

By Karyl Leggio

Business owners face converging industries, new business opportunities, a changing workforce and globalization. Who has the time to attend an MBA program? But with all the shifts in the global workforce and with the digital revolution transforming every area of commerce, the real question for the sake of your business is: How can you not make time for an MBA?

Business schools realize the pressures today's business leaders face, and they have become more responsive to their needs. Class scheduling has become more flexible, the course offerings are cutting edge and relevant, and the business issues students grapple with have real-world applicability.

Flexibility
Many people pursue an MBA while working full-time, and today's flexible scheduling makes this easier for busy business owners. Whether you choose part-time scheduling, evening courses or a weekend program, there is an MBA program that fits everyone's schedule.

For those who may have busy seasons and need to scale back on the number of classes taken during certain times of the year, part-time and evening MBA programs allow students to decide how many classes to take each semester. Students usually take between one and four classes each week and typically take three to four years to complete the MBA program.

Business Tools
A recent London Business School survey of international CEOs confirmed that employers seek business school graduates who are "thoughtful, aware, flexible and adaptive managers." These so-called soft skills are equally important for small business owners, and are becoming the keystone for MBA programs.

Students in today's MBA programs will see an increased emphasis on leadership skills, both in developing personal leadership styles and in learning to be more effective leaders. Students learn to function effectively in teams, improve their communication skills and strategic thinking capabilities and walk away understanding how to use finance, marketing and information technology as tools to improve decision-making. MBA programs are training busy business owners to manage small but growing businesses and are preparing these same individuals to manage the growth of their companies and successfully take them to higher levels.

Network
Many MBA programs are moving to a cohort system, in which students enter the program together and complete the degree with their peers. Most students acknowledge tremendous learning that comes from the diverse backgrounds and industries represented by their classmates.

The network that develops through these shared experiences can be a valuable business asset when class is over. Jim Klanke, owner of Global Project Management Group, acknowledges his reliance on his MBA classmates even to this day. He still communicates with his classmates regularly and is pursuing some additional business opportunities with several of them.

"Understanding how executives from large companies like Sprint or Hallmark approach a business issue was an important learning experience," said Steve Roberts, general manager for Stanbury Uniforms who completed his MBA two years ago. "The issues faced by my $12 million company are the same challenges faced by the big firms, just on a different scale. There was tremendous learning that happened when our teams got together and discussed our approach to solving business issues."

MBA programs offer significant benefits for those who want to climb the corporate ladder, grow their own business or just exercise their brain. Business schools have evolved to meet demand and to respond to business people at different stages of their careers and their lives. An MBA offers a business owner continuous learning and career impact.

Karyl Leggio is the associate dean for academic programs at the Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. You can reach her at .