DoWNLoAD - Coles College of Business - Kennesaw State University

Executive MBA
take charge
c o l e s c o l l e g e o f b u s i n e s s

W H A T Y O U ’ L L F I N D I N S I D E
Introduction
Program Overview | p 2
The Bottom Line | p 5
The Coles Approach
Executive Summary | p 6
Strategic Leadership | p 8
Customized Curriculum | p 9
Practical Teaming | p 10
Professional Development | p 12
Dedicated Faculty | p 13
Student Information
Your Investment | p 15
Application Information | p 16
Application Checklist | p 17
lift here to see what we’re all about...

~ t a k e c h a r g e o f y o u r c a r e e r ~
Aggressive business goals require
exceptional skills. A Coles Executive MBA
provides the strategic planning, leadership
and management expertise to take your

career to the next level. You will experience
cutting-edge global teaming, program-long
executive coaching and a customized
curriculum designed for ambitious executives.
When you’re ready to be a commanding
business leader, you’re ready for a Coles EMBA.

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Success is focusing the full power of
all you are on what you have a
burning desire to achieve.
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An Innovative Approach; A Top-Ranked Program
p r o g r a m
ACCREDITED MBA
Coles is fully accredited in
both business and accounting
by AACSB International,
the highest business school
accrediting body in the world.
Only 20% of all colleges
of business have attained
this dual accreditation.
What Makes the Coles Executive MBA different?
We understand the dynamic nature of today’s business
environment. Our experienced faculty constantly
assess and update our curriculum to keep you ahead
of the curve, and of your competition. Our innovative
approach helps ambitious professionals take charge of
their careers. We have created a personal, cutting-edge
program that drives each student to live up to his or her
highest potential. In just 18 months, one weekend a
month, you will be fully equipped to tackle a demanding
global business environment.
The Executive MBA Council
is a nonprofit association
that fosters excellence and
innovation of EMBA programs
worldwide. Currently, there
are over 200 colleges and
universities participating
globally. Coles Executive MBA
is proud to be an
active member.

o v e r v i e w
i n t r o d u c t i o n : p r o g r a m o v e r v i e w
Strategic planning
Long-range planning and execution are critical to the success of every organization. Coles EMBA students
learn to formulate and implement effective business strategies in a competitive environment. Our
disciplined and multifaceted approach will help you and your company adapt to a changing marketplace.
Leadership development
This isn’t just learning to lead; it’s learning to be an effective leader who can craft and implement
a strategic vision. The patented Coles Personal and Professional Development Plan gathers feedback
from a variety of managerial evaluations to determine how you function as a business professional.
This feedback is then used to create actionable plans for your executive growth and development.
Practical teaming
Teams are created within a dynamic learning environment that promotes hands-on application,
collaboration, resourcefulness and ingenuity. Additionally, in the Coles Global Experience, you
will partner with international peers on a team project designed to enhance business skills,
entrepreneurship and decision-making. This is global business at work.
Dedicated faculty
Our core EMBA-only faculty team creates an adult learning environment that easily and consistently
integrates their professional experience into the program. Students benefit from networking with
professors and gain additional insights from key guest lecturers.
Executive coaching
Pioneering executive coaching in EMBA programs, Coles pairs students with experts who provide
strategic guidance for executive development throughout the entire 18-month program. This is not
just a class on coaching – it is a dynamic, long-term, one-on-one relationship fostering professional
growth.
Global business experience
To know global business is to experience global business. Any program can offer an international trip, but
only the Coles EMBA provides a project-based global experience with an international university partner.
Applied integrated curriculum
Top-tier managers know that business problems are complex and require multidimensional solutions.
This is why the Coles EMBA uses a comprehensive curriculum approach. We integrate the functional
disciplines of business in every class session and in every class assignment.
c o l e s e x e c u t i v e m b a : t a k e c h a r g e

USINESS LEADERS
“Good business leaders create a vision,
articulate the vision, passionately own the
vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.”
– Jack Welch

t h e b o t t o m l i n e
Students
The Coles Executive MBA is designed for seasoned, ambitious
professionals including executives, entrepreneurs and business
owners from diverse backgrounds.
Schedule
Class sessions are typically held one weekend a month (Saturday
and Sunday) at the Executive and Graduate Business Center at
Kennesaw State University. Team meetings, distance learning and
meetings with professors take place between class sessions. This
schedule gives professionals the best of both worlds – allowing
for a full work week, including family time, while providing an
education to drive their careers forward.
Rankings
Coles is ranked “best of the bunch” by BusinessWeek’s EMBA
category rankings, and the Coles EMBA was noted as #3 for
teaming and #10 for e-business. Most recently, Kennesaw State
University was honored as a stellar school in entrepreneurship by
the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine.
Return on Investment
A Coles EMBA is an investment in your future. Over 94% of
students report that their Coles EMBA increased their value
to their organization, and 88% reported an increase in their
ability to be promoted. Within five years, most EMBA students
experience complete payback on their tuition investment.
38
AVERAGE STUDENT AGE
FIFTY PERCENT
Nonbusiness
Undergraduate Majors
45K
Alumni and
Global Connections
twenty
average salary
%
increase after graduation
Years
Average
Work
16Experience
i n t r o d u c t i o n : t h e b o t t o m l i n e c o l e s e x e c u t i v e m b a : t a k e c h a r g e

Take Charge of Your Career
the coles approach
US News & World Report
named Kennesaw State
University
T4
as the
up-and-coming
school in the nation.
CEO Magazine
recognized Coles as a
“Go-To business school”
and has identified the
program as one of the top
25 in the United States.
Coles was recognized by
The New York Times
as one of the top
5
“Without
colleges offering
entrepreneurship
classes with a focus
on family business.
You have aggressive business goals that require
exceptional abilities. A Coles Executive MBA will
provide the strategic business and leadership skills
to achieve your personal and professional goals.
Our top-ranked program with its unique approach meets
the highest international accreditation standards and is
consistently recognized by the Princeton Review in their
latest rankings as a “Top Business School.” FORTUNE Small
Business also named Coles one of six schools “Best for Family
Business.” A Coles EMBA provides opportunities to learn
from world-class professors and interact with senior-level
executives. Thanks to a weekend schedule designed for busy
executives, you can also continue to pursue your career
while furthering your education.
my KSU
MBA, I would not be
the Wellstar CEO.”
dr. gregory simone
emba class of 1997
ceo, wellstar

The Coles Approach prepares professionals
for a demanding global business environment
with a world-class MBA curriculum.
applied curriculum
hands-on learning
dedicated faculty
t h e c o l e s a p p r o a c h : e x e c u t i v e s u m m a r y
strategic
leadership
& planning
professional
development
practical
teaming
managerial evaluations
networking
executive coaching
functional applications
global experience
project management
c o l e s e x e c u t i v e m b a : t a k e c h a r g e

str ategic leadership
THE EMPLOYER
PERSPECTIVE
Employers want independent,
assertive leaders who are ready
to take charge. With a Coles
EMBA, you will have the tools
and skills to tackle a demanding
global business environment.
And when you enter the
Coles EMBA program, you
can use what you learn
today – tomorrow at work – a
benefit your employer will
appreciate as well.
For a sample listing of
participating organizations visit:
colesmba.com/
companies
Students come to Coles with considerable
management and leadership experience. Coles
Executive MBA takes it to a new level by teaching
you to be an effective, strategic leader – capable
of making fundamental decisions to plan and
implement a vision for the future.
Moving beyond basic managerial evaluations, Coles helps
students put the information gathered to use. Through
interactions with faculty as well as executive coaches, you
will shape your leadership style and develop your skills with
actionable plans. Decision-making, project management,
presentation skills and supervisory feedback are all covered
throughout the 18-month program so you can confidently
lead seasoned business professionals.
Strategic planning goes hand-in-hand with strategic leadership.
At Coles, while you are sharpening leadership skills, you will also
learn how to effectively apply them to help a company define its
direction, focus its resources and achieve a strategic vision for
the future in a changing global business environment.

customized curriculum
The EMBA curriculum at Coles is designed for experienced professionals who want to:
T1
T2
T3
make broad, executive-level decisions
create, participate in and lead high-performing
teams toward strategic business goals
take charge of their careers
INTEGRATED CURRICULUM
Our world class Executive MBA curriculum is the gold
standard for successful integration across business topics.
While we include the same traditional MBA curriculum
offered at top business schools worldwide, we approach
it from a CEO’s vantage point. This allows you the ability
to solve complex problems in any business setting. Our
faculty team facilitates an adult learning environment
by engaging students in classroom discussions,
encouraging the use of current experiences
and utilizing Harvard Business School case
studies. Business fundamentals include:
finance, marketing, global business,
operations, communications, management,
entrepreneurship, strategy, economics
and accounting.
t h e c o l e s a p p r o a c h : l e a d e r s h i p a n d c u r r i c u l u m
DISTANCE LEARNING
Coles EMBA is a recognized leader in effective
distance learning and was ranked #10 in
e-business by BusinessWeek. Extending the
benefits of one-on-one interactions beyond the
classroom, students learn, communicate and
team using video conferencing, online meeting
management tools and a web-based learning
platform. Students also compete against each
other as they learn how to run a company
through business simulation programs.
c o l e s e x e c u t i v e m b a : t a k e c h a r g e

p r a C t i c a l t e a m i n g
COLES COLLEGE OF
BUSINESS
r a n k e d
T3
for teaming
BY BusinessWeek
“Choosing the EMBA
program at KSU has been one
of the best business decisions
I ever made. After obtaining
my EMBA from KSU, I have
seen my opportunities and
career grow tremendously.
The strengths of the program
were numerous, the faculty
and the interaction between
student and faculty were very
valuable. The international
piece was unique and played
a pretty significant role in
my decision of Coles.”
TEAMING THAT WORKS
Team leadership is learning to motivate and guide others to
maximize the potential of everyone involved in reaching a goal
or strategic vision for the company. Knowing what motivates
and guides the behavior of individuals enables you to become
a better leader. At Coles, you will explore leadership and
teaming techniques modeled after the world’s most successful
leaders and learn how to enhance and develop your own
authentic leadership style.
EXPERIENCE GLOBAL teaming
Learning how to succeed in a marketplace without borders is
best achieved by personally experiencing the challenges that
occur at an international bargaining table. This is why the Coles
Executive MBA provides you with an applied global experience
not offered in any other program. We challenge students to
leverage technology in order to communicate, collaborate and
solve business problems – while teaming with peers from our
global partner institutions. This is not just visiting international
companies; it’s a one-of-a-kind international experience.
Billy Hayes
CEO Northside Hospital –
Cherokee

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It’s important for executives to view their team
members as shareholders of information and results–
when you and your team are upfront and
informed, there are no surprises.
Harsha V. Agadi,
president and ceo, church’s chicken
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t h e c o l e s a p p r o a c h : p r a c t i c a l t e a m i n g
c o l e s e x e c u t i v e m b a : t a k e c h a r g e

professional development
“The Coles EMBA program
provided me advanced
leadership skills and an
opportunity to explore different
leadership styles in a risk-free
environment. I also learned
the unique skills and tools
needed to strategically build
and lead successful teams
which I have found to be a
tremendous professional
advantage for my career
as well as a benefit for
my company.”
Paige Lillard
VP, Business Excellence
Turner Broadcasting
System, Inc
PERSONAL GROWTH
To take charge of your career you must first take charge
personally. The Coles professional development plan utilizes
managerial evaluations to build an accurate profile of how you
function as a business leader. Throughout the length of the
program, you will reference your results to expose and develop
areas of weakness, capitalize on your strengths and set goals
for future growth.
EXECUTIVE COACHING
As a student at Coles, you will be paired with an executive
coach for the entire length of the program. Your coach will
provide feedback as well as real-world advice and guidance.
Together, you will create a professional growth and
development plan that you will then work to implement.
Continuing one-on-one sessions will enhance your strategic
leadership capabilities and create a personal, hands-on
learning environment that leads to results.
The Coles Executive MBA program was one of the first to
utilize executive coaching and has led the way in leadership
development. As a founding member of the Graduate School
Alliance for Executive Coaching [GSAEC], we are creating the
first standards and certificate program worldwide.

d e d i c at e d f a c u lt y
t h e c o l e s a p p r o a c h : d e v e l o p m e n t a n d f a c u l t y
Coles Executive MBA is the only program with a
core faculty team dedicated solely to our EMBA
students. Our faculty team is made up of top academic
researchers and seasoned executives, offering decades
of professional business experience from a variety of
disciplines. What this means to you is a finely integrated
business curriculum, an adult learning environment and
professional resources that will last a lifetime.
Coles faculty plays a critical role in the relevancy of our
innovative and timely curriculum. As professionals, they
keep up with the latest business trends and are leading
experts in their respective fields. Coles employs over
130 full-time faculty members who produce research
results that lead the way in industry best practices.
Faculty members meet with students between class
sessions to promote continuous learning. In addition,
outstanding visiting scholars, as well as speakers from
major corporations, impart their expertise throughout
the program so that you achieve depth and breadth of
knowledge from a broad management perspective.
Dr. Charles Hofer
recognized by Fortune magazine
as one of the top 18 entrepreneurship
faculty in the US.
Dr. Lucy Ackert
ranked as one of the top ten women
scholars in Finance internationally;
and ranked among the top 150
scholars in Finance in the world.
Dr. Joe Hair
received the American Marketing
Association’s Career Award for
Innovative Contributions to Marketing.
Dr. Joe Astrachan
author of the Family Business
Casebook Annual and editor of the
Family Business Review.
Dr. Dana Hermanson
awarded the American
Accounting Association’s prestigious
Wildman Award.
c o l e s e x e c u t i v e m b a : t a k e c h a r g e

AKE CHARGE
“Be a continuous learner . . . through
every opportunity, every interaction, and
apply it in your decision making. It will
give you great judgment and you
will become a great leader.”
– Jerome Byers
Atlanta Regional President, Wachovia Bank

s t u d e n t i n f o r m a t i o n : y o u r i n v e s t m e n t
Y O U R I N V E S T M E N T
Return On Investment
Our students understand that return on investment is measured
by more than promotions or raises – and begins well before
graduation. As you research other top-ranked programs, you
will find that Coles EMBA offers the best value while giving you
superior curriculum, faculty and professional development.
Coles students and graduates enjoy networking with Coles
alumni, faculty, board members and corporate partners. In
addition, you will gain access to Kennesaw State University’s
44,000 plus alumni and global connections.
The following data* helps to describe the returns you can expect
from a Coles Executive MBA:
• Less than a 5 year payback on your tuition investment
• Over 90% of students would recommend the Coles EMBA to a
colleague or friend
• 88% of students reported that their ability to be promoted
greatly increased as a result of the Coles EMBA
• 94% of students stated that the Coles EMBA increased their
value to their organizations
*Based on an independent Executive MBA Council exit survey of the Coles EMBA.
True MBA
Our internationally accredited
Executive MBA leads to the
highly regarded MBA degree
from Coles College of Business
at Kennesaw State University –
this year’s “Innovation Award”
recipient according to CEOs,”
Chief Executive Magazine.
Coles is also a member of
the prestigious Executive
MBA Council and European
Foundation for Management
Development EFMD.
c o l e s e x e c u t i v e m b a : t a k e c h a r g e

Get Started Today
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Executive
and Graduate
Business Center
The Coles Executive MBA
program is based just north
of Atlanta’s perimeter in
our Executive and Graduate
Business Center. Students
have access to the facility 24
hours a day, 7 days a week.
The center features two case
classrooms, team breakout
rooms, lounges, printing
facilities, videoconferencing
and wireless internet.
personal
interview
ColesMBA.com/interview
INFORMATION
EVENTS
ColesMBA.com/events
APPLICATION
DOWNLOAD
ColesMBA.com/apply
MAILING ADDRESS
1000 Chastain Road, MD 3306
Kennesaw, Georgia 30144
physical ADDRESS
3333 George Busbee Drive
Suite 431
Kennesaw, Georgia 30144
770.420.4622
ColesMBA.com/directions
INTERVIEWING – IT’S NEVER TOO SOON
At Coles we treat the admissions process as a two-way street:
we explore if you are a fit for Coles and we encourage you to
explore if Coles is a fit for you. To help determine if the Coles
Executive MBA program is right for you, we believe it is never
too soon to learn more via a personal interview. Please contact
us today to arrange a time.
INFORMATION EVENTS
In addition to the personal interview, we encourage you to
visit a class. You can also join us at an open house information
event and arrange to speak to a current student, alumni or
faculty member.
SPONSORSHIPS
Coles EMBA students are often, but not always, sponsored by
their employers. Our staff can outline the benefits of the EMBA
experience for both parties and make tuition reimbursement
and paperwork easy – just ask us.
25% of EMBA students receive full company sponsorship
50% of EMBA students receive partial company sponsorship
25% of EMBA students are self-sponsored
To apply, please contact one of our admissions directors.
We will assist you through the admissions process. This is
particularly useful if you are seeking sponsorship or need loan
advice. Prerequisite coursework is built into the program at no
additional fee to students.
ADMISSIONS TEAM
Coles has an admissions and financial aid team dedicated to the
Executive MBA program. Please let us know if we can answer
any questions.
We look forward to meeting you.
ColesEMBA@kennesaw.edu
770.420.4622 (4MBA)
ColesMBA.com/EMBA

A P P L I C AT I O N C H ECKLIST
ALL APPLICANTS MUST
Submit a current resumé
Interview with an admissions director
(It is never too soon to interview)
Complete our application
Submit the application fee
Take the GMAT or submit a GMAT waiver request
Submit two professional recommendations
Submit official transcripts from all graduate and
undergraduate institutions
Submit immunization records
ColesMBA.com/apply
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
MUST ADDITIONALLY
Have international transcripts evaluated by a
Kennesaw State University-approved credential
evaluation service
Take the TOEFL or submit a TOEFL waiver request
ColesMBA.com/international

XECUTIVE
© Kennesaw State University Coles College of Business
C O L E S E X E C U T I V E M B A . t a k e c h a r g e .
C O L E S M B A . C O M / E M B A | 7 7 0 . 4 2 0 . 4 6 2 2