National kudos show Eccles School is a great place to get your MBA

Both of the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business' MBA programs have recently received national accolades. The full-time MBA program received a No. 6 ranking for entrepreneurship by Bloomberg Businessweek in its listing of the 2019-2020 Best B-Schools. The Executive MBA (EMBA) program ranked as one of the best in the world, according to this year’s rankings by the Financial Times. The program ranked No. 4 in the West, No. 21 nationally and No. 98 globally. It is the only school in Utah to be ranked in the Financial Times’ top-100 executive MBA programs.

The Bloomberg ranking is another in a series of top 10 entrepreneurship rankings for the Eccles School. It started to appear among the top schools a few years ago, as it has significantly grown its entrepreneurship opportunities.

“Instilling entrepreneurial innovation and grit in our students is a driving force behind everything we do,” said Brad Vierig, associate dean of MBA programs and executive education at the Eccles school. “Our students are entrepreneurs, regardless of whether they actually start their own businesses or not. The curriculum and experiential opportunities available to each MBA student equips them with the leadership and strategic decision-making skills needed to become innovators in any role they fill.”

“Entrepreneurship is one of our core values at the Eccles School,” said Taylor Randall, dean of the David Eccles School of Business. “We want all of our students to learn how to think and act like an entrepreneur. Whether or not they start a company, they will use skills like problem-solving, innovation and grit to succeed in any career they pursue.”

The Financial Times draws information for its rankings from two primary sources: 55 percent of the score is based on surveys of EMBA alumni three years post-graduation, and the remaining 45 percent of the score is calculated from 16 criteria across three different areas. These include alumni career progression, school diversity, international focus, idea generation and research productivity of the faculty.

“It’s an honor to be once again ranked one of the top 25 executive MBA programs in the nation,” said Randall. “EMBA students come to us already having achieved incredible success in their careers. It’s gratifying to know we’re providing tangible value, both in terms of learning and career growth, to these seasoned professionals.”

Members of the Executive MBA Class of 2016 described going through the program as a transformational experience, citing the dedication and knowledge of faculty as one of the primary reasons for their success, the university said in a release.

“I completed my undergrad in a prestigious business program in Canada, so I am familiar with excellent business education,” said Adam D’Sousa, head of the compliance audit division at Alliance Data and member of the surveyed class of 2016. “But the Executive MBA Program at the University of Utah is truly a learning experience in a league of its own. The advantages of learning in a tight-knit cohort, being instructed by foremost experts, and interacting with other executive-level professionals are incredible.”

The entrepreneurship program at the Eccles School is led by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute and the Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy. They work together to provide a variety of opportunities inside and outside of the classroom.

“We put the student first in all of our programs. It’s all about their goals and dreams,” said Troy D’Ambrosio, executive director of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute and an assistant dean at the Eccles School. “At Lassonde Studios, we welcome all students on campus to bring their ideas to live, start or join a company and learn by doing. We define entrepreneurship as a verb, and we invite all students to entrepreneur with us.”

The Eccles School also ranked No. 18 in the U.S. and No. 53 globally for the success of its researchers, as measured by publications in the Financial Times-designated top international, academic and business journals.