When people first hear about Northeastern’s high-tech MBA program, they frequently assume that its focus is on IT-related skills and tasks, with a goal of training CTOs and CIOs. “Our High Tech MBA students (HTMBA) are here to transition their careers – to move from technology or engineering jobs to become P&L managers and product managers and to develop entrepreneurial and innovation skills to help them become more directly involved in their company’s growth,” says Marc Meyer, faculty director of the HTMBA.
This was the case for Jim Garneau. A regional sales manager of Eastern North America for Physik Instrumente, (the US subsidiary of a German manufacturer of optical instrumentation systems), with an undergraduate engineering degree, Jim decided that he needed to augment his business skills to advance both within his company and in his career. He decided the best way to do this was to continue in his job AND pursue an advanced business degree through the High Tech MBA program at Northeastern.
“I needed an accelerated part-time program that would give me the skills to analyze and break down the problems of a tech business that I was seeing every day on the job, and the High Tech MBA program did just that,” Mr. Garneau added. “Northeastern has always had a strong reputation in both technology and hands-on business education, and that’s exactly what I needed.”
“Most importantly, the High Tech MBA gave me an arena to segment a potential new market for my company, and the tools to identify the needs of what a new market – and not merely a few new customers – would need from PI,” Mr. Garneau also points out. “I also developed important analysis and presentation skills that helped me sell this new market opportunity within my company and develop a new sales strategy model for this market that we still use today. I guess the ultimate proof is in the putting: not long after I completed my MBA studies, I was promoted to Director of Sales for the company.”
This was the case for Jim Garneau. A regional sales manager of Eastern North America for Physik Instrumente, (the US subsidiary of a German manufacturer of optical instrumentation systems), with an undergraduate engineering degree, Jim decided that he needed to augment his business skills to advance both within his company and in his career. He decided the best way to do this was to continue in his job AND pursue an advanced business degree through the High Tech MBA program at Northeastern.
“I needed an accelerated part-time program that would give me the skills to analyze and break down the problems of a tech business that I was seeing every day on the job, and the High Tech MBA program did just that,” Mr. Garneau added. “Northeastern has always had a strong reputation in both technology and hands-on business education, and that’s exactly what I needed.”
“Most importantly, the High Tech MBA gave me an arena to segment a potential new market for my company, and the tools to identify the needs of what a new market – and not merely a few new customers – would need from PI,” Mr. Garneau also points out. “I also developed important analysis and presentation skills that helped me sell this new market opportunity within my company and develop a new sales strategy model for this market that we still use today. I guess the ultimate proof is in the putting: not long after I completed my MBA studies, I was promoted to Director of Sales for the company.”
Northeastern’s HTMBA is a 21-month, accelerated program for technology-savvy professionals who want to drive business innovation. The High Tech MBA program emphasizes management and leadership skills, designed to help technologists fuel enterprise growth and rapidly advance in technology-intensive environments. Students can continue working full-time during the program and are part of a cohort, attending class every other week on Tuesday evenings and Saturdays.
“The High Tech MBA attracts individuals dedicated to learning, business growth, and personal achievement,” Prof. Meyer said. “Good technology does not automatically translate into market leadership. It takes powerful marketing, sound business models, robust control systems, and a strong management team. These are the skills that we teach students to apply and integrate for business growth. We serve many industries, including telecommunications, health care, biotechnology, financial services, systems and software, materials, and defense.”
“When I first started the program, Professor Meyer told me that it was set-up to help people like myself solve business problems I would see the next day when I went to work,” Mr. Gareau concluded. “He was absolutely right: the High Tech MBA program helped me break down problems and develop potential solutions, working side-by-side with other technology business people in the same boat.”
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