At a Glance
How to gain your employer’s support for INSEAD Executive Master in Finance
The INSEAD Executive Master in Finance (EMFin) is tailored for experienced financial professionals looking to advance their careers in the financial industry. The benefits to you are clear. As an EMFin candidate, you are seeking to deepen your existing financial knowledge and skill sets, and develop your leadership skills with a view to move on to senior roles.
The EMFin also offers significant benefits to your organisation. As a modular programme, you will continue to work – which means you will apply new skills, knowledge and motivation back to the office after every module.
This guide has been created to help you convince your manager, HR Director and/or CEO that undertaking the EMFin is the right move for both you and your organisation. Whatever your circumstances or ambitions, you will certainly need the support of your company to complete the programme. You may also consider asking for sponsorship or other forms of assistance.
Remember, like all good investments, the EMFin offers significant returns.
Preparing to ask for support – your business case
Putting together a business case should help you prepare for all the questions you may face when asking your company for sponsorship. It is a way to plan your strategy and ensure you are well-equipped to address the concerns of key decision-makers in your organisation.
1. Know yourself
- Ensure that your motivations are clear: it is essential that you know your own reasons and objectives for embarking on a rigorous and demanding programme as the EMFin.
- Define your own commitment: Put forward a clear plan for managing your deadlines and fulfilling your commitments: your managers’ number one concern, when you tell them you are considering the EMFin, will be your regular absence from the business frontline. As you will need to reassure your boss, you should be extremely well prepared for this conversation.
- Be prepared to be flexible: employers may require a variety of commitments from sponsored candidates: from lock-in periods post programme to agreements to refund tuition in the event you leave the organisation. This is your opportunity to reinforce your long-term commitment to your employer. Keep in mind that talent retention is an important issue for HR managers. Your lock-in bond period is very likely to be an integral factor to the level of support you receive.
- Carefully plan the support that you will require: the next section outlines the different types of support that you may want to consider asking your employer for.
2. Know your organisation
- Do your research: study company policy with regards to master’s programmes. If you are approaching HR or a senior manager, it may be worthwhile to include a reference or letter of support from your current line manager.
- Outline the key benefits: what will your organisation get out of sponsoring you for the INSEAD EMFin?
- Network with others who have done similar programmes: either in your own organisation or similar organisation from the same sector. They could have done a master programme elsewhere, the INSEAD EMFin or even executive education. Ask them what they gained from the experience, as well as how they gained funding and/or other support.
You can contact us to find out if somebody from your company or sector has completed the EMFin and we may be able to advise you. It is essential to have this information at your fingertips in order to adapt your negotiation position and set the right objectives.
3. Know the programme
- During the conversation with your employer, specific questions regarding the programme content, structure and logistics may come up. You want to ensure you can answer all of their questions.
- Check out our website: the INSEAD EMFin website has a great deal of information, but you will find out even more by attending one of our regional or on-campus events. Areas to consider are:
- Length of programme
- Class profile
- Cost
- Programme content
- Alumni network
- Faculty
- Schedule
- Meet us: for more personalised support, including an individual campus tour, get in touch using the contact details at the end of this guide. We always encourage candidates to reach out to us and ask questions about our EMFin programme.
Final checklist
- Do I know who to speak to? Have I considered their various possible reactions?
- Have I found out about official company policies?
- Have I networked with others in my organisation who have done comparable programmes?
- Have I decided on the best time to make my first approach to the key stakeholders?
- Am I able to explain how the programme addresses specific needs in the company? Can I explain how the programme addresses my career development within the organisation?
- Am I clear about the benefits that this programme will bring to my employer?
- Do I know exactly what kinds of support I am going to ask for?
- Am I able to explain exactly why am I asking for this support?
- Do I know my own negotiating position and the compromises I am ready to accept?
- Have I made some contingency plans in case the answer is “no”?
