Partners
A national retailer headquartered in the Milwaukee area, the Corporate Executive MBA program of the Wisconsin School of Business, and the Lubar School of Business at UW-Milwaukee.
Challenge
A national retailer headquartered in Wisconsin wanted an effective way to increase the business skills of a large number of its employees, in order to make the company more competitive.
Strategy
The Wisconsin School of Business developed its Corporate Executive MBA program in 2008 as a unique partnership between the Wisconsin School of Business, the Lubar School of Business at UW-Milwaukee and a major Wisconsin employer. The program allows a world-class business education to be delivered literally to the employer’s door.
Thirty-seven company employees were selected for the first offering of the Corporate Executive MBA program. Faculty from the Wisconsin School of Business and Lubar School of Business taught two evenings a week at corporate headquarters. Students integrated work and class projects with others from their functional areas and other parts of the company, within the context of an MBA curriculum.
Outcomes
The first cohort of employees graduated from the program in 2010, and a second cohort of more than 40 students is currently enrolled. The company gained immediate benefits from having a more knowledgeable workforce —and an enhanced ability to recruit and retain top talent.
The Wisconsin School of Business intends to partner with other major Wisconsin employers to develop additional Corporate Executive MBA offerings.