“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that in one short year I would be calculating unleveraged betas and grappling with game theory as seamlessly as I could run meetings and set budgets.” William Shaw, Class of 2008 Eriko Sekiya, Class of 2015 Japan
Share. You may wonder why the Stanford MSx Program asks prospective candidates to share their professional and personal stories during the application process. The answer is that we aim to build a community of people that will develop deep, life-long relationships with each other through their experience at Stanford. Your academic and professional accomplishments matter a great deal to us—and your passions and interests are equally important. Use the application to give the admissions committee a 360-degree picture of yourself. Share with the committee what you hope to learn and what you want to do next in your career. Each Fellow brings her or his unique perspective on the world to the MSx Program. The Stanford MSx Program looks for people who are seeking intellectual challenge, have a desire to lead a life of meaning and impact, and, at this stage in their career, have clarity of purpose as to what he or she wants to achieve. If you are interested in an immersive experience where you will be challenged and have the opportunity to reflect, we encourage you to apply.
Comparing Programs Average Executive MBA
Stanford MBA Program
Stanford MSx Program
Program Length
21 months (6 quarters)
1 year (4 quarters)
2–3 years
Class Size
~400 students
~90 Fellows (mid-career managers/ executives)
Varies
Experience
4 years average
12 years, average; minimum 8 years
13.7 years*
International
44%**
65%
Local/regional students
Degree
MBA
MS in Management
EMBA
• Full-time, immersive, residential
• Part-time, commuter
• Tenured faculty
• Adjunct faculty
• Access to hundreds of Stanford University courses and GSB electives
• Limited elective options
• Stanford GSB and University alumni networks
*= 2014 Member Program Survey of Executive MBA Council (EMBAC) **= Includes permanent residents and U.S. dual citizens.
• Business courses only
Eriko is the founder and CEO of her own company in Japan. She came to Stanford to better understand how to scale her business. “I realized that there might be even more opportunities here than expected.” She is now working in partnership with a new technology company, introduced to her by a well-known venture capitalist and MSx alumnus, leading all business functions including pricing and engaging clients.
Ricardo Netto, Class of 2015 Brazil Ricardo had years of experience leading team and business units at Itaú Bank in Brazil. At Stanford he gained a great appreciation for leadership. “It’s all about the people and even though this is a business school, I became more people-orientated than when I came in. I think the major takeaway from this year is be even more user-centric, more human-centric as a business leader.”