Securing an MBA sponsorship means convincing your employer to financially support your advanced education, as it can be mutually beneficial. Learn how Anne Griffioen, a high-ranking executive at KLM, did just that for her studies at VU Amsterdam.
Before you start thinking about getting MBA sponsorship, the initial task is to pinpoint the most suitable program for you. Although Anne Griffioen held a high-ranking role at the Dutch airline KLM, she recognized that she needed an MBA to make her career take off.
As the Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice President of Engineering and Maintenance at KLM, Anne’s role is multifaceted. Although she summarizes her role as making sure her boss “can perform on stage,” in reality, there’s much more to it than that. Anne is responsible for crafting business strategies, delineating budgets, overseeing personnel, and so much more. It’s a job that requires a well-rounded knowledge of business – something that an MBA could help with. (00:42)
Anne’s primary criterion in selecting an MBA was flexibility. She was looking for a program she could study while still working her current job in Amsterdam. She also wanted to find a program that would address her skill gaps. And as someone working within the airline industry, she also valued travel opportunities within her prospective MBA program.
Anne discovered the ideal solution at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, better known as VU Amsterdam. With flexible study options, a blended curriculum, and travel opportunities, VU Amsterdam’s MBA in International Business ticked all the boxes for Anne.
The next step was convincing her employer to sponsor her.
Only some companies are equipped to sponsor an MBA. If you’re working at a small not-for-profit, it’s unlikely they’re going to put up $100,000 for your MBA. You need to be working for an employer that will be willing, and able, to pay for your studies.
Some industries are predisposed to supporting continued education. According to a 2018 study by Bloomberg, the Government and Defense & Aerospace industries funded the highest proportion of MBA students, at 88% and 84%, respectively. Meanwhile, the Consulting, Finance, and Tech industries emerged as the top contributors to the overall number of sponsored students.
Conversely, less than a quarter of the students coming from the education and retail sectors had sponsored MBAs.
So your first step is assessing whether your current employer is large enough to cover the costs of your program. Anne’s employer is large enough that they already had system in place to sponsor MBAs and lower degrees.
“I knew that KLM would have the possibility to pay a certain amount for the studies,” she explains. “So I thought I would just try to do the application for it if they want to help me financially.” (02:35)
Just like an MBA student must assess the return on investment (ROI) of an MBA program, an employer must gauge the ROI of sponsoring an employee’s MBA. In Anne’s case, KLM had to decide whether she would make an impact in leadership positions in the future.
Anne says that KLM asked themselves a few questions before agreeing to sponsor her. “If we support her in this MBA, will she benefit the company later? Which makes sense, because it’s a lot of money, of course.” (03:03)
“If they didn’t see me in a management position on a higher level, I think they wouldn’t support me in doing this MBA, because it really wouldn’t make sense at that point,” she adds. (03:48)
If you want to ask your company to sponsor your MBA, you need to prove that you have the potential to move into senior roles. This means showcasing your accomplishments and articulating your aspirations for career advancement.
You have to convince your employer that you’re a worthwhile investment.
Most companies will want to see how your MBA will help you make an impact in the future. But if you can, show how your MBA will help you thrive in your current role. By doing so, you enable your employer to see an immediate return on their investment.
Because Anne studied for her MBA alongside her job at KLM, she was able to apply the skills was learning immediately. That’s only possible in certain MBA programs. At VU, not only is the MBA part-time, but actionable learning is an integral part of the curriculum. It’s all about applying what you learn in the program in the real world. Because of VU’s focus on actionable learning, Anne was able to demonstrate an immediate benefit to her employer.
MBA sponsorship won’t be worth it for an employer if you leave the company shortly afterward. If a company is paying for your studies, they want to see that you’re committed both to the MBA program and your job. They want you to stick around long enough for your new skills to benefit them.
For this reason, Anne’s agreement with her employer came with conditions. “They discussed it and they made an agreement together with me so that I don’t leave the company during my studies,” she explains. (03:14)
The terms of MBA sponsorship will differ from employer to employer. Some employers will require a minimum tenure of service before considering your application for sponsorship.
Above all else, the pivotal step to securing MBA sponsorship is straightforward: ask the question. If you don’t ask your employer to pay for your MBA, you’ll never know if it’s possible or not.
Although Anne suspected that KLM would be prepared to sponsor her MBA at VU Amsterdam, she still had to ask the question. If you can prepare a solid business case, outline the benefits to your employer, and find the right program, you too can secure MBA sponsorship from your employer.
If you want to learn more about studying for an MBA at VU Amsterdam, reach out to one of our VU MBA ambassadors.
