You
may think digital transformation doesn’t apply to your industry. Think again.
According to McKinsey, 70 percent of
businesses will attempt a digital transformation, yet only 30 percent will
succeed.
Why
do so many otherwise successful companies fail to adapt to the tech-driven
world? Chief among many factors is the digital skills gap impacting 54 percent of businesses.
Most traditional business education programs simply haven’t kept pace with
today’s technological demands, causing individuals who already have a MBA to
seek out programs to learn more applied and specific digital skills. I’ve seen
this trend first-hand. Thirty percent of students in the Executive MS in Technology Management
at Columbia University came in with a MBA already on their
resume.
In
a dynamic marketplace where tech is king, I believe an Executive MS in
Technology Management is the new must-have degree for business executives.
This
is not to say the MBA is obsolete. The degree still has broad value in the
business world, especially if you’re just starting a career. But due to the
inseparable nature of technology and business, there is an urgent need to
supplement MBAs with education and theories that can be applied to the current
digital reality. If you’re an executive seeking continuing education, here are
three reasons you should pursue a degree in tech management.
It’s not just for tech companies.
All
industries have to leverage technology to survive, not just the Amazons of the
world. Across 15 industries, ranging from manufacturing to energy, 47 percent of CEOs are
challenged to make progress in digital business, according to a study from
Gartner. Increasing efficiency – and profit – is the key driver. That same
study found 56 percent of executives say digital improvements have already
increased their profits.
An
Executive MS in Tech Management provides students with the tools to increase a
company’s bottom line. Programs emphasize the importance of using technology in
business for strategic advantage and improved productivity.
Graduates
typically assume such positions as CIOs, CTOs, CAOs, COOs, CEOs, CSOs, or CDOs.
Steve Bandrowczak was named President and COO of Xerox while taking our program
at Columbia University. Lauren Goodwin earned her Executive MS and was hired as
BP’s VP of Digital Transformation.
Programs are specified to your needs.
Executives
like Steve and Lauren succeeded because what they learned was specific to their
needs. Digital transformation is not a one-size-fits-all process, so programs
offer a variety of focus areas, such as C-Level Management, Cybersecurity and
Data Management and Analytics. Executives can leverage this expertise to reach
the next level in their careers.
Matthew
Smith was a student at Columbia University’s program. As a lead architect for a
digital transformation initiative at AT&T, he chose a focus in Digital and
Business Transformation. Within a month of beginning our program, Matt’s
responsibilities at his company increased. He later accepted a position with a
leading global consulting firm as a Senior Business and Integration Architect,
a job that came with a pay raise of 35 percent.
Mentors share real-world experience.
For
every Netflix, there’s a Blockbuster that was too slow to adapt to digital
trends. Since 2000, over 50 percent of Fortune
500 companies have been acquired, merged, or declared bankruptcy.
Individualized
mentoring from an executive who has successfully led a digital transformation
can help you lead your company to success instead of becoming another
statistic. Unfortunately, legal issues sometimes prevent executives from
getting one-on-one advice from CEOs or other leading technology executives.
This
is not the case with Executive MS programs, where students benefit from one-on-one
mentorships with a top-level executive. The aforementioned Matthew Smith
credited mentor David Widup, a former executive and Principal at N. Allen &
Associates, LLC, with helping him understand the intersection of business and
technology.
I’ve
seen growing interest in Columbia’s Executive MS program since its launch, a
testament to the demands of digital transformation. With every business needing
to integrate technology into its operations and an increasingly large digital
skills gap, expert knowledge in technology can help keep you and your business
from falling behind. I encourage aspiring C-Suite executives to consider
degrees that will make them indispensable leaders for tomorrow.