Iowa State University issued the following announcement on May 8.
One of Iowa’s most prominent business leaders, Suku Radia, joins the Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business as it launches an executive MBA program (Ivy EMBA) — the first in the Midwest to focus on food, agriculture, and biosystems.
“Not only are we the first in Iowa to offer an executive MBA with this focus, we’re the first in the Midwest, and we are doing it with one of the most respected, well-known business leaders in the state of Iowa — Suku Radia,” said Raisbeck Endowed Dean David Spalding. “Having Suku on our team will take this program to the highest possible level.”
Radia (’74 accounting) served a decade as CEO of Bankers Trust, Iowa’s largest independently owned bank with assets exceeding $4 billion. Previously, he was chief financial officer of media giant Meredith Corporation and managing partner of KPMG, both based in Des Moines. He has also been a member of the Ivy College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council since 2014.
Radia, who recently retired from Bankers Trust, sees this as a new adventure.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “For the past dozen years or so, I have been actively mentoring young men and women after they graduate from college. I’ve spent 45 weekends a year mentoring them, one-on-one. I feel that with this new position, I can take it to the next level. I see this as group mentoring.”
In his new role with the Ivy EMBA program, Radia will serve as executive-in-residence and will be instrumental in planning and leading a high-quality speaker series for those enrolled.
“I would like to share lessons I have learned in my 43 year career,” Radia said. “I want to help Iowa State University, my alma mater. I want people to enjoy this program and really get something out of it.”
Return on investment
There are many benefits of earning an executive MBA, including potential career advancement and increased leadership skills, which provide an immediate impact. “Companies also gain from having their employees complete the program,” Spalding said. “Lessons learned in the program do transfer throughout an organization as the graduate works with various teams.”
The new Ivy EMBA, offered in partnership with Iowa State University’s world-renowned College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is a groundbreaking program that blends cutting edge technology and innovation, business leaders, and world class academics to create a new state-of- the-art program in food, agriculture, and biosystems. The 21-month program is perfect for up-and-coming executives working in these areas.
Participants in the program will benefit from international and domestic study trips, a lecture series, and flexible class schedules. Additionally, the program will feature state-of-the-art business trends and research presented in concert with industry leaders and scientists to prepare the next generation of leadership.
Program highlights:
- Courses will be offered in hybrid format, combining online and face-to-face interactions.
- Most of the face-to-face sessions will be offered every three weeks on Fridays and Saturdays in Ames or Des Moines.
- The program partners with the world-renowned College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to offer customized content for executives in the food, agriculture, and biosystems industries.
- The program fees will cover tuition, books, parking, study trips, and meals.
- Two study trips are included in the program.
- The first trip will be in May 2019 and will feature three working days in Washington DC. Students will have the opportunity to interact with legislators, regulators, policy makers, and lobbyists.
- The second, an international travel experience, will be at the end of the second year. Possible destinations include the Netherlands, Brazil, or China.
If you’re ready to advance your career, consider the executive MBA at the Ivy College of Business. Contact us today to begin the application process: emba@iastate.edu.
Original source can be found here.
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