MBA Enterprise Corps

What is the MBA Enterprise Corps?

The MBA Enterprise Corps - a division of CDC Development Solutions - deploys recently-graduated MBAs from the top 52 U.S. business schools for long-term volunteer assignments with the goal of driving growth in emerging economies worldwide.

The standard MBAEC assignment consists of a one-week orientation and training period in Washington, DC followed by 12-15 months of work as an advisor with a partner business, NGO, association, or government working on small business development, finance, supply chain development, export/trade, corporate social responsibility, or private sector development projects.

Since its founding 20 years ago, over 1000 members of the MBA Enterprise Corps have provided high-impact business skills to clients in 35 emerging markets. They have advised the Government of Southern Sudan on pro-business trade policies, have developed strategic plans for local NGOs in Guatemala, provided management consulting services to B2B firms in Bulgaria, and have built the capacity of banking and microfinance institutions in India, among many other successes.

Partnering

To learn more about how your organization can benefit from the services of an MBA business advisor, please click here.

The MBAEC Business Model

Our model is structured around three contributing groups:

• MBA graduates with an average of seven years of work experience who temporarily forgo lucrative post-MBA salaries for the opportunity to serve year-long assignments as volunteer business advisors strengthening institutions, enterprises and entrepreneurs in developing nations and emerging economies;
• Consortium of 52 of the top U.S. business schools that manage the recruitment, screening and nomination of recent graduates for assignments in emerging markets around the world; and
• Funding/Partner organizations that provide the financial support, scopes of work and project deliverables for the year-long assignments.

The MBAEC Advantage

Experience and Impact

Since 1990, over 1000 MBAEC Advisors have served year-long assignments in over 35 countries and have strengthened more than 4000 institutions, businesses, entrepreneurs and government agencies.

Commitment to Quality

MBAEC provides customized recruitment of advisors with targeted skill sets based on project-specific scopes of work and deliverables.

Consortium

Partnering with the MBAEC provides recognition and access to resources from our consortium of 52 of the top U.S. business schools that assist in the recruitment, screening and nomination of advisors.

Program Management

MBAEC programs are managed and supported by experienced international economic development professionals who manage administrative and logistical needs of advisors from recruitment through assignment completion.

Leadership Development

Historically, 50% of MBAEC advisors stay in the country or region of their service.  Funding an advisor gives partners the opportunity to develop and train potential staff for overseas or domestic assignments within their organizations.

Cost Effectiveness

MBAEC advisors provide unmatched value – our advisors costs between one third and one quarter of what it often costs to recruit, prepare, place, retain, and support a mid-level expatriate professional abroad for a year-long assignment.

Joining the Corps

If you're interested in applying to the MBA Enterprise Corps, please view the information on the application process on our How to Apply and FAQs pages.

Where Are They Now?

Read some of our MBAEC alumni success stories here.

MBA Programs

MBAEC is part of CDC Development Solution's MBA Programs division. The scope and history of MBA Programs is available here. Read more about the MBA Programs division here.

MBAEC in the News

More Information

For more information, please contact us by email at MBAprograms@cdc.org