Whether you’re sponsored by your organization or self-funded, the Stanford MSx Program is about building assets — both people and organizations — to create leaders capable of having an impact in the world.
If you have at least eight years of full-time work experience, and have a passion for learning and leading, the Stanford MSx experience awaits you.
What We Look For
Fellows in the Stanford MSx Program are a unique and varied group with wide-ranging, impressive backgrounds. The goal of our evaluation process is to maintain that important diversity, while selecting individuals who demonstrate exceptional potential to contribute to the global business world. In general, we evaluate applicants for:
Demonstrated Accomplishments
While we might want to discern any future potential in the applicants we consider for admission, there is no better predictor of future success than past actions. We need to see that an applicant has already demonstrated successful leadership. This means pursuing goals by effectively motivating others, whether in a small or a large organization, to share a common vision.
Intellectual Engagement
What you have done as a leader certainly matters, but the way that you have done it is no less important. We seek individuals that have not only built a track record of success, but have also been able to develop themselves and others along the way. Our Fellows must be curious, willing to take risks in pursuit of learning, and understand the value of knowledge to foster better management.
Clarity of Purpose
Our school’s motto is: “Change lives. Change organizations. Change the world.” In order to realize this, we look for leaders who can build on their previous experiences to make a deeper impact in a field that matters. Because our Fellows have considerable experience, and because the one-year program is fast-paced, we favor candidates who know what they intend to accomplish. This is not a program for those who want to put off major life decisions, but rather one that can help ambitious leaders refine their vision and make it a reality.
Degree & Work Experience
All applicants are expected to have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree, as well as eight or more years of increasingly successful work experience. Most successful applicants have served at least five years in management positions.