Corporate Sponsorship

Developing a Sponsorship Request

Reinforce your commitment to increasing your value to your organization when you request OneMBA sponsorship. Here are some tips for presenting a strong proposal.

Plan ahead: Allow plenty of time for the approval process. It will probably take longer than you expect.

Investigate: Research your company’s education policy and approval process. Talk to other managers who earned an MBA while working. Ask how their MBA has advanced their career, and get their advice for developing and presenting your proposal.

Also, you can contact OneMBA administrators; they may be able to connect you with students or alumni who can offer you advice about gaining corporate support.

Write a formal request: Describe how OneMBA will increase your value to your company. Since the final decision maker may not know you, include a personal profile that highlights your company contributions. Address objections and concerns you will encounter:

• How you will manage time away from the office
• How costs will be paid
• How you will continue to excel on the job
• Why OneMBA benefits outweigh those of other global MBA programs

Sample outline for a sponsorship request

Prepare to negotiate: Think through the concessions you are willing to make and include them in your written request or discuss them in person:

• Are you willing to forego raises or bonuses while in school?
• Will you commit to remaining with your company for a specific number of years in exchange for financial support?
• Are you willing to use vacation days for attending classes and residencies?