EMBA Americas: Where Local Boardrooms Become One Global Classroom

The Cornell Executive MBA Americas program delivers a hybrid learning experience that connects professionals across boardroom locations throughout North America and globally. Designed for working executives who want to earn an Ivy League MBA without pausing their careers, the program combines live, alternating weekend classes with advanced videoconferencing that links students from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Asia, and other global locations in real time. Whether you join from a local boardroom near you or online from home, you’ll engage directly with Cornell faculty and accomplished peers in a collaborative, high-impact environment.

With over a dozen boardroom cities plus an online boardroom option, Cornell meets you where you are — without requiring time off on Fridays like many other part-time MBA programs. Our hybrid structure makes the Ivy League possible for professionals with demanding jobs and full lives. Beyond the flexible learning location, you’ll sharpen strategic thinking, strengthen leadership skills, and expand your influence in ways that pay off immediately at work.

What You’ll Experience at Every Cornell Boardroom

No matter which boardroom you join from, you’ll work directly with distinguished faculty and a cohort of accomplished peers. These weekend sessions blend lecture, debate, and collaborative analysis with practical, hands-on projects. You’ll also receive personalized leadership coaching and mentorship from industry leaders, and you’ll build confidence and perspective to tackle your biggest professional challenges.

You’ll also have access to one-on-one career coaching tailored to your goals, along with the power of Cornell’s global network — more than 250,000 alumni strong — that opens doors long after graduation.

While the academic core is consistent across locations, each city offers distinct networking opportunities tied to its business community. You might workshop a growth plan with a studio executive in Los Angeles, trade insights with a logistics VP in Dallas, or collaborate with a fintech innovator in Mexico City. These connections add depth to your MBA and create lasting professional relationships across industries and borders.

Cornell Executive MBA Americas Boardroom Locations

Our EMBA Americas locations are embedded in major business cities, giving you the advantage of studying close to home while gaining access to a truly international network. From Seattle to Mexico City, New York to Los Angeles, the Bay Area to Washington, D.C., you’ll collaborate with peers across industries and borders, building both regional and global connections.

In-person weekends give you valuable face-to-face interaction, while the program’s reach exposes you to diverse perspectives and industry insights. Whether you’re leading a team across time zones, driving change in your organization, or preparing for your next leadership role, you’ll benefit from Cornell’s flexibility, resources, and community support.

If you are a substantial distance from our boardroom locations, online participation from home is a convenient alternative. Our online boardroom offers the same live classroom experience as in-person locations. You’ll still attend every class weekend, build close relationships with your team, and travel to four weeklong residential sessions in New York and Canada, which are essential opportunities to deepen relationships and expand your network.

Contact the Executive MBA Americas admissions office if you have questions about the differences between the boardroom and online experiences.

Connected Learning That Brings Every Location Together

Every other weekend, you’ll join a fully interactive class led by Cornell faculty from the Ithaca broadcast studio in the Breazzano Family Center for Business Education. You’ll engage in debates, case discussions, and team-based problem-solving alongside peers in other cities or online, building the skills to think strategically, lead with confidence, and drive results in your organization.

This collaborative, engaging environment encourages deep trust among classmates. You’ll work on complex business challenges with diverse teams, gaining fresh perspectives from peers across industries and geographies. The experience sharpens your ability to make decisions under pressure, lead with confidence in uncertain environments, and build a lasting network that extends well beyond the classroom.

The EMBA Americas curriculum covers core topics like international business, strategic marketing, corporate governance, and critical thinking, along with emerging forces such as AI and digital transformation. Through the team-based global business project and your own new venture or consulting project, you’ll apply what you’ve learned to create measurable value before graduation.

Top industries represented by EMBA Americas graduates

• Engineering and Technology – 22%
• Government and Public Sector – 14%
• Education – 10%
• Finance – 8%
• Health care – 8%
• Transportation and Logistics – 7%
• Retail and Consumer Goods – 7%
• Consulting – 7%
• Energy and Utilities – 5%
• Manufacturing – 3%
• Real Estate – 3%
• Other – 6%

Weekend Class Schedule

Weekend classes take place every other Saturday and Sunday over 17 months, designed to fit seamlessly into the life of a full-time professional. Classes are held for a full day on Saturday (9:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Eastern) and a partial day on Sunday (9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Eastern). Classes are live across all time zones.

On occasion, a Sunday afternoon class session and/or meeting may occur after 1:30 p.m. These dates will be shared well in advance.