Cambridge Judge Business School Executive MBA (EMBA) Essay Questions & Analysis

Feb 244 min read

Cambridge Judge Business School’s Executive MBA (EMBA) program is ranked #16 in the world, according to the QS Executive MBA rankings 2024. Cambridge Judge’s EMBA program gives candidates access to Silicon Fen, Cambridge’s extensive college network, and innovation-driven research environment. It also enables them to advance their careers through a curriculum that incorporates professional training, one-to-one coaching, and an International Business Study Trip.

Here are Cambridge Judge Business School’s Executive MBA (EMBA) essay questions and analysis for 2025-2026.

Career Objectives

Please provide a personal statement. It should not exceed 500 words and must include the following:

What are your short and long term career objectives?
What skills/characteristics do you already have that will help you to achieve them?
What do you hope to gain from the degree programme and how do you feel it will help you achieve the career objectives you have? (500 words)

Like most other business school applications, Cambridge requires EMBA applicants to write a career goals essay. The prompt clearly states what you must include in this answer: your career goals, the skills you already have, the skills you need to achieve them, and how you’ll get these with a Cambridge EMBA.

Chapter 1: Open the essay with a short story that demonstrates your passion and what overarching impact you hope to achieve with your career. Explicitly state this mission in a single sentence.

Chapter 2: Next, explain the immediate post-EMBA role in which you’ll take a step closer to this mission. Be as specific as possible to show that you have a well-considered plan. Your longer term objective should show a natural evolution from your immediate post-EMBA goal and be consistent with your opening story and mission.

Chapter 3: Now that you’ve explained your goals, discuss what skills you already have that can help you achieve them. Point to specific examples and achievements from your professional history that have built key transferable skills like leadership, strategic thinking, communication, collaboration, as well as any technical skills that you require for your career goals.

Chapter 4: But there will still be a few skills that you don’t have, which is why you need an EMBA! Point to specific skill or knowledge gaps that the EMBA will fill. You likely already have ample management experience and other advanced business skills as an experienced professional, but require an EMBA to grow your network globally, understand legislations and policies in new markets, meet other like-minded industry professionals, adapt to changing technologies, and update yourself on industry trends and processes.

Chapter 5: Finally, explain how the Cambridge EMBA will provide you with the skills you lack. Maybe it’s the curriculum, clubs, proximity to Silicon Fen, or a specific type of network. Be precise and state the specific opportunities you are interested in, and how they will directly help you achieve your goals.

Essay 1

In your own words, please answer the following essay: Tell us about a contemporary person who you think has an interesting perspective on business. If you could meet them, what would you hope to learn from them? (500 words)

This unique EMBA question speaks to Cambridge Judge’s collaborative, diverse learning environment. In the classroom, you will be involved in a highly interactive dialogue on business challenges and learn from other accomplished professionals and industry leaders. That’s why Cambridge wants to assess your ability to learn from others and grow, take constructive feedback, innovative thinking, and commitment to improving your leadership style.

Chapter 1: A good approach to this essay is to start with a personal story that leads into how you were introduced to this person and their business perspective. Note that this should not be a historical figure, but someone who is active in the business world/ has been active up until recently. Your story should explain your situation at the time, any challenges you faced, what actions you took, and how you were introduced to this person and their ideas. Perhaps you came across a book, podcast, lecture/seminar, interview, or at an event. What was the interesting perspective they presented? You can also briefly describe how they implemented this idea in their own work and found success.

Chapter 2: Next, explain how their perspective came as a breakthrough for you at the time, changed your own ideas, inspired you to take initiative, transformed your working style or leadership, or helped you solve a problem at work. How did it impact you, and what positive changes did you make in your own life? Give specific examples, quantifying these where applicable. Note that this perspective does not have to match your own values or ideas! In fact, a perspective that challenges your own worldview can lead to a richer essay.

Chapter 3: Then, specify 1-2 points you would like to discuss with them if you were able to meet them. These could elaborate on the earlier business perspective you discussed in this essay, or you can bring up your own industry and how to apply their ideas there. What do you hope to learn from their expertise?

You may also apply this learning to your Cambridge EMBA classroom and cohort, explaining specific actions you will take to share your knowledge with your peers.

Additional Information

If you would like to provide further information, please do so here (optional) (2000 characters)

This is an optional essay, so use this space thoughtfully. Here, you can explain important topics that you haven’t addressed elsewhere in your application like low GMAT/EA test scores, your choice of recommenders, any gaps in your employment history, criminal records or anything else that may be flagged in a background check, and any other extenuating circumstances that may affect your application.

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