For the designers & makers of tomorrow

Degrees designed for real-world success

At the executive level, success requires more than technical expertise. The Executive MBA in Strategic Leadership (EMBA-SL) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business prepares senior leaders to think strategically across systems, teams, and their organisations.

The one-year program is built for executives who want to move beyond functional knowledge and grow as enterprise-level decision-makers. EMBA SL students average 20 years of professional experience, bringing deep perspective and real-world insight to every classroom discussion.

That experience shapes a curriculum focused on the skills executive leaders need to operate at scale. Students learn to lead people effectively and set strategic directions, then apply those skills by allocating resources with intention and aligning systems for execution — all in real time. 

Rather than progressing through individual courses, students experience an integrated approach that reflects how real businesses operate. By examining how strategy, finance, operations, and leadership intersect, EMBA students gain a holistic perspective that strengthens decision-making, reduces friction, and improves outcomes across the enterprise.

What if you could see a return on your EMBA investment before graduation?

That’s exactly what you’ll experience in EMBA-SL. One of the program’s defining features is the Organizational Action Project, an applied, faculty-guided initiative that translates what you're learning in the classroom directly to your organization. In practice, with real results.

Your project will be shaped around your specific goals and your company's needs. For instance, you might redesign a critical business process, build a succession plan, or evaluate opportunities in an emerging market. Whatever you choose, you will be solving a real problem while you earn your EMBA.

This emphasis on impact and professional development continues through EMBA-SL’s Leadership Development Program. Here, you will work with a dedicated executive coach using a research-based approach to understand your leadership style, identify areas for growth, and build a long-term development plan.

As an EMBA student, you will receive a full year of coaching during the program and another full year after graduation, all at no additional cost. This extended investment supports students and alumni in building their leadership influence, even long after the program ends.

The program’s track record speaks for itself. Ranked #2 in alumni satisfaction among US public universities by the Financial Times, EMBA-SL’s impact lasts long beyond the final semester.

With an intimate cohort size of around 30 people, the group is designed to encourage meaningful conversations, cross-industry collaboration, and to develop peer relationships that last for years to come. Because your classmates come from different industries and functions, every discussion surfaces a perspective you will not have encountered before, and that breadth of thinking sharpens your own.

Over the course of the year, classmates become a trusted network of colleagues and friends. And when you graduate, you will join a network of more than 600 alumni who continue showing up for each other, professionally and personally. Your EMBA community serves as a valuable resource to expand your leadership impact.

Hear from the students

A dynamic EMBA awaits at the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business.