For busy professionals juggling work, family, and other personal responsibilities, adding an Executive MBA (EMBA) to an already full plate can seem overwhelming and impossible. For instance, how can an executive who frequently travels for work attend weekly classes, or how can a professional pursue a program that aligns with their development goals if it’s not offered in their city and they already have a demanding schedule?
The Telfer Executive MBA program addresses these challenges with a hybrid format that combines in-person and online learning, giving busy professionals more flexibility while maintaining academic rigor and an engaging learning experience for all candidates. A recent graduate, Darryl Slater and current EMBA candidate, Annabelle Maliakkal, share how this model made it possible for them to add an EMBA to their already busy schedules.
Why Telfer
Before joining the Telfer Executive MBA program, both Darryl and Annabelle had growing careers and responsibilities.
Darryl, a senior project manager at a Toronto-based software company, was leading cross-functional enterprise projects but felt he needed to deepen his business acumen and formalize his leadership skills. “I had a lot of breadth but not much depth,” he shares. “The Executive MBA felt like the right next step to round out my experience and prepare me for the next stage of my career.”
Annabelle, a hospital manager, found she had peaked in her individual contribution to her organization and was ready to move into a leadership role. “I had reached the limit of what I could contribute without formal leadership training,” she says. “I knew that to progress in healthcare, an MBA or an MHA was essential.”
Both professionals wanted a program that aligned with their work schedules and personal lives. For Darryl, who had two young children at home, Telfer’s schedule of classes one day a week on alternating Fridays and Saturdays offered a good balance: “It doesn’t disrupt every weekend, nor does it take me away from work every week.” For Annabelle, the program’s cost-effectiveness and 20-month timeline made it a practical investment. “Some programs in and around Toronto are more than $120,000. As someone who is paying for the program out of pocket, the return on investment is important. Telfer offers incredible value even after adding in travel expenses.”
Hybrid learning fits real life
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced remote learning, Telfer, whose program was in-person only at that time, quickly moved to online and then adapted its EMBA structure to incorporate virtual and in-person delivery for a hybrid experience.
Darryl recalls experiencing all three formats: “I started the program fully in-person, traveling from Toronto each week to attend classes. It’s not just the time that you’re in class that you need to think about when you live out of town, it’s the travel time too – I had to choose, what four hours I was taking away from my life. It was either losing four hours of work in the afternoon to travel to Ottawa the day before classes or four hours with the kids in the evening. When Covid hit, we moved to learning fully online, and by the last semester, the program had decided to keep online learning in place to provide a hybrid option. I saw how each had its strengths however the hybrid setup gave me much more control over my schedule. While I loved attending the classes in person, I found that throughout the course of the program, I was beginning to feel burnt out from the extra hours of traveling back and forth. The hybrid format eliminated the hours of travel, which in the end helped me stay the course and complete the program.”
For Annabelle, who currently commutes to Ottawa once a month from the Greater Toronto Area, the hybrid option was essential: “It’s a ten-hour round trip every month, and I wouldn’t have considered Telfer without the hybrid flexibility. It gives me time back for my family and schoolwork.”
Both emphasize how the program’s technology and design support integration between in-person and remote participants. With microphones at every desk, tracking cameras, and split-screen displays, the hybrid environment aims to keep all candidates engaged. Professors make an effort to balance participation - calling on both in-class and online candidates. Should they miss seeing a virtual hand up, program staff are in every class to ensure online candidates are not overlooked.
“The way Telfer designed the classroom made it easy to feel connected,” Darryl says. “It never felt like two separate classes.”
Building connections from anywhere
One common concern about hybrid learning is whether it limits networking. Both Darryl and Annabelle acknowledge that while nothing replaces weekly hallway or lunch conversations, they have felt included and connected throughout their program experience.
Annabelle credits her social and inclusive cohort for helping bridge the gap. “We have a mega WhatsApp group that is always active – we share celebrations, jokes, and questions. It keeps the energy alive. My team also has a WhatsApp group, and we are constantly communicating about assignments and projects.” She also prioritizes traveling to Ottawa once a month to attend classes in-person - “Networking is the MBA experience. The side conversations, lunches, and drinks after class - that’s where you really build relationships, so I make a point of attending in-person once a month.”
Darryl’s experience is similar. While he missed the casual in-person moments, his EMBA team worked and collaborated well virtually. “We worked remotely for most of the program and have stayed close even after graduating. I think the hybrid setup prepared us for the way business really operates today – many teams operate virtually. Even now as a graduate, I feel included in the alumni community despite not living in Ottawa. The Telfer School holds in-person events in Toronto where I can connect with other alumni, and the Executive MBA offers hybrid Master Classes and webinars to help me stay connected and engaged with the program.”
Balancing work, family, and professional development
A hybrid model proves to be valuable for professionals who are trying to manage several competing priorities.
“The hybrid option changed my experience completely,” Darryl explains. “It gave me back time with my family and made the workload sustainable. Without it, I would have been traveling back and forth from Toronto to Ottawa each week and I think burnout would’ve been inevitable.”
Annabelle agrees: “I can’t overstate how valuable it is to have flexibility. It gives me much more control over my schedule while still feeling I’m part of a community. I don’t travel a lot for work, but some of my classmates do and without the hybrid model, they would miss a lot of classes and fall behind. A great example of the value of this model is one of my classmates accepted a job in Dubai after the first year of the program. Because of the hybrid model, he didn’t have to choose between the new opportunity and completing his EMBA - he’s able to do both.”
Impact on careers
Both Darryl and Annabelle experienced professional growth during and after the program.
Darryl transitioned into a new leadership role shortly after graduation, crediting the EMBA for helping him figure out his next move and for giving him the skills to do it. “I didn’t go in expecting to change directions in my career, but the exposure to new ideas, professors, and classmates helped me discover what I really wanted to do next.”
Annabelle also advanced in her career, earning a promotion during the program. “Being in an EMBA gives you confidence. I don’t have any proof that being in the program was a factor in my getting promoted but I do know that you’re learning proven frameworks and skills of current leaders in the EMBA, and that mindset shows up at work.”
Advice for future EMBA candidates
When asked what they’d tell other busy professionals considering a hybrid program, both Darryl and Annabelle agree: the experience is what you make of it.
“You get out what you put in,” says Darryl. “If you keep your camera on, participate, and engage with your classmates, you can get nearly all the same value as being in the room.”
Annabelle echoes the sentiment. “Make the most of it. If you’re doing the Telfer Executive MBA, travel to Ottawa when you can. Be intentional about connecting with different people each time. The flexibility of the hybrid model gives you the best of both worlds - embrace both.”
