3 reasons aspiring executives need a degree in tech management

3 reasons aspiring executives need a degree in tech management3 reasons aspiring executives need a degree in tech managementYou may think digital transformation doesnt apply to your industry. Think again. According to McKinsey, 70% of geschftlicherbei umganges will attempt a digital transformation, yet only 30% will succeed.Why do so many otherwise successful companies fail to adapt to the tech-driven world? Chief among many factors is the digital skills gap impacting 54% of geschftlicher umganges. Most traditional business education programs simply havent kept pace with todays technological demands, causing individuals who already have an MBA to seek out programs to learn more applied and specific digital skills. Ive seen this trend first-hand 30% of students in the Executive MS in Technology Management at Columbia University came in with an MBA already on their resume.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction , Neuroscience, and moreIn a dynamic marketplace where tech is king, I believe an Executive MS in Technology Management is the new must-have degree for business executives seeking to further their professional development.This is not to say the MBA is obsolete. The degree still has broad value in the business world, especially if youre just starting a career. But due to the inseparable nature of technology and business, there is an urgent need to supplement MBAs with education and theories that can be applied to the current digital reality. If youre an executive seeking continuing education, here are three reasons you should pursue a degree in tech management.Its not just for tech companiesAll industries have to leverage technology to survive, not just the Amazons of the world. Across 15 industries, ranging from manufacturing to energy, 47% of CEOs are challenged to make progress in digital business, according to a study from Gartner. Increasing efficiency and profit is the key dr iver. That same study found 56% of executives say digital improvements have already increased their profits.An Executive MS in Tech Management provides students with the tools to increase a companys bottom line. Programs emphasize the importance of using technology in business for strategic advantage and improved productivity.Graduates typically assume such flecks as CIOs, CTOs, CAOs, COOs, CEOs, CSOs, or CDOs. Steve Bandrowczak was named President and COO of Xerox while taking our program at Columbia University. Lauren Goodwin earned her Executive MS and was hired as BPs VP of Digital Transformation.Programs are specified to your needsExecutives like Steve and Lauren succeeded because what they learned was specific to their needs. Digital transformation is not a one-size-fits-all process, so programs offer a variety of focus areas, such as C-Level Management, Cybersecurity and Data Management, and Analytics. Executives can leverage this expertise to reach the next level in their ca reers.Matthew Smith was a student at Columbia Universitys program. As a lead architect for a digital transformation initiative at ATT, he chose a focus in Digital and Business Transformation. Within a month of beginning our program, Matts responsibilities at his company increased. He later accepted a position with a leading global consulting firm as a Senior Business and Integration Architect, a job that came with a pay raise of 35%.Mentors share real-world experienceFor every Netflix, theres a Blockbuster that was too slow to adapt to digital trends. Since 2000, over 50% of Fortune 500 companies have been acquired, merged, or declared bankruptcy.Individualized mentoring from an executive who has successfully led a digital transformation can help you lead your company to success instead of becoming another statistic. Unfortunately, legal issues sometimes prevent executives from getting one-on-one advice from CEOs or other leading technology executives.This is not the case with Execu tive MS programs, where students benefit from one-on-one mentorships with a top-level executive. The aforementioned Matthew Smith credited mentor David Widup, a former executive and Principal at N. Allen Associates, LLC, with helping him understand the intersection of business and technology.Ive seen growing interest in Columbias Executive MS program since its launch, a testament to the demands of digital transformation. With every business needing to integrate technology into its operations and an increasingly large digital skills gap, expert knowledge in technology can help keep you and your business from falling behind. I encourage aspiring C-Suite executives to consider degrees that will make them indispensable leaders for tomorrow.By Dr. Art Langeris the Academic Director of Technology Management at Columbia Universitys School of Professional Studies and Director of the Center for Technology Management at Columbia University.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 ritua ls that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people