Teaching Executive MBA students with diverse backgrounds can be a difficult balancing act. An instructor must move fast enough to keep things interesting but be aware when a student needs extra help.
The teaching of Professor Stephen Burnett of the Kellogg School of Management has consistently received high marks from students. A lecturer in the joint Kellogg-HKUST EMBA programme, Professor Burnett spoke to the South China Morning Post on the challenges executive students face.
Which subjects do you teach?
I teach a course in strategic management that examines strategic decisions at the corporate and business unit levels.
You were voted best lecturer of the year. How does that make you feel?
Perhaps the competition was especially weak this year. No, seriously, my subject area - strategy - is highly relevant for experienced executives. I have the opportunity to help senior executives structure a complex and uncertain yet critical area of responsibility. Plus, I genuinely enjoy what I do and attempt to keep classes lively and fun.
How do you structure your class to deal with students of different backgrounds?
