EMBAC Membership

Hello, all.

I am looking for some gift ideas for our EMBA in Aerospace & Defense students. When our students accept their admission offer, we send a box with some branded goodies. In the past we've sent hats, airplane pens, blowup neck pillows, tech organizers, and aviator sunglasses. Some of our students have asked for one nice gift instead of a bunch of little things, so I've been searching for options. I've ordered some duffel bag samples and haven't been super impressed with them. Do you gift your students anything during the program? Have you given anything in the past that your students have really liked?

Thanks for your help!

Michelle Brown 

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Michelle Brown
Associate Director, MBA Admissions & Recruiting
University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma City OK United States
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Hi Michelle,

We usually give our students a school hoodie with the class year on the back. The students really love it :) We give it to them on the second module so that we can get their sizes right.

Best regards, Sissel 

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Sissel Hammerstrøm
Director Executive Degree Programmes
BI Norwegian Business School
Oslo Norway
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@Sissel Hammerstrøm I really love your hoodie idea-what a perfect blend of school spirit and personalization! It's not only a gift students genuinely enjoy, but it also has the added value of promoting the program beyond the classroom. We often refer to alumni as "walking billboards" of the business school brand, and a well-designed hoodie with the class year is a great way to reinforce that identity.

Has anyone found success with branded high-value book bags or personalized leather notebook/folios that students can carry into the workplace or that are helpful with travel? Anyone providing branded smart luggage tags (AirTag/Tile) to hand out before an international residency?

Curious,

Brian

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Brian Mahoney
Managing Partner, Percept Research
Actionable Marketing Insight through Intelligent Research
Charlotte NC United States
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Original Message:
Sent: 06/10/25 03:35 AM
From: Sissel Hammerstrøm
Subject: Executive Student Gifts

Hi Michelle,

We usually give our students a school hoodie with the class year on the back. The students really love it :) We give it to them on the second module so that we can get their sizes right.

Best regards, Sissel 

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Sissel Hammerstrøm
Director Executive Degree Programmes
BI Norwegian Business School
Oslo Norway
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Hi Michelle - 

We do branded backpacks and in the past we have done travel coffee mugs but this year we are doing branded padfolios.  The backpacks especially are a big hit and typically we still see the students carrying them to class throughout their program duration! 

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Suzi Tolliver
Recruitment Specialist
Indiana University
Indianapolis IN United States
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HI Michelle, in line with what some of our colleagues have shared, we give students practical things, including the backpack (we will be travelling all around the World, with the program), and a water bottle. To differentiate them, we have small ideas to "personalize" them with a key chain or stickers which are very basic ideas but they love the options that these offer!

We also give them the hoodies once they are on campus, in our case, different colors for each different team to reinforce the "team" belonging idea.

In general we observe what Brian commented... they LOVE hoodies!

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Roser Marimón-Clos
Executive Director Global Executive MBA
IESE Business School
Barcelona Spain
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Hi Michelle, 

Over the course of our EMBA program, students receive these branded items: Timbuk2 laptop backpack, light jacket/windbreaker for IR, dri-fit polo, 40 oz. Corkcicle tumbler and a passport holder/cover. 

I'd be interested in knowing what other swag you've purchased that is space themed? We're getting ready to launch a Space Commercialization PMBA. 

Thanks,
Kellie

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Kellie Wise
Director of Marketing, Student/Faculty Experience & Outreach
University of Central Florida
Orlando FL United States
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Hi Michelle,

We recently moved away from several 'swag items' to fewer high quality items. Many of the smaller items were not effective from a branding perspective. While we still give them a water bottle, we focus on a quality branded lululemon backpack and jacket. We have noticed the backpacks and jackets being worn all the time by students and alumni. We have also branded more subtly which has helped. Getting the sizes right is indeed tricky!

Cheers, 
Lars 

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Lars Fonteyne
Associate Director - Global Executive MBA in Healthcare and the Life Sciences
University of Toronto
Toronto Canada
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Hi Michelle, 

We worked with one of our UMKC alumni who does graphic design to create a custom nameplate for each that matches the architecture of the building where they attend class. It has the program name/logo with their first and last name (no job title). They use it in the classroom while they're in the program and take it with them when they graduate. 

Additionally, we gift branded items from our Business School throughout the program depending on what's new/in stock such as notebooks, polos, water bottles, and socks (which have been one of the most loved items by those who like socks with character). 

Love the backpack and hoodie with the class year suggestions from other programs!

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April Graham
Director of Student Experience & Engagement
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City MO United States
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Hi Michelle, 

In our dual-degree program, we have also shifted to giving our students one or two higher-end item versus many smaller items. When our program was run just by Rotman, we gave out packing cubes (durable and lightweight), leather padfolios, luggage handle covers (super handy, btw!), notebooks, pens and water bottles. Now in our dual-degree program, at Rotman, we give out Lululemon jackets and t-shirts, as well as 25oz insulated bottle. Our partner school, SDA Bocconi in Italy, gives each student a hoodie and backpack. The items are well-received and used on each module as well as outside the program. We have a Pre-Program Survey as part of onboarding, so each student provides their sizes in advance, so they can receive the items on Day 1. We link to the Lululemon items on their site and if anyone needs to change their size in-person, we usually have extras on hand. 

I'll add that we found that the leather padfolio, while beautiful, was not used - especially in the age of technology where every student is carrying their iPad or electronic notebook. We also considered the Passport holder, but each person has different taste and may not actually use it. 

Hope this helps, and if you need additional info, please feel free to reach out!

Dana

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Dana Sirri
Associate Director
University of Toronto
Toronto ON Canada
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We have also shifted from a greater number of items to fewer, higher-quality items.  We have found that if we offer any beverage container, they won't use it unless it is a high-quality brand. If it's a thermal drink cup, they want a YETI.  If it is for water, they want Owala. We significantly upgraded our backpacks,packed it with a branded Owala water bottle, and included a name-brand embroidered shirt.  This is in place of receiving approximately 6-7 items of lesser quality.  I also look at this as branding for the program.  If they use it and carry it, people see our brand and program. When people see our brand and program, it is on higher dollar items to establish the persona of the degree. Cheaper items go in a closet, never to be seen again until they go in a pile to donate. 

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Amy Dwyer
Director, Professional MBA Program
Texas A&M University
College Station TX United States
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