What is the best practical approach to pre-class preparation for Executive MBA learners?

Pre-class preparation can be an important part of Executive MBA learning because executive-level management requires professionals to connect knowledge across functions and make decisions with wider organisational consequences. For an Executive MBA participant, pre-class preparation becomes more useful when it can be translated into measurable action at work. This answer specifically addresses: What is the best practical approach to pre-class preparation for Executive MBA learners?