Why is the MBA the degree of choice for so many ambitious business professionals? According to U.S. News & World Report, “If you were to ask a roomful of b-school students why they decided to pursue an MBA, the majority would mention leadership in their answer. Whether their goal is to become the CEO of a Fortune 500 company or to inspire talented people to join their startup, they know that strong leadership skills will be essential to fulfilling their dream.”
Leadership skills correlate to professional success in climbing organizational hierarchies, in starting and developing entrepreneurial ventures, and in making strong organizations stronger. In fact, Fortune Magazine has determined that eight key individual leadership skills — each developed in Barry University’s management-focused MBA program — correlate directly with the performance of the companies that identify them in employees and new hires:
- Financial acumen.
- Business savvy.
- Communication.
- Focus on driving execution.
- Results-driven approach.
- Entrepreneurship.
- Influence.
- Capacity to inspire excellence.
MBA Alumni Agree — The Degree Is the Key to Leadership
If you are an aspiring business manager or executive, now is an opportune time to invest in an MBA. The Graduate Management Admission Council reports that 86 percent of MBA alumni agree that their education prepared them for leadership positions. Moreover, 91 percent say the degree is professionally rewarding, 85 percent say their education prepared them for their chosen career, and 82 percent say the degree increased their earnings power.
Advancement comes more quickly for MBA graduates than it does for peers without the degree, as 75 percent of MBA graduates say their degree yielded faster career advancement. Alumni across all class years start their career in a mid-level position after graduation, and 70 percent of alumni who graduated 10 years ago or longer currently hold senior, executive or C-suite positions.
With greater responsibility comes greater earning power. The average base salary for MBA graduates in mid-level positions is $101,229 with $22,721 in additional compensation. At the senior level, the figures rise to $139,265 and $38,278 for base and additional compensation. Average total compensation for executive-level MBA graduates is nearly $275,000, and in the C-suite, the average is more than $440,000.
Match Your Abilities to Your MBA Program
Not everyone has the innate aptitudes for leadership. Prospective MBA students should be honest with themselves to determine if leadership is a realistic ambition. Candidates that we can help develop into full-fledged business leaders possess the following:
- Sense of purpose
- Drive
- Motivational skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Communication skills
- Mental strength
- Conceptual ability
- Empathy and relationship skills
- Talent-identification skills
- Personal integrity
If you have these innate leadership qualities and the desire to maximize your potential, the online MBA program at Barry University may be the perfect fit.
Learn more about Barry University’s online MBA in Management program.
Sources:
U.S. News & World Report: MBAs and Leadership
Fortune: How MBA Programs Make Great Leaders — And Where They Fail
