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Why Sustainability should be at the core of every MBA

Maria Birnbaum

While an MBA is excellent for moving up the career ladder, learning business skills in isolation will not help us overcome the social, environmental and economic challenges of our times.

Today's business world needs leaders who besides mere management skills, deeply understand the fundamentals of sustainability and innovation in order to successfully prepare businesses for future demands and mitigate risks.

Our Impact MBA, for example, is designed to not only enhance business acumen but also to cultivate purpose-driven leadership among professionals. By doing so, we empower them to drive sustainable impact, whether they're launching a new venture or transforming an existing organization.

But what prompted the need for such a significant upgrade to the traditional MBA concept?

In general, an MBA remains a crucial tool for career progression and professional positioning, especially in today's saturated talent market. Graduates of traditional MBA programs experience a wide range of benefits:

  1. Higher Earning Potential: An MBA can boost your income. On average, MBA graduates see a 77% increase in earnings, according to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). This investment in education often leads to a tangible payoff in your paycheck.
  2. Networking Opportunities: An MBA can substantially expand your professional network. Surveys indicate that over 90% of MBA graduates credit their programs with significantly enhancing their professional connections, opening doors to new job opportunities and collaborations.
  3. Leadership Advancement: An MBA can scale you to managerial or executive roles. Approximately 50% of MBA graduates occupy high-level management positions within a decade of earning their degree, per GMAC data.

However, career advancement and higher salaries are just one part of the equation. Let's consider another critical aspect: the market needs that future MBA graduates will confront:

  1. Demand for Social Responsibility and Sustainability: More than ever, consumers prefer environmentally friendly products. A McKinsey & Company survey shows that over 70% of consumers are willing to spend more on sustainable products, highlighting the need for professionals skilled in creating eco-friendly business strategies.
  2. Demand for Innovation & Outside the Box Solution: Innovation remains a critical driver of business growth. Companies known for innovation consistently outperform the market, demonstrating the value of integrating innovative practices into business strategies.

In a nutshell, while traditional MBA concepts still hold value, they must adapt to meet the evolving market, societal, and environmental needs of our century. The future of MBAs lies in equipping professionals with tangible sustainability, innovation, and leadership skills.

Why do future MBA graduates require Sustainability, Innovation, and Leadership skills?

🌱 Businesses are increasingly held accountable for their environmental impact, understanding sustainability is no longer optional but essential. An MBA that integrates sustainability enables learners to create business strategies that ensure long-term viability and responsibility, aligning with global efforts to foster a sustainable future.

🌱 Technological advancements and market needs are evolving much faster than business does. An MBA focused on innovation equips learners with the ability to think creatively, develop new solutions, and adapt to these changes effectively, ensuring that their businesses not only survive but thrive.

🌱 Today's global challenges require leaders who are not only skilled in traditional management techniques but who can also inspire and guide teams through complex, uncertain environments. An MBA that emphasizes responsible leadership cultivates skills in conscious decision-making, resilience, and crisis management, which are indispensable for today's business leaders.

Core Pillars of the Impact MBA

The Impact MBA is an effective tool for the leaders of Tomorrow
The term 'Impact' reflects the MBA's commitment to empowering learners to effect meaningful change and contribute to a more sustainable society from their very first lesson. This MBA challenges the traditional profit-driven business model, emphasizing instead a strategy of maximizing impact alongside profitability. For this reason, the Impact MBA is built around the core principles of sustainability, innovation, and leadership. These pillars act as guiding principles for the MBA learners, helping them navigate complex business challenges and drive significant changes in their industries.

Impact comes in many forms, so does the Impact MBA:

If you want to prepare for the future of business, sneak into our Impact MBA program through our 3 week demo. Try the program, enrolling here.

Read what our learners are saying

Zana Pekme

“I already have a master's and a Ph.D. degree, but I still joined this Program because of its relevance to the topics of today and the issues of the future. A degree does not prepare you to be a leader or an expert, but rather the experience, skills, and knowledge you gain while going through the practical challenges this Program offers. The curriculum and the challenges are focused on the Innovator´s and Change Leader skills Toolkit, just to name a few: Vision; Strategic Thinking; Ethical and Responsible Leadership; Tech-Savviness; Customer-Centriciy and most importantly emotional and cultural awareness. I am loving it!"

Marie Hohensee

“My experience during my masters at ToU can be summarized with “out of my comfort zone but with all the support I could dream of”. I’m holding a bachelor and masters of science and couldn’t imagine to go back to university until I heard from the way learning and teaching is understood at ToU. It was challenging but due to the practical approach, the community and the support from staff and professionals it was a great experience!”

Try the program for 3 weeks, enrolling here!

Maria Birnbaum
Maria Birnbaum

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