Successful business leaders have many innate skills, but authentic leadership talent comes from experience, desire, and commitment to learning.

For this reason, candidates pursue a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) program to grow their leadership skills and advance their knowledge of business skills like accounting, finance, and marketing.

While business skills are essential and contribute to effective management, the leadership development component of MBA programs often significantly impacts one’s ability to manage a business.

Let’s explore what students can expect from a Master’s in Business Administration program and five MBA leadership skills and abilities they should develop to prepare them for elite leadership positions.

What is a Master’s in Business Administration?

A career in business administration is possible with a Bachelor’s degree in Business. However, if you’re hungry for upward career growth and mobility and an eventual position in a coveted C-suite role, a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) is the better choice.

MBA degree programs prepare students for high-level managerial roles in various fields and industries, including healthcare, human resources, finance, and more. It’s for this reason that many of these programs offer students the opportunity to declare a concentration or MBA specialization in specific areas, including:

• Accounting
• Analytics Intelligence
• Finance
• Healthcare Management
• Human Resources Management
• Management
• Marketing

Program length will vary depending on the college or university and the program. Still, most students can expect to complete their MBA degree in two years if taking classes full-time. Additionally, many schools, like University of Bridgeport, offer online, accelerated MBA programs that can be completed in as little as one year.

Both in-person and online MBA programs offer courses in:

• Managerial and Cost Accounting
• Organizational Behavior
• Marketing and Branding
• Policy and Strategy
• Business Planning

 

Interested in earning your MBA from UB? Check out what some of our graduates had to say about how UB helped them reach their goals!

 

5 Leadership Skills Gained in Master’s in Business Administration Programs

The best Master’s in Business Administration programs combine the traditional business curriculum with leadership development through immersion and hands-on coursework.

Through leadership courses, students are supported as they hone their skills and competencies to go beyond the basics of executive management and develop new problem-solving, people management, and decision-making skills.

1. Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills, like active listening, teamwork, responsibility, motivation, and empathy, are critical to effectively communicating, interacting, and establishing relationships with others.

Throughout a Master’s in Business Administration program, students will develop these skills through their relationships with their professors and peers as they take classes and learn from each other’s diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Working with peers and developing those interpersonal skills in the program makes students more comfortable, relaxed, and prepared when collaborating with future employers, employees, and companies, especially in stressful or high-stakes situations.

2. Communication Skills

If you want others to follow your instructions and your lead, you must first be able to effectively communicate your company’s or organization’s goals and the strategic plans necessary to achieve them.

Also, effective communication is vital when resolving conflict between employees who do not understand each other, either refuse to communicate, or simply do not know how to communicate.

Students will hone their communication skills in their oral and written work, such as class discussions, presentations, papers, and exams, as well as during networking opportunities. Similarly, and just as important, students also develop active listening skills as they hear their peers’ opinions and views, interpret the information, and respond appropriately.

3. Integrity

Effective and successful leaders create and foster trust in their workers and organizations, which will establish the leader as a respected authority figure.

What better way to learn this soft skill than by observing and learning from experienced and expert faculty members bringing their expertise as executive business leaders, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and finance experts?

The faculty in MBA programs work with students in groups and on an individual basis through group leadership sessions and one-on-one discussions. In doing so, they provide students with the insight and feedback they need to succeed and meet their future career ambitions and goals.

4. Passion for Development

Strong and successful executives and business leaders have an insatiable desire for learning and personal and professional development. Their willingness to learn and grow does not stop once they complete a Master’s in Business Administration program.

Many MBA programs ensure they integrate current trends and future projects into their curriculum to stay up to date and prepare students with the current and latest trends in the industry, such as introducing tools that adjust to market fluctuations and shift employee expectations.

Furthermore, most programs and universities will offer students comprehensive career support and development services like resume writing, internship searches, job hunting for post-graduation opportunities, and more for candidates to stay connected and land their dream job.

5. Problem-Solving

Problem-solving skills allow leaders in high-pressure situations to calmly identify the source of a problem to determine an effective solution.

This often looks like listening to input from team members, examining research and data, and even consulting with mentors or other executives to come up with a creative solution.

MBA degree programs provide candidates many opportunities to practice this through their hands-on experiential learning and leadership development initiatives. Examples of these initiatives include case and venture capital investment competitions, domestic and global business projects, and capstone experiences and projects.

Become an Effective Leader Through a Master’s Degree in Business Administration at University of Bridgeport

The world needs more business leaders and entrepreneurs with the leadership skills and creative outlook to ensure organizations of all shapes and sizes succeed and thrive.

Studying at the Ernest C. Trefz School of Business and earning your Master’s in Business Administration will provide you with the resources, industry expertise, and leadership skills you need for a rewarding and fulfilling career in business leadership while achieving your personal and professional goals.

With prominent nearby cities like New York City, Boston, Hartford, and New London, our students are well-connected and have built exciting careers working for companies like Apple, ESPN, FBI, Microsoft, Pitney Bowes, and more.

Plus, with our flexible course curriculum with classes offered on campus during the day, evenings, weekends, and online, we ensure you can get through college and into a great career based on your needs and schedule.

Find out more information about our Master’s in Business Administration Program by contacting us today. Or, go ahead and apply.

We can’t wait to help you succeed in your career as a business leader!