3 leading business schools to earn your business edge

By 2040, there are 18 future outperforming industries set to generate US$29 trillion to $48 trillion in revenues. Distinguished by high growth and high dynamism, these “arenas of competition” range from robotics and nonmedical biotechnology to AI software and service to drugs for obesity and related conditions. They are predicted to reshape the global economy – knowing and preparing to join these arenas are relevant to anyone seeking to be part of the winning industries of the coming decades.

This is when an MBA comes in. An MBA educates you to become one step ahead of your competitors, providing a path to succeed in this cut-throat industry. It enhances your understanding and skills in key business areas such as strategy, marketing, finance, and operations, leading towards career advancement and potentially higher earning potential.

If you are looking for a place to start, consider beginning your postgraduate journey in the US. Here, you will enjoy opportunities to network with industry leaders from global companies, experience a scary yet exciting period in US business, and perhaps have a chance to kickstart a career in the land of opportunity. Here are three US universities where you can start your entrepreneurship journey.

Source: University of Michigan

University of Michigan

As part of the #1 public university in the US, it is little wonder that the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan attracts the best students from all over the world. Here, graduates go on to start, advise, invest, and lead real businesses. Their launchpad is the school’s Full-Time MBA programme, ranked seventh best by Fortune. Placing you in real-world situations, this is a programme where you’ll learn business by doing business, but always with guidance from faculty.

The groundbreaking Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP) programme takes action-based learning to a whole new level. These are seven-week intensive team-based projects in existing companies and organisations around the world that focus on solving live issues.

For international students, the Full-Time MBA: International Students provides extra information on how to navigate your studies and career here. From how the application process works to what to expect when searching for jobs as an international student, the MBA and the Career Development Office will empower you in all the right ways. You will have plenty of help finding career opportunities, navigating visa sponsorship, and finding your place at Michigan Ross.

While success is often determined by dedication, hard work, and business acumen, Michigan Ross’s Career Resources can make a tangible impact in helping you land a job you love. From coaching you on how to build professional relationships with some of the industry’s top players to providing insight into how to develop your résumé and prepare for interviews, it has a wide range of ways to help you with your search.  You will also have access to one of the largest and most collaborative alumni networks in the world. With over 58,000 alums located in 107 countries, you can connect with one of the school’s alumni ambassadors and gain some honest feedback about their experiences as an MBA student there. Find an ambassador now.

At the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, you’ll be guided by Nobel Prize winners and leading researchers in their fields of study who continue to have an enduring impact on the world of business, inside and outside the classroom. Source: University of Chicago

University of Chicago

When it comes to education for the most seasoned of executives, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business leads the way. It has done so for over a century, with its suite of executive education programmes that fuse intellectual stimulation, great teaching, and cutting-edge research.

These programmes — that offer the latest business knowledge and theory with practical real-world applications — are just what executives need to navigate the new world order. The Full-Time MBA, Evening MBA, Weekend MBA, Sokolov EMBA programmes, and the Master in Management, for example, are renowned for empowering students to think boldly and make an impact.

The Asness and Liew Master in Finance is rigorous and transformative, ensuring graduates are prepared to navigate the intricacies of this multidisciplinary industry. And then there’s Executive Education, which offers nearly 50 open-enrolment programmes globally to meet the evolving needs of executives and their organisations.

The best part? Each programme can be tailored to meet specific professional goals, allowing students to pick according to their interests, aspirations and experience. For example, there’s the freedom to tailor your MBA experience by taking specific courses and earning MBA concentrations that signal to future employers that you have deep knowledge of a particular field, along with relevant analytical skills and tools.

Global exposure is part of the experience. Chicago Booth has three world-class campuses in Chicago, London, and Hong Kong, each of which houses exceptional faculty who are leaders in their fields. Throw in a vast network of over 58,000 alumni across every corner of the globe and it makes for a business education worth investing in — and one that will generate value for years to come.

UCLA Anderson equips MBA students with both technical expertise in areas like AI and analytics and in essential soft skills like strategic thinking and negotiations. Source: University of California, Los Angeles.

University of California, Los Angeles

The world is looking for transformative leaders — individuals who can tackle the business challenges of the future, inspire teams, and lead organisations with resilience and vision. The University of California, Los Angeles’s (UCLA) Anderson School of Management is committed to nurturing such leaders, empowering them to solve complex business problems and inspire positive change in any industry. Through a comprehensive and flexible curriculum, UCLA Anderson equips MBA students with both technical expertise in areas like AI and analytics and in essential soft skills like strategic thinking and negotiations, cultivating graduates that top firms consistently seek out.

The Full-Time MBA programme offers 15 optional specialisations and over 115 electives, allowing students to tailor their curriculum to align with their ambitions. After mastering essential business fundamentals in the core curriculum, the programme gets more hands-on and experiential in the second year, especially through the real-world master’s thesis (or Capstone project) with regional and global organisations.

Through the Leadership@Anderson programme, students explore the art and science of enabling others to accomplish something they couldn’t do on their own through academic study, personal reflection, and regular coaching. Monthly one-on-one sessions reinforce accountability and personal growth, guiding students as they develop their leadership potential throughout the MBA journey.

The Anderson experience is shaped by three pillars: think fearlessly, drive change, and share success. With a community that focuses on collaboration, a flexible curriculum taught by esteemed faculty, and the Parker Career Management Centre, graduates are prepared to make a lasting impact in the business world. The Parker CMC supports students in defining their career paths, strategising job searches, and networking through an expansive alumni network of over 43,000 individuals worldwide.

This approach has assisted many graduates in launching successful careers with top employers such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta in the technology sector; Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and UBS in finance; and McKinsey, Bain, and BCG in consulting. UCLA Anderson graduates step confidently into a global marketplace from the heart of Los Angeles.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International.