If you're considering going back to school to earn your Master of Business Administration (MBA), good for you! An advanced degree in business expands your career options and can help you earn a higher salary. However, you've likely seen a variety of degree programs available and may be confused between the value of a one-year degree program versus a two-year program. We'd like to help clarify the differences so you can choose the program that best meets your needs.

Marketing is a crucial discipline for businesses wherein MBA graduates seek ways to shape customer perspectives about their organization. They also take deep dives into data to help leadership make informed, insightful, and confident business decisions.

Have you dreamed of leading a team in your company or organization and seeing a project through from conception to completion? Are you good at delegating, multi-tasking, and communicating? If so, a career as a project manager is a good choice for you. This field is growing and offers the opportunity to work with a variety of individuals in an organization including senior-level managers. It's a career that's anything but boring.

It takes more than just good grades to get a coveted spot in the best business schools. You need to present yourself as an interesting and well-rounded person, one who can stand up to the rigors of the degree program and the business world. Not everyone who applies to business school gets accepted; in fact, the acceptance rates at the top 10 US business schools are lower than 25 percent, sometimes much lower.

As an MBA student, educating yourself on industry trends and supplementing coursework with business news will help prepare you for your career after graduation. When podcasts arrived on the scene, only a small population of U.S. adults were aware of the medium. In 2021, over 80 million Americans currently listen to podcasts, with expected growth through 2024. 

Throughout 2021, managers and employees adapted to changing predictions, updated regulations, and restrictions, resulting in a much more challenging year than anyone could have anticipated. The "Great Resignation” took place and the number of people in the workforce declined swiftly. Employees quickly developed new ways to perform their roles efficiently, resulting in new expectations from their employers.

When you search for the essentials of organizational development, you will find a list that includes a clear business strategy, strong leadership, transparent and consistent communication, a motivated workforce, and a stable financial portfolio. Seems easy enough, right? Let’s factor in what the organization consists of — human beings. Human beings are complex — we each bring different strengths and challenges to the table, which ultimately impact the future of an organization.

There are many ways to update skills or learn new skills. If you are unsure how to proceed, ask yourself: What do I need, or want, to learn; how much time am I able to invest; and how much money will I need to spend? If you have multiple needs or interests, determine which are most pressing and which are long-term educational goals. Then, consider how you can effectively meet your needs, in terms of educational requirements, and the time and money you can afford to invest. You might sharpen some of your skills with a little time and/or money.

Good leaders know and embrace their leadership style. Yet, many who wish to take on roles in management and other leadership positions are unaware of the impact of their leadership style or the fact that they can change it. Understanding the common leadership styles will help you pinpoint yours—and it can help you decide if you want to make a change. Here are the most common styles of leadership.