How can a Master's degree in Global Business management enable you to work in a new normal across geographies?

According to the World Economic Forum, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a tectonic shift in the traditional education system compelling all stakeholders to think and adapt beyond the ordinary. The OECD report states that during the pandemic years, the drying up of business opportunities resulted in massive job losses, thus making business school re-imagine the way forward to prepare students for post-pandemic new world order. Research conducted by Bloomberg points towards the fact that continuous experimentation by B-school leadership teams led to re-thinking MBA aligned more towards adapting to a new normal. Amidst these continuous changes, it became imperative to think, about how a global business management program can prepare graduates in the post-pandemic business world.

A study conducted by QS stated that globally oriented MBA programs come with significant advantages. it starts with preparing graduates with a keen understanding of the globally diverse cultural nuances. Embracing culture is a necessary element of a successful global business leader. Every nation provides a variety of cultural norms that need to be embedded in the business program curriculum. Global business leaders need to access the varying cultures and adapt to the same in alignment with the local business needs. Appreciation towards global cultures in turn helps in knowing global markets in a better way. Thus, such programs attempt to focus on how business leaders not only learn the relevance and impact of global cultures on business but also how they can apply these in varying business strategies. In summary, it effectively enables participants to prepare and ask the appropriate questions to the business community on how business can be done across different geographies.

Another important learning experience from a global MBA program relates to developing a sense of stepping outside one’s comfort zone. Working with a global team fosters cross-cultural learning experiences. One way, a global business program achieves this is by forging global collaborations across various business verticals. These collaborations help to increase students’ global learning experience and also strengthen their CV value thus bringing more visibility to potentials recruiters. Collaborations lead to participants engaging in real-life projects in a related field that is geographically dispersed. In these projects, participants apply different business strategies to solve the global business challenges. Such experiences can result in broadening one’s skewed mindset and think differently through developing an unbiased mindset.

According to the 2021GMAC corporate recruiter survey, breadth of business skills, versatile and strategic thinking mindset, technology prowess, ability to communicate in an unknown environment and leadership skills in diverse business communities are some of the much-needed traits of a post-COVID business world. A global business program provides a unique opportunity in developing these much-needed skills and qualities. These skills range from problem-solving in uncertain domains, strategic thinking in a culturally diverse environment and an ability to adapt to a completely unknown and challenging environment. A business program equips its participants in developing the core qualities of new world business such as information systems management, business and data analytics and stimulates a data-driven business mindset.

McKinsey’s report on “Trends that will define 2021—and beyond” clearly points toward the fact that the new normal would result in the creation of newer business opportunities across different geographies and engaging in a global network of business communities would enhance the possibility of being part of these opportunities. Thus, a global MBA programs are more closely curated to help students to unlock the network of global alumni in addition to its globally recognised professors and teaching staff. These connections benefit students in variety of ways such as tapping into new skills, new opportunities and an extended knowledge base. One of the key features of such a program hinges on the practical curriculum that intends to prepare students for the new world order filled with real-world business challenges through case study-based approach. Global case studies help to mimic real-world problems in a simulated environment, thus pushing students to think beyond the ordinary and develop varied perspectives of a given problem. This approach leads to the development of a global mindset that prepares to take on the new world order. These programs can help in securing management roles in companies beyond the boundaries of the host country, thus expanding one’s global footsteps.  

Eventually, what do all these lead to. It opens up doors towards endless possibilities in the new world order leading participants to take a step that is closer towards their life’s aspirations both in terms of self-recognition and financial benefits.  

About the author

Dr Arindam Banerjeeis an Associate Professor & Assistant Dean - GMBA & MGB at SP Jain School of Global Management

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha