Graduate-level students who want to learn more about business administration often pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA). These students also have the opportunity to select a concentration for their graduate-level education, such as leadership. If you aspire to leadership roles, such as administration, management, entrepreneurship, or the C-suite, earning your master’s degree in leadership will provide you with a valuable opportunity to acquire technical knowledge, gain hands-on experience, and develop key skills to support your professional pursuits.
In this post, we’ll take a close look at the leadership studies MBA program, the skills it builds, and how it can help support your professional goals.
What Is an MBA in Leadership Studies?
An MBA in leadership studies is a graduate-level degree program focused on leadership theory, strategic decision-making, and organizational change. While MBA programs in leadership studies offer a broad business education, they also provide a course list with a curriculum focused on topics like change management, strategic planning, communication, ethics, leadership dynamics, and group dynamics.
An MBA in leadership studies differs from a general MBA degree and other MBA concentrations in the following ways:
- MBA in Leadership Studies – A leadership MBA offers a selection of highly focused courses designed to support leadership development, and the content regarding core business functions is often presented from a leadership or managerial perspective (such as financial management and financial strategy, rather than general finance).
- General MBA – A general MBA focuses on the study of core business functions, such as finance, operations, strategy, and marketing.
- MBA in Other Concentrations – A leadership studies concentration is designed to teach and develop leadership skills. Other MBA concentrations provide a focus in different fields within the business world, such as accounting, finance, human resources, or business intelligence.
Leadership studies MBA programs, like Baker College’s, are available online with asynchronous classes. These kinds of online programs can be an ideal option for working professionals who wish to study remotely on their own schedule.
Core Skills You’ll Develop in a Master’s in Leadership
Throughout the course of a leadership studies program, students complete diverse coursework, engage in real-world case studies, collaborate with other students, and develop a variety of core competencies and technical skills, such as:
- Leadership Principles – Students learn about different leadership styles and leadership theories while considering and evaluating their practical application across a variety of contexts.
- Talent Development – Students learn how to identify and nurture talent in individuals, in addition to recognizing skills and aptitudes and applying them optimally within an organization.
- Strategic Thinking and Planning – Students apply the business management principles they learn by formulating strategies and implementing plans to achieve long-term business success.
- Ethical Decision-Making – Students examine the ethical responsibilities of business leaders, helping them develop sound foundations for making business decisions that are both ethical and responsible.
- Data-Driven Decision-Making – In addition to making morally sound leadership decisions, leaders must also understand how to make strategically smart business choices based on business data and analytics.
- Change Management – Leadership has a profound impact on the results of change within organizations. Leadership studies students learn about a variety of common organizational changes while developing the skills to effectively manage, navigate, and lead a company through said changes.
- Organizational Behavior – Leadership studies students gain an understanding of how individuals behave within groups and within organizations. Graduates can apply this knowledge to their own organizations to optimize behavior, motivation, and overall operational functionality.
- Team Leadership – Through a combination of leadership theory study and experiential learning, students observe and experience team dynamics. This helps them understand how individuals can guide, align, and influence teams to foster more effective collaboration, while also taking cues from the team for more effective leadership.
- Adaptability – Business leaders learn to become resilient in the face of change and uncertainty. As students gain confidence in their leadership skills and business acumen, they also gain agility, which allows them to lead under pressure.
- Emotional Intelligence – Emotionally intelligent leaders improve business outcomes and foster better organizational behavior in companies. Through leadership studies, students work to develop a better understanding of their own emotions and strengthen their ability to recognize, understand, and influence the emotions of others. These skills can be used to promote teamwork, build stronger working relationships, and drive positive outcomes.
- Interpersonal Communication – Good interpersonal communication skills are vital to effective leadership. Leadership studies students work to practice active listening while articulating their thoughts clearly, concisely, and honestly. Good communication helps strengthen relationships, build trust and respect, and motivate teams.
- Conflict Resolution – Business leaders are responsible for keeping their teams operating smoothly and relating positively. In business, conflict is unavoidable. So, strong leaders must possess strong conflict resolution skills to effectively manage disputes and disagreements, helping their teams find compromise and agreeable solutions to the interpersonal problems and business disagreements that often arise in a work environment.
The skills and knowledge gained and developed during an MBA in leadership studies are relevant, applicable, and transferable across industries, providing graduates with increased flexibility in their professional pursuits.
Career Opportunities with a Leadership MBA
Whenever more than one person is working together, leadership skills are relevant, applicable, and valuable. As a result, graduates with an MBA in leadership studies are highly qualified for a variety of positions across countless sectors and industries. Some of the professional positions that an MBA in leadership studies graduate might consider pursuing include:
- Department Head
- Operations Manager
- General Manager
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Other C-Suite Roles
- Human Resources Manager
- Training and Development Manager
- Nonprofit Executive Director
- Nonprofit Program Manager
- Public Sector Leadership
- Business Owner, Founder, and Entrepreneur
- Management Consulting
An MBA in leadership studies is particularly valuable in industries and sectors that have a heavy focus on team leadership and strategic decision-making. Some of the industries where leadership MBAs are most valued include education, healthcare, and finance, as well as government and technology.
In these industries, professionals with a master’s degree in leadership studies will oversee teams, develop strategies, make complex decisions, manage operations, and help drive goal-oriented alignment throughout an organization. Because leadership skills apply to a wide range of environments, leadership studies students also have the potential to pivot across sectors and advance in different fields.
Increased Job Stability and Advancement
With leadership positions available at nearly every level in both public and private-sector organizations, individuals who specialize in leadership studies benefit from ongoing career growth and the flexibility to pivot across sectors and industries. As a result, those with leadership-focused MBA degrees often enjoy more stability throughout their careers and additional opportunities for upward mobility.
The quality of an organization’s leadership directly impacts employee satisfaction, engagement, retention, and overall performance. In other words, leadership has a direct impact on the bottom line. This is one of the primary reasons why more and more businesses are investing in leadership development for their employees.
Furthermore, businesses are currently experiencing an unprecedented leadership gap (i.e., they have fewer leaders available than they need to run their businesses). In January of 2025, a record 222 CEOs left their posts, signifying a 14% increase from the previous year. This shift in leadership is occurring largely due to the Baby Boomer generation reaching retirement age. Americans have reached “Peak 65,” with 4.18 million Americans reaching retirement age in 2025 and an estimated 30.4 million retiring between 2024 and 2030.
As more individuals in leadership roles retire, businesses need succession plans to ensure that their organizations continue running smoothly. This means that there are about to be a lot more opportunities for business leaders.
Flexibility for Working Professionals
Online leadership studies MBA programs offer a high degree of flexibility, as they’re often designed to cater to working professionals. Not only do students attend courses remotely online, but they can also sign up for asynchronous classes, meaning they’re able to attend prerecorded lectures and participate in their classes according to their own schedules.
Consisting of a total of 30 credit hours, the MBA in leadership studies at Baker College is designed for a part-time student to complete and reach graduation within two years. This flexible and accessible format is the perfect option for adult learners looking to achieve a healthy work-life balance or balance their personal lives with work.
Why Leadership Training Matters in Every Industry
Leadership benefits organizations and professionals at every level and across industries. Leadership skills are not only valuable for corporate executives but also for:
- Department heads
- Program directors
- Community directors
- Administrators (including those in healthcare, education, nonprofits, and government agencies)
Ultimately, good leadership can positively impact everyone in an organization. That’s why every business, nonprofit organization, and government agency benefits from highly skilled, ethical, and strategic decision-makers.
Why Choose Baker College for Your MBA in Leadership Studies?
If you’re looking to strengthen your professional credentials for a future in business management, entrepreneurship, or even consulting, then an online master’s in leadership could help you bolster your resume. Not to mention, you’ll develop your leadership skills, make valuable connections, and gain relevant skills while remaining a working professional.
Available completely online, the MBA in leadership studies at Baker College is designed specifically for working professionals with a strong interest in business leadership. In addition to a course list that’s highly focused on leadership topics, skills, and techniques, our program includes a well-rounded course list with a curriculum that presents general business topics from a leadership and management perspective.To learn more about the online master’s in leadership program available through Baker College, we welcome you to contact us and request more information today.