Do you enjoy working with people and solving problems? If so, a career in business might appeal to you, and you might be surprised about how rewarding and flexible this career path can be.
But what exactly do we mean by ‘business’? To begin with, every company needs professionals to operate efficiently in areas such as finance, sales, marketing, human resources and more, and broadly speaking, pursuing any of these fields is considered as working in business.
The advantages of a career in business
When it comes to career paths in business, some people choose to specialise and develop expertise in a particular area, eventually climbing up the ranks in their field. For example, you could start out as a business analyst and eventually become the Chief Financial Officer of an organisation. But it is also possible to start in any field and as you move up, develop skills and knowledge in many areas of business. Eventually, you will be able to see the big picture, and can give strategic recommendations.
The leader of an organisation, often called the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), should certainly be familiar with all areas of business and know how to build a strong team of advisers.
Speaking of teams – nobody can do business alone. Even entrepreneurs and start-ups need to engage others to help get their idea off the ground. Understanding how to be a good team player and what makes or breaks effective teams, is a key skill in business. If you want to become a great leader, you will need to be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses, and know how to motivate others to pursue a common goal.
Pursuing a professional area of interest whilst also developing your personal effectiveness is one of the many rewards of a business career.
Another advantage of business is that these skills are transferable across industries, so you will be able to explore a wide range of organisations and sectors. Provided that language is no barrier, you can even change your country of work along the way.
Preparing for a career in business
If business is something that resonates with you, you may be wondering how to launch this kind of career. Studying a Master in Management (MIM) is one of the best ways to get started. MIM degrees originated in Europe and have been growing rapidly over the last couple of decades. They are now increasingly popular in Asia, North America and other regions of the world as well.
Building on your undergraduate degree (which can be in any field) and drawing on the disciplines of economics, psychology, sociology and strategy, the goal of a MIM degree is for you to graduate with a solid foundation in a range of business skills that are applicable to any industry, with an eye towards an eventual leadership role.
INSEAD, the business school for the world, has recently created its own MIM programme. Spanning 14 to 16 months of full-time study, the programme will take participants across the school’s campuses in Europe (France) and Asia (Singapore), with additional study trips to exciting locations in the Middle East, China and the USA. Taught by INSEAD’s award-winning faculty, the INSEAD MIM has an innovative learning approach with a problem-solving orientation, inspired by the school’s overall mission of bringing together people, ideas and cultures to develop responsible business leaders who transform business and society.
INSEAD MIM graduates will become part of the school’s international alumni network of influential business leaders and can readily tap into the institution’s strong ties with the world’s most sought after companies.
