Leadership in a Time of Crisis

December 2020

Professor Bill Becker speaks to Evening MBA class — Evening MBA students attend a class at the Northern Virginia Center last fall taught by management associate professor Bill Becker, whose course was taught in a hybrid format (mix of optional in-person and online classes) due to COVID-19. Photo by Erin Williams.

While coronavirus poses challenges for business leaders globally, the pandemic also brings unique opportunities for innovation and change.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, established organizations have re-allocated resources to manufacture millions of dollars’ worth of protective equipment.

New businesses have emerged from the travel restrictions and lockdowns—local delivery startups, healthcare projects, and tracking apps—and thousands of people have adapted to new ways of working and interacting online.

According to McKinsey, three-in-four executives see change brought about by COVID-19 as a significant opportunity for growth.

Multitalented, adaptable leaders can rise to the fore, as organizations look to recruit and promote professionals with the key management skills needed to navigate this time of crisis.

TOP SKILLS EMPLOYERS WANT

According to the Graduate Management Admission Council’s Corporate Recruiters Survey, several core management skills have become more important: the ability to navigate technological disruption; communication; innovation; and versatility.

Companies faced management skill gaps before COVID-19, but there’s now a renewed urgency among employers to fill those gaps. 94% of business leaders surveyed in the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2020 stated that they expect their employees to learn new skills alongside their work.

VALUE OF AN MBA

Pursuing an MBA degree is a way to gain the knowledge and the skills required to tackle the management challenges we face today.

Organizations value professionals with advanced management degrees. They see MBA-holders as versatile, strategic thinkers, with strong communication skills. Fortune 100 companies especially trust these professionals to take on leadership roles and navigate the challenges of a complex business environment, according to GMAC’s report.

The MBA programs offered by Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business are designed for working professionals, helping participants gain the management skills they need to lead organizations in challenging times.

Leaders can rely on what they learn during their MBA to make strategic decisions and effectively communicate those plans to others, instilling confidence in their team and management alike.

— Dana Hansson, Director of MBA Programs, Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business

FIT YOUR LEARNING AROUND YOUR WORK

Virginia Tech’s MBA programs are offered in flexible, parttime formats meaning you can gain new knowledge and advance your career without having to leave your job for a traditional MBA.

Virginia Tech’s Evening MBA can be completed at your own pace, taking between two and five years depending on how you choose to study. The 22-month Online MBA is offered 100% online with a once-per-month synchronous component that allows students to actively engage with faculty and peers. The 18-month Executive MBA is aimed at a more experienced cohort and consists of bi-monthly weekend classes.

MAKE AN IMPACT

Virginia Tech’s MBA programs cover top management topics including business analytics, accounting, marketing, operations, strategy, and finance, giving you the core business skills you’ll need for leadership positions.

You can bring your work into the classroom for lively discussions, feedback, and problem-solving advice. And, by studying alongside your work, you can immediately implement your learnings in the workplace.

Executive MBA students also explore change management on the Leadership & Governance module, engaging with industry experts, guest lecturers, and local companies to solve a live case problem focused on a significant change event.

BUILD YOUR NETWORK

Your MBA classmates of today could be your business partners, clients, or investors of tomorrow.

MBA programs bring together small groups of working professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds and industries. By sharing your own professional experiences and working together on intensive projects during the MBA, you form close bonds which persist long after graduation.

When you receive an MBA from Virginia Tech, you also join the Virginia Tech alumni network, boasting more than 55,000 alumni in the DC Metro Area alone.

PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE

MBA students at Virginia Tech can tailor their learning journeys to match their career goals, by selecting from a range of elective courses, including specializations in financial management and global business.

Students have access to professional development workshops and presentations from expert speakers are integrated into the MBA programs to support students’ career development.

Virginia Tech’s strong reputation and ranking—the Evening MBA is ranked the best in Virginia and 19th nationwide by the US News & World Report—also means that, when you graduate, you’ll have a globally-recognized MBA on your resume.

With a cutting-edge management curriculum and a learning journey which reflects the real-world working environment, Virginia Tech MBA graduates are better-positioned to tackle leadership challenges, identify new opportunities, lead teams and prosper in this time of crisis.

Learn more about Virginia Tech’s MBA programs at mba.vt.edu.

Written by GMAC Business Because