AI in Business: What Do MBA Candidates Really Think?

AI is constantly in the spotlight, and is a hot topic of conversation across various channels – including government, social media, and news stations.

Consequently, business schools have been quick to incorporate artificial intelligence into their MBA curriculums. But how do MBA candidates envision AI shaping their careers? And, as such, how do they expect to explore AI during their studies?

We analysed responses from Study Choice Advisors across various MBA programmes to discover MBA prospects’ AI interests – here are our results.

AI and Climate Change – Defining Challenges of the Next Century

Combined, 40.7% of MBA candidates felt that AI and rapid technological advancement (Industry 4.0) will play a prominent role in the 21st century. As such, businesses will become increasingly reliant on leaders who can integrate AI and emerging technologies into their strategies, making expertise in this area crucial.

Moreover, addressing climate change was also important to 26.9% of this group, as tackling global warming and implementing sustainability will continue to impact business models and decisions in the coming years.

When asked which major challenge they would most like to be part of, candidates highlighted the following priorities:

AI: A Key Part of a General Skillset

While AI is undeniably important, 42.1% of candidates saw it as part of a broader skillset, rather than a standalone focus. These prospects would be happy to engage with digital tools, without compromising on other areas of interest.

However, 57.9% seem to embrace the advancements being made, and could imagine delving deeply into various areas of emerging technologies – with 20.5% explicitly showing interest in data science and AI strategies, while the remaining 37.3% preferred the thought of working in a highly tech-savvy environment, or creating a business around innovative digital products.

Indeed, when asked how they see themselves working with data and digital technology in the future, MBA candidates revealed diverse perspectives:

Traditional vs New Techniques in Sales

However, in a Study Choice Advisor for a sales-focused MBA, 7,263 responses demonstrated that, while AI gained traction with 22.8% of respondents, consultative selling remained the most in-demand technique – and traditional MBA topics, such as global leadership, retained their importance.

When asked which sales technique they wanted to explore the most, candidates answered:

Practical Learning Outshines Current Topics in the Curriculum

Interestingly, when choosing an MBA, candidates prioritise hands-on experience and professional exposure above currently trending topics. In fact, the most valued aspects of an MBA programme’s content are: