Upcoming MBA and EMBA Information Sessions - December 2009

Not long ago, an MBA degree was regarded by many people as a passport to a lucrative professional job in a field such as investment banking or strategy consulting. While many students still pursue these career paths, a growing portion of them are looking for purpose as well as profit in their jobs.  In fact, making a positive social or environmental impact has overtaken pay and other perks as the top reasons MBA students pursue their career, according to an often-cited survey by Bain & Company, which, ironically, is a consultancy firm.  Curriculum changes are underway as business schools respond to the corporate social responsibility (CSR) revolution. Schools have been criticized for their apparent role in the global financial crisis and for focusing too heavily on maximizing shareholder return. Today many top MBA programs include an impact-related module, such as impact investing or social entrepreneurship.  The career opportunities in this field have flourished. CSR was previously something many companies merely paid lip service to, but they are making “impact” a fundamental piece of their business plans. There are now 2,655 certified “B Corporations”, or firms that verify their high social and environmental performance, across 150 industries and 60 countries, including the ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s and the social media company Hootsuite.  Picking the right program, however, is crucial. So we’ve ranked the best MBAs for social or environmental impact, below. 

MBA applications surged in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic sent working professionals back to school in their droves to upgrade their credentials and ride out the economic storm. Yet the yield on applications nose-dived thanks to relaxed admissions requirements, with standardized test waivers and more liberal deferment policies now widespread at the top business schools.

Whether you’re an aspiring restaurateur, a hospitality entrepreneur, or a food and drink industry enthusiast, the programs included in the list can help you get ahead in this specialty. 

Strictly in terms of salaries, there are very few job paths that are more lucrative than a career in financial services. These are the 10 best MBA programs to break into the field