Learn to Lead Effective, Inspired Teams
Ranked a top online MBA in general management,1the MBA program from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School prepares high achievers for a variety of senior-level roles across functions and industries.
MBA@UNC offers several concentrations to customize your learning to match your professional goals. Through curated coursework and experiential learning, the Management and Leadership concentration will expand your ability to:
- Maximize the effectiveness of your team
- Embrace change and drive results
- Empower your team and delegate responsibilities
- Solve problems and make strategic decisions
With UNC Kenan-Flagler, you’ll develop the skills and confidence to take on new challenges and advance as a leader.
“The MBA@UNC program has made me a better leader because it’s opened up my eyes to questions I didn’t know to ask, questions about understanding other people’s backgrounds. Great discussions on ethics and diversity and inclusion have all factored into every decision I make and every email I write.”
MK Bedosky
MBA@UNC Class of 2022
Why Choose a Management and Leadership Concentration?
The core courses in UNC’s online MBA program are designed to help you evolve as a leader and understand the functional areas of any business. By specializing in Management and Leadership, you’ll gain additional expertise in managing a business’s most critical resource: its people.
In this concentration, you’ll develop the essential competencies for effectively managing teams, such as negotiating, inspirational storytelling, leading cross-functional initiatives, responsible decision-making and inclusive leadership.
Salary Outcomes for MBA@UNC Graduates
The leadership skills and business expertise that students develop in UNC’s online MBA program, along with access to the well-connected Kenan-Flagler network, empower our graduates to succeed in fulfilling, lucrative careers.
MBA@UNC alumni go on to excel in various industries and job functions, and have reported the following salary outcomes within four months of graduation:2
$155,231
Average salary for alumni in
operations/logistics roles
$150,311
Average salary for alumni in
general management roles
$174,123
Average salary for alumni in
finance roles
$141,037
Average salary for alumni in
marketing/sales roles
It’s Time to Take Control of Your Career
For the last decade, UNC’s online MBA program has equipped passionate professionals with the tools to make a lasting business impact worldwide. If you’re ready to take the next step, learn more today.
Career Outlook in Leadership and Management
Effective people management is a versatile skill that’s applicable across all industries and sectors, so it’s no surprise that the overall career outlook for management roles is promising.
Employment data varies based on multiple factors, but in general, the number of all management occupations is projected to grow8 percent from 2021 to 2031; this increase is expected to result in about 883,900 new jobs over the decade.3
Leadership and Management Job Market
Here are just a few examples of management roles across different industries—and the rates at which they’re projected to grow from 2021 to 2031.
| Role | Job Growth Rate | Change in Number of Roles |
|---|---|---|
Advertising, promotions and marketing managers4 | 10% | +33,700 |
Financial managers5 | 17% | +71,300 |
General and operations managers6 | 7% | +209,800 |
Career Paths in Leadership and Management
By pursuing the Management and Leadership concentration in UNC Kenan-Flagler’s online MBA program, you’ll be equipped with a widely applicable skill set in business operations and strategic leadership.
Here’s a look at some of the career paths that may open up when you combine your graduate education with your previous work experience and professional interests.
Advertising and Sales Managers
Leaders in the advertising, marketing and sales fields plan programs to generate interest and sales of products or services. They may oversee marketing and sales teams, prepare budgets, set revenue goals, analyze data and develop training programs.
General and Operations Managers
General managersoversee teams and business operations that may span multiple departments. They may create policies, direct daily operations, assign work, manage staff or department heads and ensure that projects are completed effectively.
Finance Managers
Finance managers oversee the financial health of an organization. They may create financial reports, analyze data, direct investment activities, supervise finance and budget teams, and advise senior managers on maximizing profit and revenue.
Chief Executives
Chief executives represent the highest level of leadership and provide the overall direction for an entire organization or a specific function. They manage company operations, formulate and implement policies, and establish organizational goals.
Start the Next Phase of Your Leadership Journey
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School is a community of driven leaders. Driven to succeed—and driven to make a difference in the lives of those around them. Learn more about MBA@UNC.
Online Leadership and Management Education at UNC Kenan-Flagler
The MBA@UNC core curriculum and wide range of electives empower you with the business acumen and essential soft skills to manage cross-functional relationships and build thriving, diverse teams.
Management and Leadership Curriculum
MBA@UNC concentrations consist of core courses and suggested electives that help you build your knowledge in a particular focus area and are designed to mirror the hiring needs of employers.
We recommend the following electives for the Management and Leadership concentration.
Suggested Electives
- Leading Diverse and Inclusive Organizations
- Managerial Decision Making
- Leading in the Middle 1: Organization and Culture
- Leading in the Middle 2: People and Politics
- Storytelling to Influence and Inspire
- Responsible Leadership
- Negotiations
- Negotiating through Difference
- Student Teams Achieving Results (STAR)
Course offerings are subject to change, and not all electives are offered every term.
Featured Faculty
Our Management and Leadership concentration is led by faculty members who have extensive expertise across all facets of leadership, such as ethical decision making, organizational behavior, negotiation, power and influence, conflict resolution and communication.
Our faculty leverage their research and direct experience to lead collaborative classes and design practical coursework exercises.
Sreedhari Desai
Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior, Crist W. Blackwell Scholar
Sriram Venkataraman
Associate Dean
Meet more faculty members▸
Experiential Learning Opportunities
As a student in the online MBA program, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a range of experiential learning activities that give you hands-on practice in adapting, collaborating and strategizing in different situations.
Summits: Leadership Tracks
Each year, MBA@UNC holds quarterly Summits, which are immersive learning experiences that bring you face-to-face with classmates and faculty in Chapel Hill and international business hubs.
Summits offer a variety of learning tracks that enable you to further customize your experience. Previous leadership-focused tracks have included the following:
Personal Leadership Track
Every great company has a great leader showing the way. But what defines a great leader? What qualities do great leaders possess—and how do you become one? How do personal ethics impact leadership style? Students explored these questions as UNC Kenan-Flagler faculty shared their research and experience working with top-tier international companies.
Team Leadership Track
Many teams can get projects across the finish line, but not all leaders can make it a positive experience. How do you connect with your team as a new leader? How can you change course and collaborate effectively with diverse employees? UNC Kenan-Flagler faculty led students through an action-based curriculum focused on organizational leadership.
The STAR Program
The Student Teams Achieving Results (STAR) program is an optional course in which you’ll apply your skills to a real-world management consulting project. Under the guidance of faculty advisors, your team will deliver comprehensive recommendations and actionable strategies to a corporate partner.
These projects are designed to build your leadership experience by exposing you to new industries and strengthening your problem-solving and teamwork skills.
Become the Leader You Were Meant to Be
No matter which concentration you choose, the online MBA program equips you with the tools to be a more strategic, inclusive and influential leader. Ready to get started?
Related Pages
CONCENTRATIONS
CURRICULUM
FEATURED FACULTY
GRADUATE CERTIFICATES
1 Best Online General Management MBA Programs, U.S. News & World Report (2024)arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
2 Reported salary statistics are based on 130 responses from exit surveys of MBA@UNC graduates in 2022. Outcomes represent the mean base salary of jobs accepted within four months of the student’s graduation date.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
3 Management Occupations, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Revised September 8, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
4 Advertising, Promotions and Marketing Managers: Job Outlook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Revised September 8, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
5 Financial Managers: Job Outlook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Revised September 8, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
6 Top Executives: Job Outlook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Revised September 8, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference
